`` Matilda was sure he would , so she sat on in the big chair , guarding the papers , and no one could get her away , till one day a man came with her father 's ring and told her to give up the secret . She knew the ring , but would not tell until she had asked many questions , so as to be very sure , and while the man answered all about her father and the king , she looked at him sharply . Then she stood up and said , in a tremble , for there was something strange about the man : ` Sir , I doubt you in spite of the ring , and I will not answer till you pull off the false beard you wear , that I may see your face and know if you are my father 's friend or foe . ' Off came the disguise , and Matilda found it was my lord himself , come to take them with him out of England . He was very proud of that faithful girl , I guess , for the old chair still stands in the castle , and the name keeps in the family , Pa says , even over here , where some of the Bassetts came along with the Pilgrims . '' `` Our Tilly would have been as brave , I know , and she looks like the old picter down to Grandma 's , do n't she , Eph ? '' cried Prue , who admired her bold , bright sister very much . `` Well , I think you 'd do the settin ' part best , Prue , you are so patient . Till would fight like a wild cat , but she ca n't hold her tongue worth a cent , '' answered Eph ; whereat Tilly pulled his hair , and the story ended with a general frolic . When the moon-faced clock behind the door struck nine , Tilly tucked up the children under the `` extry comfortables , '' and having kissed them all around , as Mother did , crept into her own nest , never minding the little drifts of snow that sifted in upon her coverlet between the shingles of the roof , nor the storm that raged without . As if he felt the need of unusual vigilance , old Bose lay down on the mat before the door , and pussy had the warm hearth all to herself . If any late wanderer had looked in at midnight , he would have seen the fire blazing up again , and in the cheerful glow the old cat blinking her yellow eyes , as she sat bolt upright beside the spinning-wheel , like some sort of household goblin , guarding the children while they slept . When they woke , like early birds , it still snowed , but up the little Bassetts jumped , broke the ice in their pitchers , and went down with cheeks glowing like winter apples , after a brisk scrub and scramble into their clothes . Eph was off to the barn , and Tilly soon had a great kettle of mush ready , which , with milk warm from the cows , made a wholesome breakfast for the seven hearty children . `` Now about dinner , '' said the young housekeeper , as the pewter spoons stopped clattering , and the earthen bowls stood empty . `` Ma said , have what we liked , but she did n't expect us to have a real Thanksgiving dinner , because she wo n't be here to cook it , and we do n't know how , '' began Prue , doubtfully . `` I can roast a turkey and make a pudding as well as anybody , I guess . The pies are all ready , and if we ca n't boil vegetables and so on , we do n't deserve any dinner , '' cried Tilly , burning to distinguish herself , and bound to enjoy to the utmost her brief authority . `` Yes , yes ! '' cried all the boys , `` let 's have a dinner anyway ; Ma wo n't care , and the good victuals will spoil if they ai n't eaten right up . ''
`` Pa is coming to-night , so we wo n't have dinner till late ; that will be real genteel and give us plenty of time , '' added XXXXX , suddenly realizing the novelty of the task she had undertaken .
Bose Eph Tilly comfortables fire midnight picter right settin storm