Toady was so taken aback by this explosion that he let go his shoe-strings , fell over with a crash , and lay flat , with shovel and tongs spread upon him like a pall . In rushed Mrs. Snow and Polly , to find the boy 's spirits quite quenched , for once , and Aunt Kipp in a towering passion . It all came out in one overwhelming flood of words , and Toady fled from the storm to wander round the house , a prey to the deepest remorse . The meekness of that boy at dinner-time was so angelic that Mrs. Snow would have feared speedy translation for him , if she had not been very angry . Polly 's red eyes , and Aunt Kipp 's griffinesque expression of countenance , weighed upon his soul so heavily , that even roly-poly pudding failed to assuage his trouble , and , taking his mother into the china-closet , he anxiously inquired `` if it was all up with Polly ? '' `` I 'm afraid so , for aunt vows she will make a new will to-morrow , and leave every penny to the Charitable Rag-bag Society , '' sighed Mrs. Snow . `` I did n't mean to do it , I truly did n't ! I thought I 'd just ` give her a hint , ' as you say . She looked all right , and laughed when I told her about being a bore , and I thought she liked it . If she was a man , I 'd thrash her for making Polly cry ; '' and Toady shook his fist at Aunt Kipp 's umbrella , which was an immense relief to his perturbed spirit . `` Bless the boy ! I do believe he would ! '' cried Mrs. Snow , watching the little turkey-cock with maternal pride . `` You ca n't do that : so just be careful and not make any more mischief , dear . '' `` I 'll try , mother ; but I 'm always getting into scrapes with Aunt Kipp . She 's worse than measles , any day , -- such an old aggrawater ! Van 's coming this afternoon , wo n't he make her pleasant again ? '' `` Oh , dear , no ! He will probably make things ten times worse , he 's so bashful and queer . I 'm afraid our last chance is gone , deary , and we must rub along as we have done . ''
One sniff of emotion burst from XXXXX , and for a moment he laid his head in the knife-tray , overcome with disappointment and regret .
Snow Toady afternoon aggrawater crash flood griffinesque pudding shoe-strings storm