`` Why , Polly said you were a bore , '' explained Toady , with artless frankness . `` You are fat , you know , and fierce sometimes , and folks are afraid of you . Good , was n't it ? '' `` Very ! Mary is a nice , grateful , respectful , loving niece , and I sha n't forget her , she may depend on that , '' and Aunt Kipp laughed grimly . `` May she ? well , that 's jolly now . She was afraid you would n't give her the money ; so I 'll tell her it 's all right ; '' and innocent Toady nodded approvingly . `` Oh , she expects some of my money , does she ? '' `` Course she does ; ai n't you always saying you 'll remember us in your will , because father was your favorite nephew , and all that ? I 'll tell you a secret , if you wo n't let Polly know I spoke first . You 'll find it out to-night , for you 'd see Van and she were sweethearts in a minute . '' `` Sweethearts ? '' cried Aunt Kipp , turning red in the face . `` Yes 'm . Van settled it last week , and Polly 's been so happy ever since . Mother likes it , and I like it , for I 'm fond of Van , though I do call him Baa-baa , because he looks like a sheep . We all like it , and we 'd all say so , if we were not afraid of you . Mother and Polly , I mean ; of course we men do n't mind , but we do n't want a fuss . You wo n't make one , will you , now ? ''
Anything more expressive of brotherly good-will , persuasive frankness , and a placid consciousness of having `` fixed it , '' than XXXXX 's dirty little face , it would be hard to find .
Baa-baa Kipp Mary Mother Polly Toady first minute right to-night