`` 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 Toady , and for a moment he laid his head in the knife-tray , overcome with disappointment and regret . But scorning to yield to unmanly tears , he was soon himself again . Thrusting his beloved jackknife , with three blades and a file , into Polly 's hand , he whispered , brokenly , -- `` Keep it forever 'n' ever ; I 'm awful sorry ! '' Then , feeling that the magnitude of this sacrifice atoned for everything , he went to watch for Van , -- the forlorn hope to which he now clung . II `` Sophy , I 'm surprised at your want of judgment . Do you really mean to let your girl marry this Lamb ? Why , the man 's a fool ! '' began Aunt Kipp , after dinner , by way of opening a pleasant conversation with her relatives . `` Dear me , aunt ! how can you know that , when you never saw him ? '' mildly returned Mrs. Snow . `` I 've heard of him , and that 's enough for me . I 've a deal of penetration in judging character , and I tell you Van Bahr Lamb is a fool . ''
The amiable old lady thought this would rouse XXXXX , against whom her anger still burned hotly .
Kipp Lamb Polly Sophy Van aggrawater day deary jackknife knife-tray