Therefore this invitation surprised Mrs. Grant greatly . Miss Cornelia was a maiden lady of certain years , with a comfortable bank account and a handsome , old-fashioned house on the hill behind the village . She always boarded the schoolteachers and looked after them maternally ; she was an active church worker and a tower of strength to struggling ministers and their families . `` If Cornelia has seen fit at last to hold out the hand of reconciliation I 'm glad enough to take it . Dear knows , I 've wanted to make up often enough , but I did n't think she ever would . We 've both of us got too much pride and stubbornness . It 's the Turner blood in us that does it . The Turners were all so set . But I mean to do my part now she has done hers . '' And Mrs. Grant made a final attack on the dishes with a beaming face . When the little Grants came home and heard the news , Teddy stood on his head to express his delight , the twins kissed each other , and Mary Alice and Gordon danced around the kitchen . Keith thought himself too big to betray any joy over a Christmas dinner , but he whistled while doing the chores until the bare welkin in the yard rang , and Teddy , in spite of unheard of misdemeanours , was not collared off into the porch once . When the young teacher got home from school that evening he found the yellow house full of all sorts of delectable odours . Miss Cornelia herself was concocting mince pies after the famous family recipe , while her ancient and faithful handmaiden , Hannah , was straining into moulds the cranberry jelly . The open pantry door revealed a tempting array of Christmas delicacies . `` Did you call and invite the Smithsons up to dinner as I told you ? '' asked Miss Cornelia anxiously . `` Yes , '' was the dreamy response as he glided through the kitchen and vanished into the hall . Miss Cornelia crimped the edges of her pies delicately with a relieved air . `` I made certain he 'd forget it , '' she said .
`` You just have XXXXX watch him as if he were a mere child .
If around as from in into of over through to