She said the word clearly and truly . `` And I will think myself a proud and happy and honoured woman to be so , Jeff . Oh , I do n't shrink from telling you the truth , you see . You mean too much to me for me to dissemble it . I 've hidden it for eighteen years because I did n't think you wanted to hear it , but I 'll give myself the delight of saying it frankly now . '' She lifted her delicate , high-bred face , fearless love shining in every lineament , to his , and they exchanged their first kiss . Clorinda 's Gifts `` It is a dreadful thing to be poor a fortnight before Christmas , '' said Clorinda , with the mournful sigh of seventeen years . Aunt Emmy smiled . Aunt Emmy was sixty , and spent the hours she did n't spend in a bed , on a sofa or in a wheel chair ; but Aunt Emmy was never heard to sigh . `` I suppose it is worse then than at any other time , '' she admitted . That was one of the nice things about Aunt Emmy . She always sympathized and understood . `` I 'm worse than poor this Christmas ... I 'm stony broke , '' said Clorinda dolefully . `` My spell of fever in the summer and the consequent doctor 's bills have cleaned out my coffers completely . Not a single Christmas present can I give . And I did so want to give some little thing to each of my dearest people . But I simply ca n't afford it ... that 's the hateful , ugly truth . '' Clorinda sighed again . `` The gifts which money can purchase are not the only ones we can give , '' said Aunt Emmy gently , `` nor the best , either . '' `` Oh , I know it 's nicer to give something of your own work , '' agreed Clorinda , `` but materials for fancy work cost too .
That kind XXXXX gift is just as much out of the question for me as any other . ''
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