People always smiled to each other when Miss Hannah talked like this . But they took care not to let her see the smile . Miss Hannah snipped her white and purple asters off ungrudgingly and sang , as she snipped , an old-fashioned song she had learned long ago in her youth . The day was one of October 's rarest , and Miss Hannah loved fine days . The air was clear as golden-hued crystal , and all the slopes around her were mellow and hazy in the autumn sunshine . She knew that beyond those sunny slopes were woods glorying in crimson and gold , and she would have the delight of a walk through them later on when she went to carry the asters to sick Millie Starr at the Bridge . Flowers were all Miss Hannah had to give , for she was very poor , but she gave them with a great wealth of friendliness and goodwill . Presently a wagon drove down her lane and pulled up outside of her white garden paling . Jacob Delancey was in it , with a pretty young niece of his who was a visitor from the city , and Miss Hannah , her sheaf of asters in her arms , went over to the paling with a sparkle of interest in her faded blue eyes . She had heard a great deal of the beauty of this strange girl . Prospect people had been talking of nothing else for a week , and Miss Hannah was filled with a harmless curiosity concerning her . She always liked to look at pretty people , she said ; they did her as much good as her flowers . `` Good afternoon , Miss Hannah , '' said Jacob Delancey . `` Busy with your flowers , as usual , I see . '' `` Oh , yes , '' said Miss Hannah , managing to stare with unobtrusive delight at the girl while she talked . `` The frost will soon be coming now , you know ; so I want to live among them as much as I can while they 're here . '' `` That 's right , '' assented Jacob , who made a profession of cordial agreement with everybody and would have said the same words in the same tone had Miss Hannah announced a predilection for living in the cellar . `` Well , Miss Hannah , it 's flowers I 'm after myself just now . We 're having a bit of a party at our house tonight , for the young folks , and my wife told me to call and ask you if you could let us have a few for decoration . '' `` Of course , '' said Miss Hannah , `` you can have these .
I meant them XXXXX Millie , but I can cut the west bed for her . ''
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