Linda returned the kiss warmly , and both felt that the old-time friendship was theirs again . The little Smithsons all came and they and the little Grants sat down on the long bright dining room to a dinner that made history in their small lives , and was eaten over again in happy dreams for months . How those children did eat ! And how beaming Miss Cornelia and grim-faced , soft-hearted Hannah and even the absent-minded teacher himself enjoyed watching them ! After dinner Miss Cornelia distributed among the delighted little souls the presents she had bought for them , and then turned them loose in the big shining kitchen to have a taffy pull -- and they had it to their hearts ' content ! And as for the shocking , taffyfied state into which they got their own rosy faces and that once immaculate domain -- well , as Miss Cornelia and Hannah never said one word about it , neither will I . The four women enjoyed the afternoon in their own way , and the schoolteacher buried himself in algebra to his own great satisfaction . When her guests went home in the starlit December dusk , Miss Cornelia walked part of the way with them and had a long confidential talk with Mrs. Grant . When she returned it was to find Hannah groaning in and over the kitchen and the schoolteacher dreamily trying to clean some molasses off his boots with the kitchen hairbrush . Long-suffering Miss Cornelia rescued her property and despatched Mr. Palmer into the woodshed to find the shoe-brush . Then she sat down and laughed . `` Hannah , what will become of that boy yet ? There 's no counting on what he 'll do next . I do n't know how he 'll ever get through the world , I 'm sure , but I 'll look after him while he 's here at least . I owe him a huge debt of gratitude for this Christmas blunder . What an awful mess this place is in ! But , Hannah , did you ever in the world see anything so delightful as that little Tommy Smithson stuffing himself with plum cake , not to mention Teddy Grant ? It did me good just to see them . '' A Strayed Allegiance `` Will you go to the Cove with me this afternoon ? '' It was Marian Lesley who asked the question .
Esterbrook Elliott unpinned with a masterful touch the delicate cluster of Noisette rosebuds she wore at her throat and transferred them XXXXX his buttonhole as he answered courteously : `` Certainly .
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