"
So Susy put the kettle on to boil, and then resumed her place opposite
Mrs. Church.
"Susan," said the old lady, "while the kettle is boiling you might as
well lay the cloth and get out the tea-things."
"No, no," said Susy; "I haven't come here to act servant to you, Aunt
Church."
"You have a very nasty manner, Susan; and whatever the Almighty may mean
to do with you in the future, you had best change your tune or things
will go ill with you."
Susy sat quite still, apparently indifferent to these remarks.
"Well, if you won't lay the cloth, and won't help your own poor old
aunt, you may as well tell me what you came for."
"Not yet. I will presently."
Susy was now thoroughly enjoying herself. Mrs. Church edged her chair a
little nearer; her beady black eyes seemed to read Susy through and
through.
"Go on, child; speak. 'Tain't right to keep an old body on
tenter-hooks."
"I will tell you if you will promise me something. I have brought you a
little bag that I made my own self, and you shall have it if you promise
me something. It is a bag for your knitting. You know you said that you
were always losing the ball; it would keep running under your chair, and
you could never get it without stooping and hurting yourself."
"To be sure I did, child, and it is thoughtful of you to think of me.
Well, but we'll talk of the bag when you have said whatever else you
have got at the back of that wise little head of yours.
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