Part 23 (1/2)
”Mammy is coming over with me early Sat.u.r.day morning. Just think we have already made over twenty-five pounds of candy. I want to have fifty on hand to start with. Do you think I'll _ever_ sell it?” and the pretty girlish face was raised to Mr. Porter's with the most winning of smiles.
”Little flirt! I wonder if she knows he has daughters as old as _she_ is,” muttered the girl at the 'phone. Constance was quite unconscious of either look or comment.
”Of course you'll sell it. Mark my word it will go like hot cakes,”
was the encouraging answer.
”I hope so. And thank you again and again for _all_ you have done.
Good-bye. Please tell your daughters what a proud girl you have made me,” and the little gloved hand was held toward him. He shook it warmly and walked with her to the front door. As he turned to go back a man who occupied a cigar stand near the door nodded and said with a laugh:
”Got a new tenant, Mr. Porter? Goin' to let us have another pretty girl to talk to?”
”I've got a new tenant, yes, Breckel, but, unless I am very much mistaken, you will not talk to her a great deal, and when you _do_ you'll take your hat off, and toss away your cigar. It's a pity we can't have a few more such girls in our business world. It would raise the standard considerably. Men would find a better occupation than making fool speeches to them then. Mark my word that little woman will succeed.”
”I'm sure I hope she will if she's the right stuff,” answered Breckel, the laugh giving place to a more earnest expression and tone of voice, which proved that the man, like most of his stamp, had something good in him to be appealed to.
CHAPTER XXIII
Opening Day
At last the eventful morning arrived. Constance and Mammy were astir long before the clock struck six, and the candy kettles were bubbling merrily. Constance was pulling her big lump of mola.s.ses candy when Jean came bounding into the kitchen arrayed in her little night toga.
”Bress my soul!” cried Mammy. ”Wha' yo' doin' down hyer? Kite long back dis minit. Does yer want ter kitch yo' deaf cold?”
”But Connie didn't call me, and I said I'd help,” protested Jean.
”He'p! He'p! Yo' look lak yo' could he'p, don't yo'? stannin' dar dressed in nuffin in de worl' but yo' nightie an' yo' _skin_. Clar out dis minit befo' I smack yo' wid dis hyer gre't spoon,” and Mammy made a dive for the culprit as she darted away.
A few hours later the candy boxes were in the bottom of the phaeton, Constance mounting guard over them while Mammy acted as Jehu.
When the Arcade was reached Mammy descended from the phaeton, blanketed Baltie, and then taking one of the large boxes in which the smaller ones were packed, said:
”Now honey, yo' tek anodder--_No, not two_ of 'em--dey's too heavy fo'
you; I'll come back fo' dose. Now walk 'long head ob me, kase I want dese hyer folks what's a-starin' at us lak dey aint neber _is_ seen anybody befo', ter unnerstan' dat I'se _yo' sarvint_, an' here fer ter pertec' yo'. _An' I ain' gwine stan' no nonsense needer._”
”You need not be afraid Mammy. Everybody is just as kind and lovely as possible.”
”Huh! Dey'd _better_ be,” retorted Mammy, with a warning snort.
In a short time the little booth made a brave showing with its quarter-pound, half-pound, and pound boxes of candy, each tied with pretty ribbon, and each bearing upon its cover the smiling face of its young maker.
When Miss Willing found a chance to take a sly peep at them she turned her head and sneered as she murmured: ”Well, of all the conceit. My!
Ain't she just stuck on that face of hers though.”
Scarcely was all arranged, when Mr. Porter appeared upon the scene.
”Just in time to be the first customer,” he cried gayly. ”How are you this morning? How-de-do, Auntie? Ah, you see I know your partner now.
What all have you got here anyhow?” he continued as he peered into the cases. ”Pralines, plain fudge, nut fudge, mola.s.ses candy, cream walnuts, caramels, b.u.t.ter-scotch. I say! You've been working, little girl, haven't you?”
”Lak ter wo'k her finges mos' off,” a.s.serted Mammy.