Part 19 (1/2)
CHAPTER XVIII
VINNIE'S NEW BROOM
Returning from his intervieith Mr Peakslow, Jack drove up on the roadside before the ”castle,” asked Rufe to hold the horse a ood by
”Here, Link!” Rufe called, ”stand by this horse!”
”I can't,” answered Link froet some wood, to make a fire, to heat some water, to dip the chickens, to loosen their feathers, and then to cook 'em for dinner”
”Never !”
”I guess I _will_ , for you, or anybody, for _she_ asked me to”
”She? Who?”
”Aunt Vinnie; and, I tell you, she's real slick” And Link slashed away at the ith an axe; for that was the Betterson style,--to saw and split the sticks only as the iht have hitched the horse, but he was not a fellow to give himself any trouble that could well be avoided; and just then he saw Wad co cordially invited to stay and hold the horse, also declined, except on condition that Rufe should hi for water
”Seems to me you're in a terrible pucker for water!” said Rufe ”Two pails? what's the row, Wad?” For it was the ti for water as long as hureat eencies, to take two pails
”_She_ asked one into that old kitchen, and, I tell you, she'll ht to the said kitchen,--much to Mrs
Betterson's dismay,--and found Vinnie in a neat brown dress, with apron on and sleeves pinned up He thought he had never seen her look so bright and beautiful
”At work so soon!” he exclaimed
”The sooner the better,” she replied ”Don't look around you; my sister is sick, you know”
”I won't hinder you a ood news about h I suppose you've heard that fro his voice ”If anything happens,--if it isn't pleasant for you to be here, you know,--there is a ho for you”
”I thank you and Mrs Lan lip ”But I h the ent invitation to stay and see what sort of a dinner she could get
”By the way,” he whispered, as she followed him to the door, ”who carried in that trunk?” When she told hi! Here comes Rufe Rufus, this is your Aunt Vinnie”
Rufus (who had finally got Chokie to hold the horse's halter) blushed to the roots of his hair ather so very youthful (I think it has already been said that the aunt was younger than the nephew), and altogether so fresh and charly gave him her hand, which he took rather aardly, and said,--
”How d' 'e do, Aunt Lavinia I suppose I must call you _aunt_”
”Callmen like you!”