oo much," protested Delight.
"I like him best just as he is."

"Mebbe you do," the elder woman grumbled, "but the Galbraiths ain't
goin' to feel that way. Why, what do you s'pose they'd think if Willie
was to come prancin' over there for a dish of tea lookin' as he does at
home? They'd be scandalized! Besides, ain't you an' me goin' to be
dressed up? Ain't I got my new hat?"

"Not yet," was the mischievous retort.

"But I am goin' to have. No, sir! If I begin indulgin' Willie by
lettin' him go all wild to this party in his old clothes, the next time
there's a funeral there'll be no reinin' him in. He'll hold it up
forevermore that he went to the Galbraiths in his jumper. I know him
better'n you do."

"I suppose so."

"An' I'm firmer with him, too," went on Celestina. "You'd have him
clean spoiled. I ain't sure but you've spoilt him already past all
help durin' these last ten days. Did you hear him at breakfast askin'
me to open his egg? He knows perfectly well I never take off the
shell. All I ever do for him is to put in the butter, pepper, an'
salt; an' I only do that 'cause he's squizzlin' so to get out in that
shop that he ain't a notion whether there's fixin's on his egg or not.
Let him get one of these ideas on his mind an' it's a wonder he don't
eat the egg, shells an' all."

"Poor dear!" The girl's face softened.

"You pet him too much," said Celestina accusingly.

"Don't you pet Willie a little yourself, Aunt Tiny?" teased Delight.
"You know you do. Everybody does. We can't help it. People just love
him and like to see him happy."

"I know it," the woman admitted. "Why, there's folks in Wilton (I
could name 'em right now) who would run their legs off for Willie.
Look at Bob an' this Mr. Snellin' sweatin' in that shop like beavers
over somethin' that ain't never goin' to do 'em an ounce of good--mebbe
ain't never goin' to do anybody no good. There's somethin' in him that
sorter compels people to stand on their heads for him like that. I
often try to figger out just what it is," she mused. Then in a brisker
tone she asked: "How's the hat comin'?"

"Beautifully."

"That's good. Hurry it right along, for I'm plannin' to have dinner at
twelve an' get it out of the way."

"But the car isn't coming for us until three o'clock."

"'Twill take that time to wash up the dishes an' rig Willie up."

"Not three hours!"

"You don't know him. We'll have our hands full to head him away