--and I told her not go near you, but she snoke up, and I
dassn't holler, fear ob waking yer ma,--and my head is loose on my
shoulders now, listenin' to her clack. So when I hear her comin' down
again, I jest put up de ladder here, and I didn't hear no word she said.
Did she hab de imp'dence to ask you lend her a crape bunnit?"

"Yes; that is what she came for. We had none, of course."

Auntie snorted. "None ob her business whedder you had none or a
hunderd!" she said. "I tole her if she ask you dat, I'd pull her own
bunnit off'n her next time she come; and I will so!"

"Oh, no, you won't, Auntie!" said Hildegarde.

"Well, now, you'll see. Miss Hildy chile! I had 'nuff ob dat woman. Ole
barn-cat, comin' snoopin' round here to see what she can git out'n you
and yer ma, 'cause she sees yer like two chillen. What yer want for
supper, honey, waffles, or corn-pone?"

"Waffles," said Hildegarde, with decision. "But--Auntie, what have you
there? No, not the pitcher; those little tin things that you just laid
down. I want to see them, please."

"I been rummagin' dis shelf," said Auntie. "I put a lot ob odd concerns
up here,--foun' em in de place when we come,--and dey ain't no good, and
I want de room. Dose? Dem's little moulds, I reckon. Well, now, I don't
seem as if I noticed dem before. Kin' o' pretty, ain't dey, honey?"

She handed down a set of tin moulds, of fairy size and quaint, pretty
shapes. Tulips, lilies, crocuses,--"Why, it is a tin flower-bed!" cried
Hildegarde. "Why did you never show me these before, Auntie?"

But Auntie was not conscious of having noticed them before. She had
cleaned them,--of course,--but her mind must have been on her cooking,
and she did not remember them.

"And what could one do with them?" Hildegarde went on. "Oh, see! here is
a scrap of parchment fastened to the ring of one of them. 'The moulds
for the almond cakes. The receipt is in the manuscript book with yellow
covers.' Why, how interesting this is! Almond cakes! It sounds
delightful! Do you remember where I put that queer old book, Auntie? You
thought the receipts so extravagant that I have not used it at all. Oh!
here it is, in your table-drawer. I might have been sure that you would
know exactly where it was. Now let us see. This may be a special
providence, Auntie."

"I don't unnerstand what you talkin' 'bout, chile," said Auntie,
good-naturedly. "I made you almond cake last week, and I guess dat was
good 'nuff, 'thout