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Dallett, looking gratified. Once the taking of such a liberty would have been very provoking to her. "Why, it does seem good to have somebody think o' things an' take right hold like that!" "I 'm sure you would, if you were down at my house," said Abby, blushing.
"Why, I wish you Happy New Year, aunt!" said Abby, springing up with unusual spirit. "Why, that's just what we come to say, and we like to have forgot all about it!" She kissed her aunt, and stood a minute holding her hand with a soft, affectionate touch. Mrs. Hand rose and kissed Mrs. Dallett too, and it was a moment of ceremony and deep feeling.
Far to the northward were higher mountains, and these were already white with snow. Winter was already in sight, but to-day the wind was in the south, and the snow seemed only part of a great picture. "I do hope the cold 'll keep off a while longer," thought Mrs. Dallett. "I don't know how I 'm going to get along after the deep snow comes."
Dallett smoothed her apron and gave an anxious housekeeper's glance round the kitchen. None of her state visitors, the minister or the deacons, ever came in the morning. Country people are usually too busy to go visiting in the forenoons. Presently two figures appeared where the road came out of the woods, the two women already known to the story, but very surprising to Mrs.
I shall always keep New Year's Day, too; it won't do no hurt to have an extra day kept an' made pleasant. And there 'a many of the real old folks have got pretty things to remember about New Year's Day." "Aunt Cynthy Dallett 's just one of 'em," said Miss Pendexter. "She 's always very reproachful if I don't get up to see her.
"I wish I was better prepared; but there 's nice eggs an' pork an' potatoes, an' you girls can take hold an' help." At this moment the roast chicken and the best mince pies were offered and kindly accepted, and before another hour had gone they were sitting at their New Year feast, which Mrs. Dallett decided to be quite proper for the Queen.
"I have often wished we were near enough to have her make me some sort o' signal in case she needed help. I used to plead with her to come down and spend the winters with me, but she told me one day I might as well try to fetch down one o' the old hemlocks, an' I believe 't was true." "Your aunt Dallett is a very self-contained person," observed Mrs. Hand.
You 're all out o' breath, ain't you, Mis' Hand?" Mrs. Dallett led the way with eager hospitality.
By her side, on a light-stand, lay the religious newspaper of her denomination, and a pair of spectacles whose jointed silver bows looked like a funny two-legged beetle cast helplessly upon its back. "New Year's Day again," said old Cynthia Dallett. Time had left nobody in her house to wish her a Happy New Year, she was the last one left in the old nest.
"You 'd both of you be a sight happier; and truth is, Abby's wild an' reckless, an' needs somebody to stand right over her, Mis' Dallett. I guess she 'll try an' behave, but there there 's no knowin'!" And they all laughed. Then the New Year guests said farewell and started off down the mountain road.
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