Page:Pratt portraits - sketched in a New England suburb (IA prattportraitssk00full).pdf/35

 "Well, Betsy!" he cried. "If you ain't a sly one! Think of that, Mother. To go all by herself, as independent as a chipmunk, and have her picture taken! Well, you have given us a surprise, Betsy!"

Betsy heard nothing of this, and not daring to look at her mother and Ben, she watched Hattie, who was gazing with the greatest interest at the picture. Presently Hattie looked up into her aunt's troubled face, and with a sudden intuition, perhaps the first movement of genuine sympathy she had ever known, the girl took in the situation. She jumped up, and giving her aunt a hearty kiss, cried:

"Thank you so much, Aunt Betsy. It's ever so good. I believe I'd rather have a picture of you than of 'most any body—that I haven't got," she added, truthfully.

Aunt Betsy heard every word of this kind little scream, but she was almost too embarrassed to answer.

"Why, Hattie," she stammered, "I'm so glad! I did n't know"

"Oh! you're a sly one," roared Ben. "I always said you were a sly one, and didn't tell all you knew! Isn't she a sly one, Mother?"

"Well," screamed Mrs. Pratt, "it was mighty clever of you to be taken behind that wicket gate, I must say. And your shot silk has come out beautifully."

Aunt Betsy felt very much as a released convict