Mrs. Matilda Pitman smiled . Even eighty-odd is sometimes vulnerable in vanity . `` I 've heard that children and fools tell the truth , '' she said . `` I was used to compliments when I was young -- but they 're scarcer when you get as far along as I am . I have n't had one for years . It tastes good . I s ` pose now , you monkey , you would n't give me a kiss . '' Then Jims did a quite surprising thing . He was not a demonstrative youngster and was chary with kisses even to the Ingleside people . But without a word he stood up in bed , his plump little body encased only in his undershirt , ran to the footboard , flung his arms about Mrs. Matilda Pitman 's neck , and gave her a bear hug , accompanied by three or four hearty , ungrudging smacks . `` Jims , '' protested Rilla , aghast at this liberty . `` You leave him be , '' ordered Mrs. Matilda Pitman , setting her bonnet straight . `` Laws I like to see some one that is n't skeered of me . Everybody is -- you are , though you 're trying to hide it . And why ? Of course Robert and Amelia are because I make 'em skeered on purpose . But folks always are -- no matter how civil I be to them . Are you going to keep this child ? '' `` I 'm afraid not . His father is coming home before long . ''
`` Is he any good -- the XXXXX , I mean ? ''
Laws child father folks liberty purpose thing undershirt vanity youngster