Geraldine was so stylish , and might think it queer ; and then Aunt Cyrilla always would carry it on her arm and give cookies and apples and molasses taffy out of it to every child she encountered and , just as often as not , to older folks too . Lucy Rose , when she went to town with Aunt Cyrilla , felt chagrined over this -- all of which goes to prove that Lucy was as yet very young and had a great deal to learn in this world . That troublesome worry over what Geraldine would think nerved her to make a protest in this instance . `` Now , Aunt C'rilla , '' she pleaded , `` you 're surely not going to take that funny old basket to Pembroke this time -- Christmas Day and all . '' '' ` Deed and ` deed I am , '' returned Aunt Cyrilla briskly , as she put it on the table and proceeded to dust it out . `` I never went to see Edward and Geraldine since they were married that I did n't take a basket of good things along with me for them , and I 'm not going to stop now . As for it 's being Christmas , all the more reason . Edward is always real glad to get some of the old farmhouse goodies . He says they beat city cooking all hollow , and so they do . '' `` But it 's so countrified , '' moaned Lucy Rose . `` Well , I am countrified , '' said Aunt Cyrilla firmly , `` and so are you . And what 's more , I do n't see that it 's anything to be ashamed of . You 've got some real silly pride about you , Lucy Rose . You 'll grow out of it in time , but just now it is giving you a lot of trouble . '' `` The basket is a lot of trouble , '' said Lucy Rose crossly . `` You 're always mislaying it or afraid you will . And it does look so funny to be walking through the streets with that big , bulgy basket hanging on your arm . '' `` I 'm not a mite worried about its looks , '' returned Aunt Cyrilla calmly . `` As for its being a trouble , why , maybe it is , but I have that , and other people have the pleasure of it . Edward and Geraldine do n't need it -- I know that -- but there may be those that will .
And if it hurts your feelings to walk ` longside of a countrified old lady with a countrified XXXXX , why , you can just fall behind , as it were . ''
Aunt Christmas Deed arm basket dust molasses queer streets worry