basket and was sitting on the step beside it. She did not seem at all
surprised when he told her he could not find anyone. "You not find
anyone, and you not have money," she said. "Then I tell you what I do;
you put your hand in dis baskit, and I give you what you take; I make
what you call 'present.'"

"Will you really?" cried Teddy.

"Yis," said the little old woman, smiling, and her smile was just like
the smile of the Counterpane Fairy.

"And you'll give me whatever I take?"

"Yis," said the little old woman again.

Teddy put his hand in under the cover and caught hold of something hard
and cold. He pulled and pulled at it, and out it came; it was a little
iron shovel.

"You take something more," said the little old woman. Teddy hesitated,
but when he looked at her again he saw that she really meant it, so he
put his hand in and this time he pulled out a large iron key.

"Now try once more," said the little old woman, and this third time it
was a rat-trap baited with cheese, that Teddy drew from the basket.

"But what shall I do with them?" he asked.

"You keep dem," said the old Italian, "and you find you need dem by and
by." Then she rose, and pulling her cloak over the basket she took her