"Why don't you open it and see?"

Aladdin blushed.

"Time enough after breakfast," he said.

There was a silence.

"Jack's eatin' his breakfast; why ain't you eatin' yours?"

Aladdin fell upon his breakfast for the sake of peace. And
Mrs. Brackett said no more. Some days later, for she was not
to be denied in little matters or great, Mrs. Brackett found
where Aladdin had hidden the letter, took it up, read it,
sniffed, and put it back, with the remark that she never "see
such carryin's-on."

Aladdin hid, and read his letter over and over; then an
ominous silence having informed him that Mrs. Brackett had
gone abroad, he stole into the parlor, perched on the
piano-stool, and, like a second Columbus, began to discover
things which other people have to be shown. The joy of his
soul had to find expression, as often afterward the sorrow
of it.

That winter Jack entered school in the lowest class, and the
two little boys were to be seen going or coming in close
comradeship, fair weather or foul. The yellow cat had affairs
of gallantry, and bore to the family, at about Christmas-time,