"Then I'd put my arms around his neck and coax. I'd tell him I wanted to be like other boys. They think it's queer----" Hanny stopped, very red in the face. "Oh, you needn't mind. I know they laugh at me and make fun of me. But mother's so nice and clean, only I wish she'd dress up as your mothers do, and take a walk sometimes and go to church. And she cooks such splendid things and makes puddings and pies, and she lets me sit and read when I'm done my lessons. I have all the Rollo books, and father has Sir Walter Scott, that he's letting me read now. It's only that mother thinks I'll get into bad things and meet bad boys and get my clothes soiled. Oh, sometimes I'm so tired of being nice! Only you wouldn't want me to come over here if I wasn't." That was very true. "But there are a great many nice boys. Ben's just lovely, only he is growing up so fast," said the little girl, with a sigh. "And though Jim teases, he is real good and jolly. He doesn't keep his hands clean, and mother scolds him a little for that." They could not decide about the insurrection. Presently it was time for Charles to go home. He was always on the mark lest he should not be allowed the indulgence next time. The poor boy had been moulded into the straight line of duty. The girls went out to swing. They could all three sit in at once. And they often talked all at once. "It's just awful mean!" "If we only could do something!" "Girls!" Josie put her foot so firmly on the ground it almost tipped them out. "Girls, let _us_ see Mr. Reed and ask him." They all looked at each other with large eyes. "It couldn't be wrong," began Josie; "because I've asked _your_ father, Hanny, to let you come up to our stoop." "No, it couldn't be," said the chorus in firm approval. "Then let's do it. He always comes up First Avenue about half-past five on Saturdays. Now if we were to walk down----" "Splendid!" ejaculated Tudie. "And I'll ask mother if we can't go out for a little walk." "We mustn't wait too late." Tudie ran in to look at the kitchen clock. It was twenty minutes past five. "I'll go and ask." "Why, isn't your own sidewalk good enough?" was Mrs. Dean's inquiry. "Well--yes, you may do an errand for me down at the store. I want a pound of butter crackers. Don't go off the block." They put on their bonnets. Hanny's was a pretty shirred and ruffled blue lawn. They twined their arms around each other's waists, with Hanny in the middle and walked slowly down to the store. Tudie kept watch while her sister was making the purchase. Then they walked up, then down, looking on the other side lest they should not see him. Up and down again--up with very slow steps. What if they _should_ miss him! They turned. "Hillo!" cried a familiar voice. "Oh, Mr. Reed!" They blocked his way in a manner that amused him. He looked from one to the other, and smiled at the eager faces. "Oh, Mr. Reed--we wanted to--to----" "To ask you----" prompted Tudie.