"And won't you either?"asked the child,offering the open caramel bag with a spontaneous politeness which somehow made the housekeeper feel at a disadvantage.
"No,thank you.Stop that car,Julia,and make them wait for me,"she said,making haste slowly.
Once within,it took Mrs.Forbes a minute or two to get her breath,but she soon noticed that her companion's eyes were fixed upon a man seated a little way from them across the car.A smile kept coming to the child's lips,and at last the gentleman himself recognized that he was an object of interest.He looked at the strange little girl kindly.Her hand went unconsciously to the small gold pin she wore.
The man smiled and touched one of similar pattern which was fastening his tie.In a minute more his street was reached,and as he passed Jewel on his way out of the car,he stooped and gave her ready hand a little pressure.
She colored with pleasure,and Mrs.Forbes swelled with curiosity and disapproval.She knew the man by sight as a highly respectable citizen.What was this wild Western child doing now?The car made too much noise to permit of investigation,so she waited until they had left it and entered the park gates.
"Julia,"she said then,"where did you ever see that gentleman before?""I never did,"replied the child.