I've been listenin' for
_that_ all day. It's been so hot, an' everybody hayin', that I don't
suppose a soul but her has been near the store since nine o'clock this
mornin', and there she's stood an' knocked. I never heard anything like
it in my life. See here, Pussy, haven't you been asleep?"
Fidelia shook her head in a sulky and down-cast manner, but there was a
suspiciously flushed and creasy look about her, and they agreed that it
was more than probable that a nap on the store steps had softened and
shortened her vigil.
Mrs. Lennox had her up in the wagon on her lap. She took her Shaker
bonnet off, and smoothed her hair and kissed her. "She thought she'd got
to knock, I s'pose," said she. "I ought to have told her she didn't have
to when she went to a store. Poor little soul! mother won't send her to
the store again till she's bigger."
"I knocked an' knocked," wailed Fidelia, piteously.
She looked cross and worn out. Mrs. Rose ran into the house, and brought
out a plate of cookies and a mug of milk, and then Fidelia sat in her
mother's lap and ate and drank and felt comforted. But after the raisins
had been finally purchased, Cynthia's bonnet picked up out of the dust
and shaken, the little squeaking wagon stowed under the seat of the
buggy, and the team turned around, Fidelia set up a grievous and injured
cry: "My candy! my candy! I 'ain't--got my candy!" And she held up to
view the copper cent still clutched in her moist little fist.
Pages:
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41