The fact was, the simple
creature took it as a pardon to herself.
"I am glad you have forgiven me, Tom," she said.
"What do you mean?" asked Tom.
"For working for Mrs. Redmain with _your_ hands," she said,
and, breaking into a little laugh, caught his cheeks between
those same hands, and reaching up gave him a kiss that made him
ashamed of himself--a little, that is, and for the moment, that
is: Tom was used to being this or that a little for the moment.
For this same dress, which Tom had thus glorified in song, had
been the cause of bitter tears to Letty. He came home _too
late_ the day of Mary's visit, but the next morning she told
him all about both the first and the second surprise she had had
--not, however, with much success in interesting the lordly youth.
"And then," she went on, "what do you think we were doing all the
afternoon, Tom?"
"How should I know?" said Tom, indifferently.
"We were working hard at a dress--a dress for a fancy-ball!"
"A fancy-ball, Letty? What do you mean? You going to a fancy-
ball!"
"Me!" cried Letty, with merry laugh; "no, not quite me. Who do
you think it was for?"
"How should I know?" said Tom again, but not quite so
indifferently; he was prepared to be annoyed.
"For Mrs. Redmain!" said Letty, triumphantly, clapping her hands
with delight at what she thought the fun of the thing, for was
not Mrs.
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