Phebe, Her Profession / A Sequel to Teddy: Her Book

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Phebe, Her Profession
A Sequel to Teddy: Her Book
1902
How do you do?
The remark was addressed to a young man who roused himself from a brown study and looked up. Then he looked down to see whence the voice proceeded. Directly in his pathway stood a wee boy, a veritable cherub in modern raiment, whose rosy lips smiled up at him blandly, quite regardless of the sugary smears that surrounded them. One hand clasped a crumpled paper bag; the other held a rusty iron hoop and a cudgel entirely out of proportion to the size of the hoop.
And how is everybody at your house? the babe demanded. Are vey pretty well?
Very well, thank you. The young man was endeavoring to remember where, during the two weeks he had spent in Helena, he had seen this child.
So is my people, the boy explained politely. It is a great while since I have seen you.
Amicably enough, the stranger accepted his suggestion of a past acquaintance.
It is a good while. Where have you been keeping yourself?