For a moment he felt abashed that he had so plainly shown the longing in his heart, then as she asked again, he cried:
"I want to be someone. I want a chance to be something besides
Gyp, the gypsy boy."
"Oh, then that's almost granted now!" she cried in quick relief, "because I heard the teacher say, the other day:
"'That boy will get there! That boy will be someone worth while, and
I mean to help him.'"
"Did she say that?" cried Gyp, his eyes showing how little he dreamed that the work that he was doing was being noticed.
"She truly did," said Sprite, "so while I couldn't grant your wish,
I could tell you that it would come true, and I'm glad of that."
"So'm I," agreed Gyp, "but don't yer tell any of the others that I thought yer was a fairy, will yer?"
She promised faithfully, and when he had thanked her for what she had told him, and for the promise that she had just made, he turned and, as usual, ran off to the woods.
Sprite stood watching him as he ran, like the wind across the fields, and even as she looked he turned, paused a moment, and waved his hand to the little waiting figure.
Quickly she lifted hers, and returned his salute.