"If you think it so stupendous you had better accompany them, and get another peep."
"No," said Tom; "I might disturb the colored persons; I'll stay where I am."
"Bless me," cried Elsie; "what consideration! You will be bursting into unpremeditated poetry about the dark future, before we know it."
"Oh, Elsie," said Mrs. Harrington, "what a provoking creature you are."
She followed Elizabeth out of the room, and Tom was alone at last with his idol.
"Are you sorry I am going?" he asked.
"Do I look so?" she asked.
"No, you don't."
"Well, looks can't tell fibs," said she, provokingly.
"Oh, Elsie, be good to me now; just think; I shall be gone a whole week!"