So Tom obeyed, and in less than the time she mentioned a little boy was kneeling in front of the grate, softly laying in the pieces of wood, and Tom heard Aunt Dinah tell him, as a last word as she opened the library door to admit him,
“Now, you Jack, whatever you do, don’t ’sturb Tom’s writin’.”
One morning, some time later than this, Tom was occupied over his morning’s work, writing away very busily, when he heard the door open softly and then close again. He was sitting with his back to it, so he did not look around, but went on with his task. Presently, however, lifting his head and hand together to move some papers, he found standing by his side, with motionless eyes fixed upon his face, Lillie Sutherland.
“Good-morning, Miss Lillie,” said Tom, respectfully. “I did not know you were there, or I would have spoken before.”
“Papa said,” returned the child, “that I might come in and see you if I could be very still and not speak to you until you were ready.”
“Well, I am ready now,” replied Tom; “only first let me get you a chair.” So he rose and with a gentle courtesy placed a low-seated rocking-chair near his table and asked her to be seated.
She watched him bring it, and then seated herself with the utmost satisfaction.
“I came,” she said with an important air, which sat very curiously on her little figure, “to ask you if I might come to your Sunday-school.”
Tom was very much surprised. “I am afraid your father would not like it, Miss Lillie,” he said, gently.
“But papa said I might, and mamma said she did not care,” urged Lillie.