She laid down her sewing and smiled at him.
“Well, my little man, what is it?” she said. “Were you looking for somebody?”
“Yes, ma'am,” says Freckles. He stuttered a little and he was standing on one foot.
“For whom?” she asked.
“For Little Eva,” says Freckles.
The lady stared at him, and then she smiled again.
“And what do you want with Little Eva, sonny?” she said.
Freckles, he stands on the other foot a while, and says nothing. And like as not he would have backed away, but Tom Mulligan yells: “You don't dast give it to her, Freck!”
Then Freckles hands her the letter and gulps and says: “A letter for Miss Little Eva.”
The lady takes it and reads it. And then she reads it again. And then she calls out: “Jim! Oh, Jim!”