"He doesn't mean the cars themselves," said Eva. "Really, Eric, you are so silly! What he means is, he writes down in a book the numbers of all the cars he sees and the names of the makers of all he knows. I wish he wouldn't," she added, sadly; "it makes our walks so dreary for me."
"It's the only thing that makes walks possible," said Eric.
They started to go out. At the door the boy stopped. "Are you sure we oughtn't to pay you something?" he asked.
"Quite," said Ben.
"I think you're a wonderful adviser," said Eva.
XXII
"You must pardon me for intruding without any real business reason," said the pretty woman, "but I want to apologize for my children worrying you the other day. About birthday presents."
"Oh, yes," said Ben. "They were yours, then?"