"It's uncommonly warm," he remarked. He looked at the boy, who had perched himself on the high stool behind the counter, and a kindly twinkle came into his eyes. "I think you must be John Monday," he said; "my little niece has spoken of you in her letters."
"Then you are Uncle Dick—Mr. Dawson?"
"Yes. I thought I'd give Mousey a surprise."
"She will be pleased! She's for ever talking of you and her aunt."
"Bless her little heart!" Mr. Dawson exclaimed. "How is the dear child?"
"Quite well. She goes to school every day, you know, and is growing uncommonly sharp."
Mr. Dawson's face beamed with pleasure on hearing this; but it clouded as he glanced around him.
"This is a dull place," he said thoughtfully. "Eliza would be surprised if she saw her cousin's house—and he supposed to be so well-to-do, too."
"So he is," John Monday responded; "but he's that saving and mean he won't spend a penny more than he can possibly help."
"And yet he has behaved most generously to Mousey."