"And tell him about the board we are going to have outside," interrupted Annie.
"No, no, we'll wait a bit, and see how we get on first," said Bond, a little anxiously.
"All right, dad, I won't say a word about the board till we find out whether we can put it up, and keep it up," said Jack.
"That's it, my lad; I don't want to make a fool of myself to anybody, and especially to them friends of yours that you think so much of."
"I don't see why you should think them such grand folks. Mrs. Winn was only a dressmaker, I've heard," said Mrs. Bond, a little tartly, for somehow she always did feel a little jealous of her son thinking so much of these strangers.
"You don't know Mrs. Winn, mother, or you would say what everybody else does, that she is every inch a lady."
"What is a lady, Jack?" asked his sister.
Jack scratched his head, for the question was a hard one for him to answer, but at last he said, "Well, I suppose it is to be kind, and say civil things, and always look nice, and have a clean, tidy room."
Jack's father laughed until the tears came into his eyes, and in the midst of it, Jack took up his cap and went back to work. And after he had gone, his father said, "The boy ain't so far wrong neither, for there's many a fine madam with plenty of money, who ain't no lady, and there's many a working lass who would put the fine madam to shame; and so I think our Jack has hit the right nail on the head after all."
Jack brought the big bicycle home in great triumph the next day, and was not a little proud when his mother and sister came to the street door to see him ride it up and down the street.