Then Dorothy found herself alone and no longer afraid. She had accomplished her mother's errand—now she must attend to a much more important one of her own. She gazed about her with keenest interest, trying to understand the entire postal business, as there represented before her, and assuring herself that after all it was extremely simple.
"It's just because it's new. New things always puzzle folks. As soon as I've been once or twice I shan't mind it, no more than any of these people do. I wonder which way I must go? If he's the head man he ought to have the head room, I should think. Hmm. I'll have to ask, and—and—I sort of hate to. Never mind, Dorothy C.! You're doing it for father John and mother Martha; and if you plan to be grown-up, in your outsides, you must be inside, too. Father hates bold little girls. He says they're a—a—annemoly, or something. It belongs to girl children to be afraid of things. He thinks it's nice. Well, I'm all right nice enough inside, this minute, but—I'll do it!"
After these reflections and this sudden resolution Dorothy darted forward and seized the arm of a negro who was cleaning the floor.
"Please, boy, tell me the way to the head man's place. The real postmaster of all."
"Hey? I dunno as he's in, yet. He don't come down soon, o' mornin's. What you want to see him for?"
"On business of my own. The way, please," answered Dorothy, bracing her resolution by the fancied air of a grown person.
The negro grinned and resumed his scrubbing, but nodded backward over his shoulder toward a tall gentleman just entering the building.
"That's him. Now you got your chance, better take it."
There was nothing to inspire fear in the face of this "head man of all," nor was there anything left in Dorothy's mind but the desire to accomplish her "business" at once and, of course, successfully. Another instant, and the gentleman crossing the floor felt a detaining touch upon his sleeve and beheld a bonny little face looking earnestly up into his own. Also, a childish voice was saying:
"I'm John Chester's little girl. May I ask you something?"