Louise was silent. She wanted to offer consolation, for she felt that her escort was dangerously near tears over his humiliation, but she knew not how to begin. They sauntered along. John eyed the little piece of tape bound tin in the girl's hand with reawakening interest.
"Would you like it?" she asked graciously.
He murmured a husky "yes," and put the whistle in his mouth. After a few uncertain "J-u-u-dys," he trudged on again in silence.
As they stopped in front of her apartment, John had an inspiration.
"Say, Louise," he began awkwardly, "I don't want this doll carriage. Want it?"
And though his words were ungracious, she caught the spirit which lay back of them and thanked him sweetly.
Thereupon, John skipped happily homeward to make his parents miserable with divers attempts to imitate the noted T. J.'s Punch and Judy show. Two days later, he left the noise-maker lying on the floor by his bed, where Mrs. Fletcher confiscated it, and quiet reigned in the family again.