"Oh because--girls can't do like that."
"Lots o' girls do."
"But--not nice girls, Tode," said Nan, wistfully.
"Well no, I don't 'spect they're nice girls. I don't know any girls 't amount to much," replied Tode, disdainfully.
Nan flushed at his tone, as she answered,
"But what can I do? Where can I go? Seems as if there ought to be some place where girls like me could stay."
"That's so, for a fact," assented Tode, then he added, thoughtfully, "The's one feller--mebbe you could stay where he lives. He's got a mother, I know."
"Oh if I only could, Tode! I'd work ever so hard," said Nan, earnestly.
"You stay here an' I'll see 'f I can find him," said the boy. Then he turned back to add suspiciously, "Now don't ye clear out while I'm gone."
Nan looked at him wonderingly.