‘ ’Tis not often Peter will do it, for you see he has to wash my hands,’ said Phil. ‘Father is better. O good luck, Carrie, here he comes!’ for as the children stood together on the steps, the great door with its iron knocker swung open, and a man came out, closing the door behind him.
‘Hillo, Phil! alone? Where hath Peter disappeared to? And who is the lady you have forgathered with?’ he said, as he looked down in amusement at the children. Peter came swinging along the Square, red to his powdered locks, and Patty, overcome with confusion, stood still at some distance and beckoned to Carrie to run to her.
‘O no, sir, I am not alone; Peter is talking to a woman there, and——’ said Phil.
‘And you are following his example,’ laughed Phil’s father. ‘And what is your name, my little lady?’
Carrie was smitten with sudden shyness, and thought of beginning to cry. She thrust her dimpled hand into her eye and rubbed it hard, and did not speak. Peter came up breathless and apologetic.
‘I was but speaking with a friend, sir,’ he exclaimed; ‘an’ Master Phil he did run away along the Square, sir, and——’
‘Tush, Peter, there is little harm done,’ said his master, and would have passed on, but Phil barred his path.
‘If you please, sir, Caroline would like to put her hand into the torch-snuffer: will you lift her?’
‘And what will Caroline’s maid say?’ laughed Phil’s father.
‘Nothing, sir, if you do it,’ Phil urged, and at that his father stooped down and swung Carrie up on to his shoulder, and bade her poke her fingers into the envied grime of the snuffer.