“Asked him for it,” was Tommy’s explanation.
“Very odd,” mused Peter; “asked the old idiot for it myself only last week. He refused it point-blank.”
Clodd snorted reproof. “You know I don’t like your doing that sort of thing. It isn’t proper for a young girl—”
“It’s all right,” assured him Tommy; “he’s bald!”
“That makes no difference,” was Clodd’s opinion.
“Yes it does,” was Tommy’s. “I like them bald.”
Tommy took Peter’s head between her hands and kissed it, and in doing so noticed the tell-tale specks of snuff.
“Just a pinch, my dear,” explained Peter, “the merest pinch.”
Tommy took up the snuff-box from the desk. “I’ll show you where I’m going to put it this time.” She put it in her pocket. Peter’s face fell.
“What do you think of it?” said Clodd. He led her to the corner. “Good idea, ain’t it?”