"Why do you say that?"
So surprised was the girl, so startled by this unprecedented, this unheard of politeness in a human boy, that her expression swiftly changed to one of comic dismay. She was dumb. The miracle stupefied her. In their wonderment the beautiful eyes became yet larger and more beautiful. But the lips were speechless. Then, once again she vanished, this time behind her mother's skirt.
And that is how the acquaintance began between Cyrus Alton and Ruth Heywood.
III UNCLE HECTOR'S VERDICT
It so happened a few days later that this acquaintance was renewed. Cyrus, sitting on the doorstep of a house in the village, waited for his father, who was visiting a patient within.
Two little girls came along, arm in arm. They stopped in front of him.
One of them said: "A new boy."