Without being able to tell why, Dick felt rather glad she did. He plucked up courage to ask her name.
“My name is Ida,” answered the young lady. “Do you like it?”
“Yes,” said Dick. “It’s a bully name.”
Dick turned red as soon as he had said it, for he felt that he had not used the right expression.
The little girl broke into a silvery laugh.
“What a funny boy you are!” she said.
“I didn’t mean it,” said Dick, stammering. “I meant it’s a tip-top name.”
Here Ida laughed again, and Dick wished himself back in Mott Street.
“How old are you?” inquired Ida, continuing her examination.
“I’m fourteen,—goin’ on fifteen,” said Dick.