Tillie was asking that question of Tom himself a minute afterward.
“Girls are always curious,” he answered, good-humoredly. “I picked it off a bush.”
“Now, Tom, don’t tease me so.”
“A gentleman made me a present of it.”
“I wish he’d give me a cloak, then.”
“You and mother shall both have cloaks, and dresses, too,” answered Tom, cheerfully.
“You speak as if you had come into a fortune, Tom,” said his mother.
“I have been very lucky to-day. I will tell you all about it presently.”
Tom preferred to say what he had to his mother alone, as his sister was too young to be trusted with a secret.