"I was sort of looking for you to-day!" she added.
"You was!" Pippin glowed responsive. "Now that sounds good to me. Something in my line to-day?"
"There was a woman come to clean Saturday, and what must she do but take my best potato knife to pry off the top of a jar! 'Twas a screw-top, too, so she had her trouble for her pains, and broke the knife besides—Just the tip; I thought perhaps you could grind it off?"
"Well, I guess! just watch me! If there's one job I like better than another, it's grind a new tip."
Mary brought the knife, which he pronounced a dandy from Dandyville. He didn't suppose she would care to see him do it? Some thought 'twas pretty to watch. Mary, with a glance at the clock, thought she had time. Soon, bright head and dark were bending over Nipper, the wheel was flying, the rough edge of blue steel was fining, thinning, brightening, shaping—yes, it certainly was pretty to watch. Pippin had a strong notion that something else would have been pretty to watch, too, could he have looked two ways at once; it was rather wonderful to feel a soft breath on your cheek, to be conscious that within six or eight inches of your own brown head was that bright efflorescence of light and color and softness, but Pippin did not say this.
When the knife was done, he looked up, and met his reward in a soft glow of admiration and wonder that almost took his breath.
"You surely are a master hand!" cried Mary. "Why, it's better than when it came from the shop."
"I'm real pleased if it's satisfactory!" said Pippin modestly. "'Twould be better still if I had a bit of shammy skin; I did have a piece, but I can't seem to—"
"Why, step right in! I've got shammy skin and to spare. Step in and set down, do! I'd be pleased to have you!"