Then she stepped through the open window, threw some sand upon her feet and ankles, and thus prepared, stood on the path outside, looked in, and waited.
Very soon Wilfrid burst into the room, exclaiming—
"Come and look at the healthy colour I've painted on your big doll's pale cheeks. Oh, Norah!" he added, looking round the empty room.
And now he became conscious of a little flower-girl standing on the garden path, and piteously offering him a bunch of violets.
Norah had heard what he had said, and felt vexed that he had dared to touch her big doll; still, she had not the affection for that stately lady that she had for the small invalid doll with the broken leg, so she only said—
"Buy a bunch of violets, sir?"
He was a tender-hearted boy, and at once fetched down his money-box from a shelf in the cupboard, unlocked it, and took out twopence which he gave her; but then he felt awkward and refused the flowers.
An organ in the street started playing.
"I can dance to that if you can pay," said the little girl thoughtfully, eyeing the money-box.
"How much do you want?" he asked.