“Jimmy is going to be a man,” she said, just as she had told the boy, only she never whispered a word of his wrong-doing, “if Badgertown people take hold and help.”
“And would it help to take him to the circus?”
“I think it would be the greatest help in all this world.” Mrs. Pepper leaned forward, her eyes sparkled, and she was as eager as Polly now. “Don’t you see, he longs to go? Every boy does. And if he can be invited by you, Miss Parrott—”
“And go with you, and the Five Little Peppers,” interrupted Miss Parrott. “Yes, I begin to see.”
“And once he thinks that he’s a boy that people believe has got something worth while in him, why, he’ll see it himself.”
“Yes, yes,” said Miss Parrott, finding herself thawing all over.
“And then when he sees that, he’ll take hold and work—if it is found for him.” Here Mrs. Pepper went more slowly and looked fixedly into the long face.
“You mean that perhaps I might find some work for him,” said Miss Parrott. “Well, perhaps so, but I haven’t got that boy to the circus yet. Let us settle that matter first,” and a grim smile stole over her long face. “Now proceed, please, Mrs. Pepper.”
“And a boy who has something worth while in him, can’t help but grow up to be a man,” Mrs. Pepper said with emphasis, “a real man, can he, Miss Parrott?”
“I suppose not,” said Miss Parrott, a bit grudgingly, as all her defenses were thrown down. Then she smiled, “Oh, you may take the boy—that Jimmy,” she said, “with you to-morrow. I can’t say I believe all the good is to result that you think; but you can try the scheme. He’ll probably worry the life out of you—tease the animals almost to death, and get into innumerable scrapes—and I should think you had enough trouble without calling this down on your head. But you can take him.”