Descending, Frances stated the case, and Mark not only said he would be glad to go with her, but he knew a place where she could get flowers much cheaper than down town.
"I'm so much obliged to you, and now I must ask mother if I can go," Frances said. "I can say you want me to go, can't I? It will be true, won't it?" she stopped halfway up the steps to inquire.
"Nothing could be truer," said Mark, laughing.
It did not take long to get her mother's permission, and in a very few minutes she came flying down to join her escort at the door.
As they walked up the street, talking merrily, more than one passer-by smiled at the pleasant sight, and turned to look again at the tall boy and the bright-eyed little girl.
In these two weeks they had come to be great friends. Frances rather enjoyed his teasing ways, which so alarmed Emma, and had always a saucy reply of some sort ready. She liked to be called your ladyship, and accepted his mock homage with a most regal air.
"What kind of flowers are you going to buy?" Mark asked.
"Violets, I think, because mother is specially fond of them."
"Aren't they rather expensive?"
"I don't know. I have two dollars; won't that be enough?" she asked anxiously.