But Sidney had reached her limit. She went over and flung open the door.
“Every word that you say shows me how right I am in not marrying you, Joe,” she said. “Real men do not say those things about each other under any circumstances. You're behaving like a bad boy. I don't want you to come back until you have grown up.”
He was very white, but he picked up his hat and went to the door.
“I guess I AM crazy,” he said. “I've been wanting to go away, but mother raises such a fuss—I'll not annoy you any more.”
He reached in his pocket and, pulling out a small box, held it toward her. The lid was punched full of holes.
“Reginald,” he said solemnly. “I've had him all winter. Some boys caught him in the park, and I brought him home.”
He left her standing there speechless with surprise, with the box in her hand, and ran down the stairs and out into the Street. At the foot of the steps he almost collided with Dr. Ed.
“Back to see Sidney?” said Dr. Ed genially. “That's fine, Joe. I'm glad you've made it up.”
The boy went blindly down the Street.