The grocer looked at him in surprise, but with a smile on his face, for he was a kind man, with little boys and girls of his own. But before he said anything, Ted's mother came forward to explain that it was almost the first time her little boy had been in a shop; he had not before understood what buying and selling meant, but now that she had explained it to him, she thought it right for him himself to bring back the lump of soda.
"And indeed it was his own wish to do so," she added.
The grocer thanked her. It was not of the least consequence to him of course he said, but still he was a sensible man and he respected Ted's mother for what she had done. And then, half afraid that her little boy's self-control would not last much longer, she took him by the hand, and bidding the shopman good-day they left the shop. As they came out into the street again she looked down at Ted. To her surprise his little face was quite bright and happy.
"He were a kind man," said Ted; "he wasn't vexed with Ted. He knew I didn't understand."
"Yes, dear," said his mother, pleased to see the simple straightforward way in which Ted had taken the lesson; "but now, Ted, you do understand, and you would never again touch anything in a shop, would you?"
"Oh no, muzzer, in course not," said Ted, his face flushing a little. "Ted would never take nothing that wasn't his—never; thoo knows that, muzzer?" he added anxiously.
"Yes, my dear little boy," and this time his mother did stoop down and kiss him in the street.