“You dear, kind little boy,” she said, and before the embarrassed Paul fully realized her intention, she had kissed him.
Paul drew away; he had grown very red.
“I don’t like to have anybody kiss me except Mother,” he said, ungraciously, “but I’d be real glad to leave that money for the organ-man.” But in spite of the ungracious words, Paul was not nearly so much offended as he would like to appear, and perhaps Miss Polly understood, for she only smiled.
“I’m afraid we must go now,” said Dulcie, rising reluctantly. “It’s nearly dinner-time, and Aunt Julia will wonder where Paul is.”
“Well, you have given me a very happy afternoon,” said Miss Polly, “and I thank you from the bottom of my heart. It is very kind of you to want to give me the pleasure of that hand-organ, Paul, but I think I would a little rather have you spend your money in some other way. I shall not forget your offer, though, and I hope you may be able to make me another visit before you go back to Boston.”
“Isn’t she a darling?” exclaimed Molly, the moment Miss Polly’s door closed behind them, to which Paul replied, with unusual gravity:
“She’s about the nicest lady I ever saw, and she’s awfully pretty, too. It must be awful to have to stay in that room all the time, and never even go down-stairs. I wish she’d let me do that thing about the organ-man.”
Although it was later than the children suspected, fortune favored Paul. His mother had been engaged with visitors for more than an hour, and when the front door closed behind the last one, at a quarter to six, and Mrs. Chester hurried up-stairs to dress for dinner, she found her small son dutifully brushing his hair before the mirror.
“Well, and have you and the little girls had a pleasant afternoon together?” she asked, kindly.
“Yes’m,” answered Paul, giving his red crop a final pat with the hair-brush. “Dulcie loved the book. It was the only new present she had, except the candy the lady from California sent.”