"Well, I'm all ready to begin."
"Not yet," said the little candy merchant, with a smile.
"Yes, I am."
"Your face and hands are very dirty."
"What odds will that make?" asked Ann, rather indignantly.
"Do you suppose anybody would eat a stick of candy after you had touched it with those dirty fingers? Your customers would be afraid of being poisoned."
"I s'pose I can wash 'em," replied Ann, who seemed still to regard it as a very unnecessary operation.
"It would be a good plan; and while you are about it you must not forget your face."
"I ain't a-going to touch the candy with my face," added Ann, triumphantly.
"Very true; but if people saw you with such a dirty face, they would be afraid your candy was not very clean."