For answer she bent over her typewriter and began to make an erasure.
"Don't you?" he persisted, gaining courage.
"Do I have to tell you?" she asked, laughing merrily.
Tom lingered for a few moments. He wanted to stay longer. This little familiar chat was a bigger innovation in his life than the long trousers had been. His heart was pounding just as it had pounded when he first took the scout oath. Evidently the girl meant to leave early herself, and see something of the day's festivities, for she was very prettily attired. Perhaps this, perhaps the balmy fragrance of that wonderful spring day which Providence had ordered for the registration of Uncle Sam's young manhood, perhaps the feeling that some good news awaited him down in Mr. Temple's office, or perhaps all three things contributed to give Tom a feeling of buoyancy.
"Are you going to see the parade?" he asked. "I got a badge here maybe you'd like to wear. I can get another for myself."
"I would like very much to wear it," she said, taking the little patriotic emblem which he removed from his khaki coat. "Thank you."
Tom almost hoped she would suggest that he pin it on for her. He stood for a few moments longer and then, as he could think of nothing more to say, moved rather awkwardly toward the door.
"You look splendid to-day, Tom," Miss Ellison said. "You look like a real soldier in your khaki."
"The woman where I board pressed it for me yesterday," he said, blushing.
"It looks very nice."