“Nothin’.”
“That’s a fine recommendation. Do you expect to get the job on the strength of it?”
“Yes, sir. No, sir. On this.”
After much painful struggling the urchin succeeded in extracting from his pocket a note which he placed in Jeremy’s hands. At sight of it, all residue of raillery died out of the editor’s face. Though he had but once seen Marcia’s writing, he knew, at the first glance, the bold, frank, delicate, upright characters for hers. The note was undated. He read, with a feeling that the world had changed and sweetened about him, her words.
Dear Jem:
If you ever can, give Buddy a chance; some work that will not interfere with his schooling. I wish you two to look after each other.
And, oh, my dear, do please not quite altogether forget
Marcia
Jeremy sat in a long silence. The boy did not disturb it. Finally the young man looked up.
“When did she give you this, Buddy?”