“Will you run to the ‘little woman’s’ store for me?”
The children called Miss Rounds “the little woman,” because she was small, and had a hump on her back.
“Come, Posy,” said Pollio, rushing for his hat.
“Wait a bit, my son. What are you going for?”
Pollio looked a little ashamed; but he always was in such a hurry! He and Posy came back for the errand, and saw that their father was holding out his beautiful cream-colored meerschaum, with a lady’s head carved on the bowl. He wanted some tobacco.
“O papa!” said Posy, looking grieved.
“Well, darling, you needn’t go with brother unless you choose. But why don’t you want papa to smoke?”
Posy blushed, but could not answer.
“Come here, my love, and whisper it in my ear,” said her mother.