explained to the two men. “It can’t last many years now. It’s
nothing but a rat-trap but how I shall hate to see it go!”

Opposite the school was a big, wide court. Shaded with beautiful
trees—maples beginning to flame, horse-chestnuts a little browned,
it was lined with wooden toy houses, set back of fenced-in yards and
veiled by climbing vines. Pigeons were flying about, alighting now
and then to peck at the ground or to preen their green and purple
necks. Boys were spinning tops. Girls were jumping rope. The dust
they kicked up had a sweet, earthy smell in Maida’s nostrils. As she
stared, charmed with the picture, a little girl in a scarlet cape
and a scarlet hat came climbing up over one of the fences. Quick,
active as a squirrel, she disappeared into the next yard.

“Primrose Court!” Dr. Pierce exclaimed. “Well, well, well!”

“Primrose Court,” Maida repeated. “Do primroses grow there?”

“Bless your heart, no,” Dr. Pierce laughed; “it was named after a
man called Primrose who used to own a great deal of the
neighborhood.”

But Maida was scarcely listening. “Oh, what a cunning little shop!”
she exclaimed. “There, opposite the court. What a perfectly darling
little place!”

“Good Lord! that’s Connors’,” Dr. Pierce explained. “Many a reckless
penny I’ve squandered there, my dear. Connors was the funniest, old,
bent, dried-up man. I wonder who keeps it now.”