seat. She turned from the window and looked at the two children,
smiling broadly. Freddie was somewhat confused, and looked down
quickly. Just then the train gave another lurch and Freddie suddenly
spilled some of the water on his coat.

"Oh, look what you did!" cried Flossie "And that's your best coat!"

"I--I couldn't help it," stammered Freddie.

"Never mind, little boy," said the fat lady. "It's only clean water.
Come here and I'll wipe it off with my handkerchief. I'd come to
you, only I'm so stout it's hard enough for me to walk anyhow, and
when the train is moving I simply can't do it."

Freddie and Flossie went to her seat, and with a handkerchief, that
Flossie said afterward was almost as big as a table cloth, the fat
lady wiped the water off Freddie's coat.

The little boy held the silver cup in his hand, and feeling, somehow,
that he ought to repay the fat lady's kindness in some way after
thanking her, he asked:

"Would you like a drink of water? I can bring it to you if you
would."

"Thank you," she answered. "What a kind little boy you are! I saw
you give your sister a drink first, too. Yes, I would like a drink.
I've been wanting one some time, but I didn't dare get up to go
after it."