punch. Clare clung the harder to the box. The lady heard something,
and turned her head. The boy already had his back to her, and was
walking away, but she saw that Clare's face was flushed.

"What is the matter?" she asked.

"I don't rightly know, ma'am. He wanted me to give him my bandbox for
his, and said Mr. Maidstone had sent him. But I couldn't, you
know!--except he asked you first. You did pay for it--didn't you,
ma'am?"

"Of course I did, or he wouldn't have let me take it away! But if you
don't know what it means, I do.--You haven't been in that shop long,
have you?"

"Not quite a month, ma'am."

"I thought so!"

She said no more, and Clare followed in silence, wondering not a
little. When they reached the station, she took the bandbox, and
looked at the boy. He returned her gaze, his gray eyes wondering. She
searched her purse for a shilling, but, unable to find one, was not
sorry to give him a half-crown instead.

"You had better not mention that I gave you anything?" she said.

"I will not, ma'am, except they ask me," he answered.

"But," he added, his face in a glow of delight, "is all this for me?"