It was early , and my only fellow-passenger was a crusty old gentleman , who sat in a corner , reading his paper ; so when the car stopped , I glanced out to see who came next , hoping it would be a pleasanter person . No one appeared for a minute , and the car stood still , while both driver and conductor looked in the same direction without a sign of impatience . I looked also , but all I could see was a little girl running across the park , as girls of twelve or thirteen seldom run nowadays , if any one can see them . `` Are you waiting for her ? '' I asked of the pleasant-faced conductor , who stood with his hand on the bell , and a good-natured smile in his eyes . `` Yes , ma'am , we always stop for little missy , '' he answered ; and just then up she came , all rosy and breathless with her run . `` Thank you very much . I 'm late to-day , and was afraid I should miss my car , '' she said , as he helped her in with a fatherly air that was pleasant to see . Taking a corner seat , she smoothed the curly locks , disturbed by the wind , put on her gloves , and settled her books in her lap , then modestly glanced from the old gentleman in the opposite corner to the lady near by . Such a bright little face as I saw under the brown hat-rim , happy blue eyes , dimples in the ruddy cheeks , and the innocent expression which makes a young girl so sweet an object to old eyes . The crusty gentleman evidently agreed with me , for he peeped over the top of the paper at his pleasant little neighbor as she sat studying a lesson , and cheering herself with occasional sniffs at a posy of mignonette in her button-hole . When the old gentleman caught my eye , he dived out of sight with a loud `` Hem ! '' but he was peeping again directly , for there was something irresistibly attractive about the unconscious lassie opposite ; and one could no more help looking at her than at a lovely flower or a playful kitten . Presently she shut her book with a decided pat , and an air of relief that amused me . She saw the half-smile I could not repress , seemed to understand my sympathy , and said with a laugh , -- `` It was a hard lesson , but I 've got it ! '' So we began to talk about school and lessons , and I soon discovered that the girl was a clever scholar , whose only drawback was , as she confided to me , a `` love of fun . '' We were just getting quite friendly , when several young men got in , one of whom stared at the pretty child till even she observed it , and showed that she did by the color that came and went in her cheeks . It annoyed me as much as if she had been my own little daughter , for I like modesty , and have often been troubled by the forward manners of schoolgirls , who seem to enjoy being looked at . So I helped this one out of her little trouble by making room between the old gentleman and myself , and motioning her to come and sit there . She understood at once , thanked me with a look , and nestled into the safe place so gratefully , that the old gentleman glared over his spectacles at the rude person who had disturbed the serenity of the child .
Then we rumbled along again , the car XXXXX fuller and fuller as we got down town .
'm decided dived getting miss peeped repress stood troubled went