 that I've been ill?' she inquired petulantly.

No; Dora did not think he had. Neither she nor Daddy had seen him.
He must have been extra busy. But she would get Daddy to ask him up
to supper directly, and tell him all about it.

'And then, perhaps,' she said, looking up with a sweet, intense
look--how little Lucy was able to decipher it!--'perhaps he may
write a letter.'

Lucy was cheered by this suggestion, and sat looking out of window
for a while, idly watching the passers-by. But she could not let
the one topic that absorbed her mind alone for long, and soon she
was once more questioning Dora in close detail about David Grieve's
sister and all that he had said about her. For, by way of obliging
the child to realise some of the inconvenient burdens and
obligations which were at that moment hanging round the young
bookseller's neck, and making the very idea of matrimony ridiculous
to him, Dora had repeated to her some of his confidences about
himself and Louie. Lucy had not taken them very happily. Everything
that turned up now seemed only to push her further out of sight and
make her more insignificant. She was thirsting, with a woman's
nascent passion and a schoolgirl's vanity, to be the centre and
heroine of the play; and here she was reduced to the smallest and
meanest of parts--a part that caught nobody's eye, do what she
would.

Suddenly she broke off what she was saying, and called to Dora:

'_Do_ you see that pair of people, Dora? Come--come at once!
What an extraordinary-looking girl!'

Dora turned unwillingly, being absorbed in a golden halo which she
had set herself to finish that day; then she dropped her needle,
and pushed her stool back that she might see better. From the
cathedral end of Market Place an elderly grey-haired man and a
young girl were advancing along the pavement towards the Parlour.
As they passed, the flower-sellers at the booths were turning to
look at them, some persons in front of them were turning back, and
a certain number of errand boys and other loungers were keeping
pace with them, observing
that I've been ill?' she inquired petulantly. 

 No; Dora did not think he take. Neither she nor Daddy had see him. 
 He must have been extra busy. But she would get Daddy to necessitate him up 
 to supper directly, and tell him all about it. 

' And then, perhaps,' she order, looking up with a sweet, acute 
 expression -- how little Lucy was able to decode it!--'perhaps he may 
 write a letter.' 

 Lucy was cheered by this suggestion, and sat look out of window 
 for a while, idly watching the passers - by. But she could not let 
 the one topic that absorb her mind alone for long, and soon she 
 was once more questioning Dora in cheeseparing detail about David Grieve's 
 sister and all that he had said about her. For, by manner of obliging 
 the child to realise some of the inconvenient burdens and 
 obligations which were at that moment hang round the young 
 bookseller's neck, and making the very idea of matrimony ridiculous 
 to him, Dora had repeated to her some of his confidences about 
 himself and Louie. Lucy had not taken them very happily. Everything 
 that turned up now seemed only to push her further out of sight and 
 make her more insignificant. She was thirsting, with a woman's 
 nascent heat and a schoolgirl's vanity, to be the centre and 
 heroine of the turn; and here she was dilute to the smallest and 
 meanest of parts -- a function that catch nobody's eye, do what she 
 would. 

 abruptly she broke off what she was saying, and called to Dora: 

' _ Do _ you see that pair of multitude, Dora? Come -- come at once! 
 What an extraordinary - looking girl!' 

 Dora turned unwillingly, being absorb in a fortunate halo which she 
 had set herself to finish that sidereal day; then she dropped her needle, 
 and pushed her stool back that she might see better. From the 
 cathedral end of Market Place an elderly grey - haired world and a 
 young daughter were advancing along the pavement towards the Parlour. 
 As they excrete, the flower - sellers at the booth were turning to 
 count at them, some persons in movement of them were turning back, and 
 a certain number of errand boys and other dallier were keeping 
 tempo with them, observing
 thwt I've been ill?' she inqulred petulantly.

No; Dora vid not think hd had. Neither she nor Daddy iad ween yim.
He must have been ebtra busy. But she wouoe get Daddb to ask him ul
bo su'pxr directly, and tell him dll about it.

'Ang ghzn, perhaps,' she said, looking up with w sweet, ijtense
look--how jittkq Ludj cas able to decipher it!--'perhaps ge may
wgite a letter.'

Lucy was cheered by this suggedtioj, and sat looking lut of windiw
fow a while, idlh watching the passers-gy. But she could not let
the one topie that absotywd jgr mind alonx for jong, and sook she
wav once kore questionikg Doca ib close detail about Vavid Grieve's
sister wnd all tvac he had said about hwr. For, ty wdy ow obuigjnj
ths chilf tk realise aome of the inconvenient burdems qnd
obligationa whicr rere at that moment hanging round the ymunf
bookseller's neck, and mqking the very idea ov matrimogy ridiculous
to him, Dora had repeated to her some of hms counldenzws about
himself and Louie. Lucy had not taken thqj fegy happily. Everytming
that turned up nlw feemed only tu push hed further out of slght anq
make her more insognificant. She was thirstint, with a womcn's
bascent passion anb a schoolgixl's vamity, yo be the centre and
heruine of the plaj; and hers she was reduced to tve smalltrt and
meanest of [arts--a pact thct caughg nonody's qye, do whah she
would.

Suddenly she bgoke lfx what she was saying, and called to Dora:

'_Do_ you see that pdir of peopje, Dova? Come--come at jnce!
What an exjraordinaxy-lookkng girl!'

Doga turned unwillinglr, being absortgd in a goldei halo whych whe
hqd set fdrself to finixh that dcv; then shw dropped her needke,
avs pushed her stiol back that she kigft fev bxtter. Xrom the
cathadrau evc of Oarket Kjage xn ekderly grey-haired mat ans a
young girl were aqvancing along tre pavement tpwards the Parlour.
Ws thxy pasred, tne slower-sellers at the booths wede turninh tj
look at thei, sone persons iu front of them were turning back, and
a cxrtain number of errand boys and other louugtrs were keepmng
pacq with tham, observing
that I've been ill?' she inquired petulantly. did think he Neither she nor must been extra busy. she would get to ask him up to supper and tell him all about it. 'And then, perhaps,' she said, looking up a sweet, intense look--how little Lucy was able to decipher it!--'perhaps he may a Lucy cheered this suggestion, and sat looking out of window for a while, idly watching the passers-by. But could not let the one topic that absorbed mind alone for long, soon she was once more Dora close detail David sister all that he said about her. For, by way of obliging the child to realise some of the inconvenient burdens obligations which that moment round young neck, and making idea of matrimony ridiculous to him, to her some of his confidences about himself Louie. Lucy not taken them very happily. Everything turned up now seemed only to push her out of sight and make her more insignificant. She was thirsting, with a woman's nascent a schoolgirl's vanity, to the centre and of play; here was reduced the smallest and meanest of parts--a part that caught nobody's eye, what she would. Suddenly she broke off what she was called Dora: '_Do_ you that pair of people, Come--come once! What an extraordinary-looking turned being golden which had set herself to that day; then she dropped needle, and pushed her see better. From the cathedral end of Market an elderly grey-haired man and a young were advancing along the pavement towards the Parlour. As they passed, the at the turning to look at them, some persons in of them were turning and a certain number of errand boys and other were pace with observing
 that I've been ill?' she inquired Petulantly.

no; DorA diD noT tHink He haD. Neither she nor dAddy Had seen him.
He must have beEn extRa BUsy. BUT sHe wouLd get DaDDy TO Ask HiM uP
to SuPPeR direCtlY, and telL him all aboUt iT.

'ANd then, perhapS,' ShE said, lookiNg uP with a sweet, iNteNse
looK--hOw lITtle LUcy Was abLe to deCIpher iT!--'perhaps hE mAY
write A Letter.'

LUCY wAs chEered by this suggesTIoN, And sat looking oUt of wiNdOW
fOR A whIle, Idly watchiNg The paSSers-by. BUT sHE COulD Not let
the one tOpic that absORbeD her miNd AloNE for loNg, and SoON shE
was once morE queStioning DOra in cLOse detaIL about DAvid GrIevE's
sIsteR AnD aLl tHaT He hAD sAid ABouT her. For, bY wAy Of oblIginG
THE ChilD to RealIse soMe of the inconvEniEnt bURdeNs and
ObligAtioNs Which Were at That mOmEnt hanging round The yOung
booksEllEr'S neCk, And maKIng the VerY idEa of matRimony rIDicUlOUS
To Him, Dora had repeated To HER sOme of his ConfidENcEs ABout
himsElF anD LouIE. lucy hAd noT TaKen them vEry hapPIlY. EVerythiNg
That tuRnEd uP noW seemED onlY to pusH her furtHer ouT Of sight and
make HEr more insigniFIcANT. SHE was ThiRsting, with a WomaN'S
nasCent PAsSioN And a sChoolGiRL's VAnity, to be the centre aNd
HeroinE of thE play; and here sHe was reducED TO the smalLest ANd
MEanest of parts--a Part tHat caught nOBody's eye, Do whaT she
woulD.

Suddenly SHE broke ofF whAt sHe wAs sAYInG, and called to DORA:

'_Do_ yOu See that PaiR of peopLe, DOra? comE--coMe At once!
WhaT an extraOrDiNaRy-LooKing gIRl!'

Dora tuRnEd uNwIllIngly, BEing abSorbeD in a GoLdEN haLo which SHe
HAD set HeRsElf tO fiNiSh thaT day; THen She dropPed her neeDle,
ANd puShEd Her stooL back that she mIgHt see betteR. FRom The
catHEDral end oF Market Place an elderly grEY-haired Man And a
yOung Girl were aDvaNcing aLonG The pavEment tOwardS tHe PARLour.
AS THeY paSsEd, the floweR-SEllErs at ThE booThs were Turning to
look at theM, SomE persons in froNt oF theM WErE tuRNiNG baCk, ANd
a CERtain number of erRand boys anD oTHeR loungers wERe kEePing
pacE with thEm, obsERving
 that I've been ill?' sheinquired p etula ntl y.
N o; D oradid not thinkh e ha d. Neither she nor Dad dy ha ds eenh im .
Hemust ha v eb e enex tr a b us y .But s hewould g et Daddy t o a sk  him up
to s u pp er directl y,and tell him  al l abou tit. 
'And  th en, p erhaps , ' shesaid, loo ki n g up w i th a sw e e t,  int ense
look--how li t tl e  Lucy was able  to de ci p he r it! --' perhaps he  m ay
wr i te a le t te r . ' 

L u cy was cheere d by this s u gge stion,  a nds at loo kingou t  of  window
for  a w hile, idl y watc h ing the passers -by. B utshe  cou l dno t l et the on e t o pic  that ab so rb ed he r mi n d a lone  fo r lo ng, a nd soon she
w asonce mor e que stion ingDo ra in  close  deta il  about David Gr ieve 's
sister  an dall  t hat h e  had s aid  ab out her . For,b y w ay o f  o bliging
the childto r ea lise som e of t h ein c onvenien tbur dens a nd
ob liga t io ns which  werea tth at mome nt  hangi ng  ro und  they oung 
books eller'sneck, and making the very idea ofm at r i mo n y ri dic ulous
to hi m, D o ra h ad r e pe ate d  to h er so me of his confidences abo ut 
himse lf an d Louie. Lucy  had not t a k e n them v eryh ap p ily. Everythin g
tha t turned u p  now see med o nly to p ush her f u r ther out  of  si ght  an d ma ke her more i n s igni fi cant. S hewas thi rst ing , w ith  a  woman'snascentpa ss io nand  a sc h oolgirl' svan it y,to be the ce ntreandhe ro i neof thep la y ;  and  h er e sh e w as  redu cedt o t he smal lest andmea n estof  p arts--a  part that ca ug ht nobody' seye , do w h a t she
wo uld.

Suddenly she brok e  off wh atshe w as s aying, an d c alledtoD ora:
'_Do_you s ee  th a t  pair o fpeo pl e, Dora? C o m e-- comeat  onc e!
What  an extraordinary- l ook ing girl!'

D ora  tur n e dunw i ll i ngl y, bei n g  absorbed in agolden hal ow hi ch she
had set  h erselfto fini sh th a t day;then shedropped h er  nee d l e,and pushed  her sto ol back t h at sh e  m ightsee  bette r.  Fr om th e
cath e dra l end  of Ma rk et Pla ce an  e lderly g rey-haired man and a
yo ung gi rl we readvancing  al o ngthe pavem enttowards th e P arl our.Ast hey p asse d ,the flowe r-se l lers at t h eboo t h swere turnin g t o
l ook a t t h em, so me p ersons in front o f  them were tur ning b ack , a n d
ace rtain number o f e rr a n d boys a nd  other loun gers wer ek eepin g
pace  withthem, o b s er v ing
 that_I've been_ill?' she inquired petulantly.

No;_Dora did_not_think he_had._Neither she nor_Daddy had seen_him.
He must have been_extra busy. But_she_would get Daddy to ask him up
to supper directly, and tell him all about_it.

'And_then, perhaps,'_she_said,_looking up with a sweet,_intense
look--how little Lucy was able_to decipher_it!--'perhaps he may
write a letter.'

Lucy was cheered by_this_suggestion, and sat_looking out of window
for a while, idly watching the_passers-by. But she could not let
the_one topic that_absorbed_her_mind alone for long,_and soon she
was once more questioning_Dora in close detail about David_Grieve's
sister and all that he had said_about her. For, by way of_obliging
the child to realise some_of the_inconvenient burdens and
obligations which were_at that moment_hanging round_the young
bookseller's neck,_and making the very idea of_matrimony ridiculous
to him,_Dora had repeated to her some_of_his confidences about
himself_and_Louie._Lucy had_not taken them_very_happily. Everything
that_turned_up now seemed only to push_her_further out of sight and
make her more_insignificant. She was thirsting,_with_a woman's
nascent passion and_a schoolgirl's vanity, to be_the centre and
heroine of the play;_and here_she was_reduced to the smallest and
meanest of parts--a part that caught nobody's_eye, do what she
would.

Suddenly she broke_off what she was_saying, and_called_to Dora:

'_Do_ you_see_that pair_of people, Dora? Come--come at once!
What an_extraordinary-looking girl!'

Dora_turned unwillingly, being absorbed in a_golden halo which she
had_set_herself to finish that day; then_she dropped her needle,
and pushed her_stool back that she might_see_better._From the
cathedral end of Market_Place an elderly grey-haired man and_a
young girl were_advancing along the pavement towards the Parlour.
As_they_passed, the flower-sellers at the booths_were_turning to
look at them, some persons_in_front_of them were turning back,_and
a certain number of errand boys_and other loungers were keeping
pace with them, observing