He passes his hand impatiently over his forehead and starts up. "Forgive me, child," he says; "I have been thinking aloud. Does my psychological study interest you! Poor devil, I hope he may reach the shore, don't you? A past error thoroughly repented of is the best basis for future good conduct! Can I take any message to Silverbridge for you to-morrow, little one?"
"You are going there?" I say, clasping my hands. "Oh! can you not put me in your pocket? Shall you stay long?"
"Only a couple of days. I am going abroad afterwards; and when I come back you will be a grown-up young lady?"
"Worse luck!" I say, dolefully. "I should like to put off 'tails' for another ten years!"
"Tell me," he says, leaning forward and taking my face in his hands, "how old are you?"
"Fourteen!"
"So much? you look about twelve; you have a dear little face, and a sweet——— But I won't say I hope you will be pretty when I come back! If ever you pray heartily for anything, child, pray that you may never grow up beautiful."
"There is not much fear!" I say, ruefully. "I don't think any amount of praying would mend matters!"
"If you are good," he says, "that is all you want, and I think you will be."
"People like one so much better when one is pretty than when one is plain," I say, meditatively. "Plain people get all the leavings. Might not one be good and pretty too?"
"They might, but they very seldom are! No; when I come back, child, I hope I shall find you just as you are now."
"May I not grow, sir?"
"Grow as much as you please, child; but don't grow out of honesty!"
