"How's trade to-day? Too early to
tell yet? Well, see if I can't boom it a little. Give me a dozen
apples, and one--yes, two quarts of nuts."
Pleased and flustered at this stroke of fortune, she busied herself in
getting out two of the largest of her paper bags, and filling the
munificent order. But Tom was not like himself this morning. He had
plenty to say, to be sure; but he talked away with a kind of reckless
gaiety that appeared a trifle forced, and he was eager to be off.
The old woman paused a second, as if suddenly impressed by the
difference in his manner; then, by a shake of the head, she strove to
banish the thought, which she reproached herself for as an unworthy
suspicion, and smiled as if to reassure herself. With a pleasant word
she put the well-filled bags into Tom's hands, and received the silver
he offered in payment--three bright new dimes. At that moment she
caught a glimpse of Ed Brown lurking in the area way of a house at the
other end of the block. The sight filled her with a vague misgiving
which she could not have explained. She glanced again at Tom; he was
nervous and excited.
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