"Is it good?"

"Oh, very!"--and the man looked as honestly
grateful for the book as the boy would have done
for the apple.

Only five words in the conversation, but Aunt
Pen woke, as if the watchful spirit of propriety had
roused her to pluck her charge from the precipice
on which she stood.

"Dora, I'm astonished at you! Speaking to
strangers in that free manner is a most unladylike
thing. How came you to forget what I have told
you over and over again about a proper reserve?"
The energetic whisper reached the gentleman's
ear, and he expected to be annihilated with a look
when his offence was revealed; but he was spared
that ordeal, for the young voice answered,
softly,--

"Don't faint, Aunt Pen: I only did as I'd be
done by; for I had two books, and the poor man
looked so hungry for something to read that I
couldn't resist sharing my 'goodies.' He will see
that I'm a countrified little thing in spite of my
fine feathers, and won't be shocked at my want of
rigidity and frigidity; so don't look dismal, and I'll
be prim and proper all the rest of the way,--if I
don't forget it."