"
"Oh, no," said Marie spiritlessly. "I don't see why it should."
"No? Well, that's good to hear you say so, girlie. I was kinda
afraid maybe trouble had hit you hard. A sensitive, big-hearted
little person like you. But if you've put it all outa your mind,
why, that's where you're dead right. Personally, I was glad to
see you saw where you'd made a mistake, and backed up. That takes
grit and brains. Of course, we all make mistakes--you wasn't
to blame--innocent little kid like you--"
"Yes," said Marie, "I guess I made a mistake, all right."
"Sure! But you seen it and backed up. And a good thing you did.
Look what he'd of brought you to by now, if you'd stuck!"
Marie tilted back her head and looked up at the tall row of
eucalyptus trees feathered against the stars. "What?" she asked
uninterestedly.
"Well--I don't want to knock, especially a fellow that's on
the toboggan already. But I know a little girl that's aw-fully
lucky, and I'm honest enough to say so."
"Why?" asked Marie obligingly. "Why--in particular?"
"Why in particular?" Joe leaned toward her. "Say, you must of
heard how Bud's going to the dogs. If you haven't, I don't
want--"
"No, I hadn't heard," said Marie, looking up at the Big Dipper
so that her profile, dainty and girlish still, was revealed like
a cameo to Joe.
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