"Times have changed since I was a young man," said he. "A fellow would
have looked queer in my day unwinding his comforter and pulling off his
coonskin cap and standing holding those things while he talked on a
February morning. He'd have gone home and taken some pepper-tea to ward
off the effects of the chill!"
"There's Benson's," Roberta interrupted, "and it's open. Why, look at
the people in front of the windows! Look at the windows themselves.
There must be a new firm. Poor Hugh!"
"There's a new sign over the old one; a '_Successors to_,' I think; but
Benson's name is on it, '_Benson & Company_,'" announced Ruth, straining
her eyes to make it out.
"Somebody must have come to the rescue," said Uncle Rufus with joyous
interest. "Well, well; the thing has been kept surprisingly still, and I
can't think who it can be, but I'm certainly glad. I hated to see the
boy fail. I suppose you all want to go in?"
They unquestionably did, but they wanted first to sit still and look at
the windows from their vantage point above the passers-by on foot, who
were all stopping as they came along. It was small wonder that they
should stop.
Pages:
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222
223
224
225
226
227
228
229
230
231
232
233
234
235
236
237
238
239