Page:The mislaid uncle (IA mislaiduncle00raym).pdf/116

 was a little girl in here and she wouldn't believe it. She said"—

Michael paused with so much confusion that his questioner was determined to hear just what the lady had remarked, and ordered:

"Well, go on. Never stop in the middle of a sentence, boy."

"Not even if the sentence isn't—isn't a very polite one?"

"What did she say?" repeated Mr. Smith.

"She said you were too selfish and fussy to allow a child within your doors," said the boy, reluctantly.

"You see she was mistaken, don't you?"

"Yes, Mr. Smith. I explained it to her. I said she must be a visitor, and grandma thought in that case she'd be very lonely. She sent me in to ask permission to take her a ride around the park on my sled. We don't often have such nice sledding in Baltimore, you know, Mr. Smith."

"And, Uncle Joe, I was never on a sled in all my whole life!" entreated Josephine, folding her hands imploringly.