Page:Zodiac stories by Blanche Mary Channing.pdf/153

136 that the sooner he set out on his homeward way, the better, and he rose up to go,——and saw the old gentleman smiling at him.

Paul was generally shy of strangers, but he liked this particular stranger's face, with its kind gray eyes, so he went up to him without more delay, and asked, "Please—can you tell me the time?"

"The time," said his new acquaintance, drawing from the pocket of his silk waistcoat a thick gold watch with a bunch of seals hanging from it, "the time, little boy, is ten minutes of two."

Paul's face grew so long at this, that the owner of the watch asked in his turn,

"What time would you like it to be?"

"One o'clock," replied Paul instantly. "Luncheon-time, eh?" said the old gentleman with a twinkle in his eye. "Yes sir."

"And where do you come from, my young traveller?"