Plenty of people were passing to and fro, and the
middle of the road was very muddy. Tony begged a wisp of straw from a
cabman, to make a seat for Dolly in the sunshine under a blank bit of
wall, while he set to work with a will, feeling rather pleased than not
that the broom would not sweep of itself. A crossing was speedily made,
and for two or three hours Tony kept it well swept. By that time it was
twelve o'clock, and Dolly's dinner would be ready for her before they
could reach home, if old Oliver had not forgotten it. It seemed a great
pity to leave his new post so early. Most passers-by, certainly, had
appeared not to see him at all; but he had already received fivepence
halfpenny, chiefly in halfpence, from ladies who were out for their
morning's walk; and Dolly was enjoying herself very much in the sunshine,
receiving all the attention which he could spare from his crossing.
However a beginning was made. The broom and the crossing were his
property; and Tony's heart, beat fast with pride and gladness as he
carried the weary little Dolly all the way home again. He resolved to put
by half of his morning's earnings towards replacing the fourpenny-piece
she had given back to him; or perhaps he would buy her a beautiful doll,
dressed like a real lady.
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