ink there was something
rather nice mixed up with this funny idea about getting old. It made
Baby wish to be so kind to all poor old people. He would look at any
poor old beggar in such a strange sad way, and he always _begged_ to be
allowed to give them a penny. And, though no one knew of it, in his own
mind he was thinking that his dear little mother or his kind auntie
would be like that some day, and he would like rich little boys to be
kind to them then, just as he was now to other poor old people. Of
course, he said to himself, "If _him_ sees dear little mother and auntie
when they get old, _him_ will take care of them and let them rest at his
house every time they come past, but _p'raps_ him might be far away
then."

And sometimes, when grandfather spoke about getting old and how white
his hair was growing, Baby would look at him very gravely, for in his
own mind he was wondering if the time was very soon coming for poor
grandfather to be an old beggar-man. Baby thought it _had_ to be, you
see, he thought it was just what must come to everybody.

Just as auntie and he had finished talking about getting old they turned
a corner and went down a street which led them away from the view of the
sea. This street had shops at both sides, and some of them were very
pretty, but they were not the kind of shops that the little boys cared
much for--they were mostly dressmakers' and milliners' and shawl shops.
Lots of grand dresses and hats and bonnets were to be seen, which would
have pleased Celia and Denny perhaps, but which Fritz said were very
stupid. Auntie did not seem to care for them either--she was in a hurry
to go to an office where she was going to ask about a house that might
do for them. So she walked on quickly, as quickly at least as Baby's
short legs could go, for she held him by the hand, and Fritz and Lisa
came behind. They left this street in a minute and crossed through two
or three others before auntie could find the one she wanted. Suddenly
Baby gave her a tug.

"Oh auntie," he said, "p'ease 'top one minute. Him sees shiny glass jugs
like dear little mother's. Oh, do 'top."

Auntie stopped. They were passing what is called an old curiosity shop;
it was a funny looking place, seeming very crowded even though it was a
large shop, for it was so very full of all sorts of queer things. Some
among them were more queer than pretty, but some were very pretty too,
and in one corner of the window there were se