taining, but he called Ruby "a little lady," and
if there was one thing in all the world that Ruby liked better than
another it was to be considered grown-up, and to be spoken of as a
little lady.

The old gypsy woman had called her a little lady, though Ruby did not
like to remember her, but it was quite proper that a little girl who
was going to boarding-school should be considered grown-up, even if she
did not have long dresses on.

"What will you have, my dear?" asked the old gentleman. "Will you have
an orange or a banana, or is there something else you would prefer?"

A large yellow Bartlett pear attracted Ruby's eyes.

"I think I would like this," she answered.

"Very well, my dear," he said. "Now as my eyes are not very good,
would you be kind enough to take some money out of my pocketbook and
pay the boy?"

This was even still more delightful, and Ruby felt as if long dresses
could not make her feel one inch more grown-up than she felt when she
opened the big purse with its brass clasps, took out some money, and
paid the boy, receiving some pennies in change which she dropped back
into the purse again.

"I see you are quite used to making purchases," said the old gentleman,
with a funny little twinkle in his eye, as he watched the happy little
face beside him.

"I don't very often buy anything and pay the money for it," Ruby said
truthfully. "That is, except at the store, and that don't seem to
count because mamma always gives me just the right money, all wrapped
up so I won't lose it. But I think it is very nice to buy things.
Didn't you want a pear, too, sir?"

"No, thank you," answered the old gentleman. "Now would you like to
have me fix the pear so you can eat it without getting any juice upon
your pretty dress?"

"Yes, please," Ruby answered, so he spread a newspaper upon his lap,
and taking out his knife, cut the pear into quarters, and proceeded to
peel it, and cut it into nice little pieces, just the right size to eat.

Ruby watched him with a great deal of interest. She liked him more and
more all the time, and she was quite sure that it would be very nice to
be one of his grandchildren, of whom he had told her.

It had been some time now since Ruby and Aunt Emma had started upon
their journey, and when Aunt Emma saw what the old gentleman was doing
she leaned forward and offered Ruby the lunch-basket.

"It would be very nice for you to eat your lunch now, if you are
hungry," sh