BEECHNUT’S RETURN. 65

The woman comes. Ladies’ window. The lady gets a letter.

 

that came was the name of the person whose letters he
wished to get.

As Beechnut was amusing himself in observing these
things while waiting his turn, he happened to perceive
the woman who had been with him ‘in the omnibus,
coming along the passage-way, leading her httle boy by
the hand. She looked about, appearing to be a little be-
wildered, and seemed not to know where to go.

Beechnut immediately left his place in the line, though
by so doing he knew very well that he should lose his
turn, and be obliged to go to the foot again; but he
thought that it would only take him a few minutes to get
up to where he was before. So he went to the woman
and said to her,

“If you came to get-a letter, you must go to the ladies’
window, which is out this way.”

So he led the way, and the woman followed. He came
presently to a recess similar to the one which he had gone
to first himself, only instead of having the letters of the
alphabet over it, it had the words LADIES’ WINDOW printed
there.

“ Would you be so good as to inquire for me?” said
the woman.

“ Yes,” said Beechnut, “ what is the name ?”

“« Mrs. Caroline Keep,” said the woman.

Beechnut was very much surprised to hear this name
announced. He, however, said nothing, but repeated the
name at the little opening in the window, and the clerk
inside immediately took down a parcel of letters from a
compartment, marked K, and began to look them over.
While Beechnut waited to see what the result would be,
the woman stood by him, holding her boy by the hand.

P