rovements and preparations for the summer,--spring-beauties,
hepaticas, and anemones, and even a few early violets, were showing
their lovely faces; and all young things--ah, and the older ones
too--were rejoicing that the "winter was past and gone."

With the advent of the mild weather, Matty's stand had been removed out
of doors and beneath the shelter of Johnny Petersen's shop; and this
situation proved more profitable than it had been within, as many a
charitable passer-by, seeing the pitiful figure and pinched face of the
poor child, would stop to purchase. During the hours of the day when
the sun was warm and bright, her surroundings were not much less
attractive than they had been within; for the glass sashes of the
little flower-store were generally wide open behind her, while Johnny
frequently brought forth some of his plants for an airing upon the
sidewalk.

As his custom increased with the warm weather, and people came for
potted plants and so forth for their gardens and windows, Johnny
occasionally found it necessary to be away for a few hours buying new
stock at the larger greenhouses and markets; and when Mrs. Petersen did
not find it convenient to take his place in the shop, he depended upon
Tony to keep watch, and make small sales for him. The lame boy was
bright and apt; and Johnny had drilled him well as to prices and so
forth, and found him a tolerably satisfactory substitute during his own
times of absence.

One would have thought that Theodore Yorke would have avoided the
neighborhood of the peanut-stand after his exposure and disgrace; but
it was not so. His grandfather had cut short the small amount of
pocket-money which he had occasionally given him, and he was now left
penniless, and so no more visited the place as a customer; but he
seemed to take a delight in hanging around it, and annoying Matty and
Tony, who were now on their guard, and watched him unceasingly. Tony
and he frequently exchanged sundry compliments not suited to ears
polite; and Johnny, if he saw him, would come out and drive him away.
The shop was absolutely forbidden ground to him; within it he was not
suffered to set a foot.

One bright afternoon when Johnny Petersen happened to be away, and Tony
was in charge, Theodore came sauntering up to the stand, to the great
dissatisfaction of the children. Matty was in her usual seat behind her
table; Tony seated on the low door-step of the store, his crutches
lying on the groun