`` Do n't tell me any falsehoods , Tommy Puffer . It was you . Did n't I catch you firing stones at my cat a dozen times ? '' `` I might have fired 'em at an old cat , but I would n't tech a flower , '' avowed Tommy boldly -- brazenly , Miss Octavia thought . `` You clear out of this or I 'll make you , '' she said warningly . Tommy had had his ears boxed by Miss Octavia more than once . He had no desire to have the performance repeated , so he stuck his tongue out at Miss Octavia and then marched up the street with his hands in his pockets , whistling jauntily . `` He 's the most impudent brat I ever saw in my life , '' muttered Miss Octavia wrathfully . There was a standing feud between her and all the Arundel small boys , but Tommy was her special object of dislike . Tommy 's heart was full of wrath and bitterness as he marched away . He hated Miss Octavia ; he wished something would happen to every one of her flowers ; he knew it was Ned Williams who had thrown that stone , and he hoped Ned would throw some more and smash all the flowers . So Tommy raged along the street until he came to Mr. Blacklock 's store , and in the window of it he saw something that put Miss Octavia and her disagreeable remarks quite out of his tow-coloured head . This was nothing more or less than a doll . Now , Tommy was not a judge of dolls and did not take much interest in them , but he felt quite sure that this was a very fine one . It was so big ; it was beautifully dressed in blue silk , with a ruffled blue silk hat ; it had lovely long golden hair and big brown eyes and pink cheeks ; and it stood right up in the showcase and held out its hands winningly . `` Gee , ai n't it a beauty ! '' said Tommy admiringly . `` It looks ` sif it was alive , and it 's as big as a baby . I must go an ' bring Bessie to see it . '' Tommy at once hurried away to the shabby little street where what he called `` home '' was .
XXXXX 's home was a very homeless-looking sort of place .
Arundel Bessie Blacklock Ned Octavia Puffer Tommy brat right wrathfully