She was reading a paper , but looked up to give me the inside of the walk . Before her eyes could fall again , I held out the grapes and said , just as I had heard her say more than once to a schoolmate at lunch-time , `` Let 's go halves . '' She understood at once , laughed , and took the bunch , saying with twinkling eyes , -- `` Oh , thank you ! they are beauties ! '' Then , as we went on to the corner together , I told her why I did it , and recalled the car-ride . `` I 'd forgotten all about that , but my conductor is very kind , and always waits for me , '' she said , evidently surprised that a stranger should take an interest in her small self . I did not have half time enough with her , for a bell rang , and away she skipped , looking back to nod and smile at the queer lady who had taken a fancy to her . A few days afterward a fine nosegay of flowers was left at the door for me , and when I asked the servant who sent them he answered , -- `` A little girl asked if a lame lady did n't live here , and when I said yes , she told me to give you these , and say the grapes were very nice . '' I knew at once who it was , and enjoyed the funny message immensely ; for when one leads a quiet life , little things interest and amuse . Christmas was close by , and I planned a return for the flowers , of a sort , that I fancied my young friend would appreciate . I knew that Christmas week would be a holiday , so , the day before it began , I went to the school just before recess , and left a frosted plum cake , directed to `` Miss Goldilocks , from she knows who . '' At first I did not know how to address my nice white parcel , for I never had heard the child 's name . But after thinking over the matter , I remembered that she was the only girl there with yellow curls hanging down her back , so I decided to risk the cake with the above direction . The maid who took it in -LRB- for my girl went to a private school -RRB- smiled , and said at once she knew who I meant . I left my cake , and strolled round the corner to the house of a friend , there to wait and watch for the success of my joke , for the girls always went that way at recess . Presently the little hats began to go bobbing by , the silent street to echo with laughter , and the sidewalk to bloom with gay gowns , for the girls were all out in winter colors now . From behind a curtain I peeped at them , and saw , with great satisfaction , that nearly all had bits of my cake in their hands , and were talking it over with the most flattering interest . My particular little girl , with a friend on each arm , passed so near me that I could see the happy look in her eyes , and hear her say , with a toss of the bright hair , -- `` Mother will plan it for me , and I can get it done by New Year . Wo n't it be fun to hang it on the door some day , and then run ? '' I fancied that she meant to make something for me , and waited with patience , wondering how this odd frolic with my little school-girl would end .
New Year 's Day came and passed , but no gift hung on my door ; so I made up my mind it was all a mistake , and , being pretty busy about that time , thought no more of the matter till some weeks later , as I came into town one XXXXX after a visit in the country .
Goldilocks Mother car-ride day fall first left lunch-time nosegay week