It was Tommy 's delight to bring that smile to her pale little face and a look of pleasure into her big , patient blue eyes . The other boys on the street tried to tease Bessie at first and shouted `` Cripple ! '' after her when she limped out . But they soon stopped it . Tommy thrashed them all one after another for it , and Bessie was left in peace . She would have had a very lonely life if it had not been for Tommy , for she could not play with the other children . But Tommy was as good as a dozen playmates , and Bessie thought him the best boy in the world . Tommy , whatever he might be with others , was very careful to be good when he was with Bessie . He never said a rude word in her hearing , and he treated her as if she were a little princess . Miss Octavia would have been amazed beyond measure if she had seen how tender and thoughtful and kind and chivalrous that neglected urchin of a Tommy could be when he tried . Tommy found Bessie sitting by the kitchen window , looking dreamily out of it . For just a moment Tommy thought uneasily that Bessie was looking very pale and thin this spring . `` Bessie , come for a walk up to Mr. Blacklock 's store , '' he said eagerly . `` There is something there I want to show you . '' `` What is it ? '' Bessie wanted to know . But Tommy only winked mysteriously . `` Ah , I ai n't going to tell you . But it 's something awful pretty . Just you wait . ''
Bessie reached XXXXX her crutch and the two went up to the store , Tommy carefully suiting his steps to Bessie 's slow ones .
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