"I went to school this morning, and I have been studying arithmetic and geography at home since school was over."
"You will become a famous scholar in time, Grace."
"I never expect to know as much as mother," said Grace.
"I hope you will know a good deal more," said Mrs. Palmer.
"You think so now, because I know more than you; but the time will come when you will understand better how little your mother knows."
"Yes, but school-teachers don't know everything. Well, Paul, what have you seen to-day? To go to Milwaukee and back would be a great event to Grace and myself in our quiet course of life."
"I've got used to it, mother. It's all in the day's work. Oh, I mustn't forget to tell you a lady had her pocket picked on our train to-day."
"Tell me about it, Paul," said Grace, with eager interest.
So Paul told the story, very much as it has already been told in the last chapter.
"Did the pickpocket really jump off the train when it was going?" asked Grace, her eyes wide open.
"No; the conductor and I watched from the platform, and saw him turn two or three somersets, but he got up quickly and made off."
"It was taking a dangerous risk," said Mrs. Palmer.
"Yes; it is more of a risk than I would take for forty-seven dollars."
"Poor young lady! What a loss it will be to her!"
"She happens to be a rich young lady, mother. She didn't mind it any more than I would if I should lose ten cents, and perhaps not as much."
"Do you think the man will be caught, Paul?"
"I don't know. I suppose he will keep in hiding for awhile. Anyhow, he got off with the money. I suppose he doesn't feel very friendly to me, as I was the one who detected him in the theft."
"Be on your guard against him, Paul. He may do you a mischief sometime."
"I don't doubt he would like to; but I don't believe he will ride on that railroad again very soon, and I would not recommend him to go about much in Chicago."
"How do you know the lady was rich, Paul?" asked Grace.
"I know more than that. I know what her name is," said Paul.
"Why, her first name is the same as mine."
"So it is. Don't you think she might send a present to her namesake?"
"She doesn't know anything about me," said the little girl.
"Because I told her. I can tell you something more. She sent you a present."