Can I carry any message for you, Miss Gypsy ?" "Oh, Mr.Simms," said Gypsy, confidentially, "I've done the most dreadful thing!" "Dear me! I don't see how that is possible," said Mr.Simms, taking his spectacles off nervously, and putting them on again.
"I have," said Gypsy; "I've broken the water-nymph!" "Is that all ?" asked Mr.Simms, looking relieved; "why, how did it happen ?" "I jumped on it." _"Jumped on it!"_ "Yes; I'm sure I don't know what father'll say." "Well, I _must_ say you are a wonderful young person," said Mr.Simms, proudly.

"I'm sure I'm glad that's all.

Don't you fret, my dear.

Your father won't care much about water-nymphs, when he has such a daughter." "But he will," said Gypsy, who regarded Mr.Simm's compliments only as a tiresome interruption to conversation, and by no means as entitled to any attention; "he will be very sorry, and I am going to tell him right off.
Please, Mr.Simms, will you speak to him ?" "Remarkable development of veracity!" said Mr.Simms, as he bowed himself away in his polite, old-fashioned way, and disappeared up the stairway that led to the printing-rooms.

It seemed to Gypsy, waiting there so impatiently, as if her father would never come down.