He had begun to like Miss Octavia . That lady looked him over sharply and somewhat dubiously . He was certainly very ragged and unkempt . But Miss Octavia saw what she had never noticed before -- that Tommy 's eyes were bright and frank , that Tommy 's chin was a good chin , and that Tommy 's smile had something very pleasant about it . `` You 're fond of flowers , are n't you , Tommy ? '' she asked . `` You bet , '' was Tommy 's inelegant but heartfelt answer . `` Well , '' said Miss Octavia slowly , `` I have a brother down at Chelton who is a florist . He wants a boy of your age to do handy jobs and run errands about his establishment , and he wants one who is fond of flowers and would like to learn the business . He asked me to recommend him one , and I promised to look out for a suitable boy . Would you like the place , Tommy ? And will you promise to be a very good boy and learn to be respectable if I ask my brother to give you a trial and a chance to make something of yourself ? '' `` Oh , Miss Octavia ! '' gasped Tommy . He wondered if he were simply having a beautiful dream . But it was no dream . And it was all arranged later on . No one rejoiced more heartily in Tommy 's success than Bessie . `` But I 'll miss you dreadfully , Tommy , '' she said wistfully . `` Oh , I 'll be home every Saturday night , and we 'll have Sunday together , except when I 've got to go to Sunday school .
'Cause XXXXX Octavia says I must , '' said Tommy comfortingly .
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