He had inquired the way to the wharf from the grocer , so he found no difficulty in reaching it . When the boat steamed down the muddy little river , Chester was on board of her . He was glad to be out of Belltown , for he was anything but sure that he would not encounter some Upton people as long as he was in it . They often went to Belltown on business , but never to Montrose . There were not many passengers on the boat , and Chester scrutinized them all so sharply in turn that he could have sworn to each and every one of them for years afterwards had it been necessary . The one he liked best was a middle-aged lady who sat just before him on the opposite side of the deck She was plump and motherly looking , with a fresh , rosy face and beaming blue eyes . `` If I was looking for anyone to adopt me I 'd pick her , '' said Chester to himself . The more he looked at her , the better he liked her . He labelled her in his mind as `` the nice , rosy lady . '' The nice , rosy lady noticed Chester staring at her after awhile . She smiled promptly at him -- a smile that seemed fairly to irradiate her round face -- and then began fumbling in an old-fashioned reticule she carried , and from which she presently extracted a chubby little paper bag . `` If you like candy , little boy , '' she said to Chester , `` here is some of my sugar taffy for you . '' Chester did not exactly like being called a little boy . But her voice and smile were irresistible and won his heart straightway . He took the candy with a shy , `` Thank you , ma'am , '' and sat holding it in his hand . `` Eat it , '' commanded the rosy lady authoritatively . `` That is what taffy is for , you know . '' So Chester ate it . It was the most delicious thing he had ever tasted in his life , and filled a void which even the crackers and cheese had left vacant . The rosy lady watched every mouthful he ate as if she enjoyed it more than he did .
When he had finished the XXXXX she smiled one of her sociable smiles again and said , `` Well , what do you think of it ? ''
anyone anything business crackers face mouthful smile taffy thing wharf