some time to the conversation. As mothers who had brought up
children told how difficult a problem it was, Miss Arabella's eyes
gleamed with a scornful pity, and her nose tilted higher in the air
than ever. Then when at last she did open her lips, she uttered words
laden with great wisdom. It was disgraceful, so she said, the way
children were indulged at the present day. It was seldom that you
could find parents who had any real control over their offspring. Oh,
yes, she knew.

Scarcely had she finished speaking ere Rodney appeared at the door,
barefooted, hatless, his blouse dirty, his cheeks aglow, and his eyes
blazing with excitement. In his grimy hands he clasped some precious
treasure. He hesitated for an instant when he saw so many women in the
room. But nothing could restrain him. He had made a marvellous
discovery, and wished to show it to others.

Miss Arabella was right before him, a few feet away. For her he
darted, and dropped suddenly into her lap a big-eyed, hump-back toad.
Instantly there followed a wild shriek of terror, as the spinster
leaped from her chair, sending the innocent toad sprawling upon the
floor. The strain was too much for Miss Arabella, and she properly
collapsed, much to the consternation of the assembled women.

By the time she was revived, Rodney, the culprit, was nowhere in sight.
He had rescued his precious toad, and had fled from the house, greatly
puzzled over the confusion which had been made over his simple action.
Little did he know, much less care, that for years to come he would be
considered a "bad boy" by many of the leading people of Hillcrest, and
totally unfit to associate with other children of the parish.

But Parson Dan and Mrs. Royal understood, and as they kissed him that
night as he stood before them in his little nightgown, they knew that
there was nothing bad about him. In truth they were somewhat pleased
that Miss Arabella had at last been jarred out of her rigid
self-complacency.

CHAPTER V

CAPTAIN JOSH TAKES A HAND

Rodney did not attend the country school until he was over seven years
of age. It was more than a mile away, and the Royals could not bear
the thought of the little lad walking the whole of that distance when
he was but six. He had lost nothing, however, by not attending before.
In fact he had gained much, for both Parson Dan and Mrs. Royal had
carefully instructed him so that when he did go to school he was far
ahead