n, sent him staggering along the hall
as he closed the door, and went on once more.

"Yah! who cares for you?" cried the boy angrily; and then his
countenance changed, and he broke into a smile as he found himself face
to face with Rich.

"Why, Bob," she exclaimed, "what is the matter?"

"I couldn't help it, Miss. Mr Hendon shoved me in like that. I meant
to come in by the area."

"But why did he bring you back like that? Did he know where you had
been?"

"Oh, no, Miss! I never tells anybody where I'm going with a note for
you; not even Mr Poynter, Miss. Here's the letter; and Miss Heath said
I was to give her love to you, and she hadn't been because she was so
busy."

Bob drew a letter from his pocket, and as he did so made upon it an ugly
mark.

"Why, Bob, your hand's bleeding!"

"Is it, Miss? Oh, ah! so it is. That ain't nothink."

"You are all over mud, too. Have you met with an accident again?"

The boy's lips parted to say "_Yes_," but as he gazed up into the clear
searching eyes which looked down so kindly into his, he shook his head.

"No, Miss," he said boldly.

"Why, Bob, you have not been fighting?"

"I didn't want to fight, Miss; but what's a chap to do?"

"Surely not fight when he is sent on an errand," said Rich severely.

"I didn't want to fight," said the boy again: "but I was fighting, and
Mr Hendon ketched me."

"I'm afraid, Bob, I shall be obliged to speak to my father, and have you
sent away."

"No, no! don't do that, Miss; please don't. I will be so very useful,
and I will do everythink 'Lisbeth tells me. Don't send a feller away."

"We cannot keep a boy who behaves so badly," continued Rich, who was
trying to hide being amused and pleased at the boy's affectionate
earnestness.

"Then I won't fight no more," said Bob. "But you don't know what it is,
Miss. You don't know how the fellers tease yer. They're allers at yer.
Soon as yer goes down the street, some one shouts `Bottles!' Jest
because I takes out the physic. I should jest like to make some on 'em
take it. I'd give 'em a dose."

"But, Bob, you ought to be too sensible to take any notice about a rude
boy calling you names."

"So I am, Miss," cried the boy, "ever so much. I never did nothing till
they began on the doctor."

"Began on the doctor?"

"Yes, Miss; saying all sorts o' things about him. I shouldn't like to
tell you what."

"And I should not like to hear, Bob," said Rich gravely, as she