m; but he stepped forward from the concealment
of the bushes, and with a smile of pleasure she recognized him.

"Why, Noddy, is that you?" said she, walking towards the spot where he
stood.

"It's me, Miss Bertha; but I suppose you don't want to see me now."

"I am very glad to see you. What did you go away for?"

"Because they were going to put me in the court-house."

"In the court-house!" exclaimed Bertha, who was better acquainted with
legal affairs than her pupil.

"Yes, for setting the boat-house afire."

"I don't think they intended to take you to the court-house."

"O, I know they did. I have had two constables after me; but I got away
from them. Besides, I heard Squire Wriggs say they were going to take me
to the court-house. I heard him say so myself."

"Perhaps it is so," said Bertha, musing. "Squire Wriggs came to see
father yesterday morning. They went out together, and were speaking of
you as they left the house."

"I'm glad you didn't have anything to do with it," said Noddy, delighted
to find that Bertha was not one of his persecutors.

Then, with the utmost simplicity, and apparently with the feeling that
he was a persecuted youth, he told her everything that had occurred from
the time he first saw Mr. Grant and Squire Wriggs on the lawn.

"I don't know what my father's plans are," said Bertha, sadly; "but he
thinks it is no longer safe to permit you to roam about the place. He is
afraid you will set the house on fire, or do some other terrible thing."

"But I wouldn't, Miss Bertha," protested Noddy.

"Why did you do such a wicked thing?"

"I couldn't help it."

"Yes, you could, Noddy. That's only making a bad matter worse. Of course
you could help setting a building on fire."

"It wasn't my fault, Miss Bertha," stammered he; "I can't explain it
now--perhaps some time I may; and when you understand it, you won't
think so bad of me."

"If there is anything about it I don't know, why don't you tell me?"
added Bertha, mystified by his strange remark.

"I can't say anything now. Please don't ask me anything about it, Miss
Bertha. I'm not half so much to blame as you think I am; but I set the
fire, and they are after me for it. They have used all sorts of tricks
to catch me; but I'm not going into any court-house, or any tinker's
shop."

"What tricks do you mean?"

"They said they had a lot of money for me, and that Squire Wriggs
wouldn't do me any harm."

"Well, I don't know anyt