cky, who was sitting up on his haunches with
his tongue hanging out, watching his mistress with beseeching brown
eyes.

Bobby looked at him severely.

'He is a robber! Poor Nobbles must have thought he was being taken off
by a lion. I expec' he was dre'ffully frightened. You see, Nobbles
isn't just a stick at all.'

'What is he? I see he has a wonderful head!'

'Yes; he's Nobbles.' He paused, then added impressively: 'He's my
'ticylar friend; we always live together. He understands all I say,
but he can't speak.'

'I see.'

The lady smiled upon him very pleasantly, then she handed him a
delicious plate of strawberries, and Bobby set to work at once. He
thought he had never tasted anything so nice, and in the middle of it
he looked up a little anxiously.

'Poor Nobbles can't eat at all. It's such a pity. He doesn't grumble,
but when I have anyfing _very_ nice he looks in his eyes as if he could
cry; only he doesn't, for he never leaves off smiling.'

'He's a splendid little friend to have,' the lady said cheerfully. 'I
wonder where you live?'

'In the House, with nurse and grandmother.' He heaved a sigh. 'We
shall have to go back soon.'

'I suppose you know the way; but you're a very little boy to be out
alone.'

'I had to run after Lucky; Nurse was at Mrs. Tikes'.'

'Tikes' Farm? That is some way from here.'

'Is it twenty miles?'

'No, but it is nearly two. I expect your nurse will wonder where you
are.'

'I expec' she will; but I likes being here. Are you a proper grown-up
person?'

'How do you mean?'

Bobby frowned; he couldn't always put his thoughts into words.

'You talk so nice to me; I can't talk to grown-up people, acept Master
Mortimer. At least I can say "Yes" and "No" to them. That's what
children should talk, grandmother says.'

'I'm so glad you think I talk nice to you. I can't talk to grown-up
people either. I live alone here--so alone now--so alone!'

She sighed, and fell into such deep thought that Bobby wondered if she
would ever speak to him again. At last he ventured:

'I've got a father coming for me one day.'

'Have you really? Tell me about him.'

So Bobby told her of his never-fading hope, and she listened and
smiled, and then ordered her pony-trap round, and tucking Bobby in
beside her, drove him along the road by which he had come. They very
soon met Nurse toiling along, with a heated, anxious face, and Bobby
began to feel rather ashamed of