olding it, nose downward, over his
jacket-pocket, when the toad, pretty actively for one of its kind, began
to work its legs and dived slowly down beneath the pocket-handkerchief
crumpled-up there, and settled itself at the bottom.

"It seems to know," cried Dexter. "And it shall go with me after all."

Curious boy! some one may say, but Dexter had had few opportunities for
turning his affections in ordinary directions, and hence it was that
they were lavished upon a toad.

Indoors, when he stole back after setting all his pets at liberty to
shift for themselves, Dexter felt very guilty. He encountered Mrs
Millett in the hall, and a thrill ran through him as she exclaimed--

"Ah, there you are, Master Dexter, I just want a few words with you."

"Found out!" thought the guilty conscience, which needs no accuser.

"Now just you look here, sir," said the old housekeeper, in a loud
voice, as she literally button-holed the boy, by hooking one thin finger
in his jacket, so that he could not get away, "I know all."

"You--you know everything," faltered the boy.

"Yes, sir. Ah, you may well look 'mure. You little thought I knew."

"How--how did you find out?" he stammered.

"Ah! how did I find out, indeed! Now, look here, am I to go straight to
the doctor and tell him!"

"No, no, pray don't," whispered Dexter, catching her arm.

"Well, then, I must tell Miss Helen."

"No, no, not this time," cried Dexter imploringly; and his tone softened
the old lady, who shook the borders of her cap at him.

"Well, I don't know what to say," said Mrs Millett softly. "They
certainly ought to know."

Dexter gazed at her wildly. He knew that everything must come out, but
it was to have been in a few hours' time, when he was far away, and deaf
to the angry words and reproaches. To hear them now seemed more than he
could bear. It could not be. Bob Dimsted must think and say what he
liked, and be as angry and unforgiving as was possible. It could not be
now. He must plead to the old housekeeper for pardon, and give up all
idea of going away.

"Ah!" she said. "I see you are sorry for it, then."

"Yes, yes," he whispered. "So sorry, and--and--"

"You'll take it this time, like a good boy!"

"Take it?"

"Yes, sir. Ah! you can't deceive me. Last time I saw the empty glass I
knew as well as could be that you hadn't taken it, for the outside of
the glass wasn't sticky, and there were no marks of your mouth at the
e