ind giving me a cake or a biscuit?" he
said. "I don't think I have any money, but I am going to Mrs. Warrender's,
if you will show me where that is, and she will pay for me. But don't do
it," said Geoff, suddenly perceiving that he might be taken for an
impostor, "if you have any doubt that you will be paid."

"Oh, my little gentleman," cried Mrs. Bagley, "take whatever you please,
sir! I'm not a bit afraid; and if you was never to pay me, you're but a
child, if I may make bold to say so; and as for a cake or a---- But if
you'll take my advice, sir, a good bit of bread and butter would be far
more wholesome, and you shall have that in a moment."

"Thank you very much," said Geoff, though he cast longing eyes at the
cakes, which had the advantage of being ready; "and please might I have
a chair or a stool to sit down upon, for I am very tired? May I go into
that nice room there, while you cut the bread and butter? My mother,"
said the boy, with a sigh of pleasure, throwing himself down in Mrs.
Bagley's big chair, which she dragged out of its corner for him, "will
be very much obliged to you when she knows. Yes, I am only a child," he
continued, after a moment; "but I never thought I was so little till I
got far away from home. Will you tell me, please, where I am now?"

Mrs. Bagley was greatly impressed by this little personage, who looked
so small and talked with such imposing self-possession. She set down
before him a glass of milk with the cream on it, which she had intended
for her own tea, and a great slice of bread and butter, which Geoff
entered upon without further compliment. "This is Underwood," she said,
"and Mrs. Warrender's is close by, and there's nobody but will be ready
to show you the way; but I do hope, sir, as you haven't run away from
home."

"Oh no," said Geoff, with his mouth full of bread and butter, "not at
all. I only came to see Theo,--that is Mr. Warrender's name, you know.
To be sure," he added, "mamma will not know where I am, and probably she
is very frightened; that is something like running away, isn't it? I
hope they have caught my pony, and then when I have rested a little I
can ride home. Is that a nice house, that tall red house with the wall
round it, or do they shut up people there?"

"Ah, that's the Elms," said the old lady, and she gave a glance which
Geoff did not understand to the young woman who was sitting at work
behind. "I don't know as folks is ever shut up in it," she s