k, in the back of my knickerbockers," said
Geoff, putting his hand to the place; "but I'd rather have that than a
knock on my head. Theo, does it hurt? Theo, what a lot you have bled!
Were you obliged to tear my knickerbockers? I say, Theo, the lady was
pretty, but I didn't much like her, after all."

Theo, though his head was over the basin, put out his hand and seized
the child by the shoulders. "What did you run away for, you little----?
Do you know your mother will be wretched about you?--your mother, who is
worth a hundred of you." This was said through his teeth, with a twist
of Geoff's shoulder which was almost savage.

"I say!" cried the child; then he added indignantly, "I never ran away,
I came to see you, because you are going to be my tutor. I didn't think
it was such a long way. And pony got hungry. And so was I."

"Going to be his tutor!" It was Minnie's voice that said this so sharply
that the air tingled with the words: and even Mrs. Warrender started a
little; but it was not a moment at which any more could be said. The
bathing was done, and Theo's wound had now to be brought together by
plaster and bound up. It was not very serious. A hoof had touched him,
but that was all, and fortunately not on a dangerous place.

"Take him away and give him something to eat," said the patient, but not
in a hospitable voice.

"I want to see it all done," said Geoff, pressing closer. "Is that how
you do it? Don't you want another piece of plaster? Will you have to
take it off again, or will it stay till it is all well? Oh, look, that
corner isn't fast. Press it there, a little farther. Oh, Theo, she has
done it so nicely. You can't see a bit of the bad place. It is all
covered with plaster, like that, and then like this. I wish now it had
been me, just to know how it feels."

"Take him away, mother, for Heaven's sake!" cried Warrender under his
breath.

"My dear, you must not worry Theo. He is going to lie down now, and be
quiet for a little. Go with Minnie, and have something to eat."

"I am not so hungry now," said the boy, "but very much interested. When
you are interested you don't feel hungry: and the old woman gave me
something to eat. Would you pay her, please? Won't you tie something on,
Mrs. Warrender, to hide the plaster? It doesn't look very nice like
that."

"Come," said Chatty, taking him by the hand. The elder sister had thrown
herself into a chair at the mention of the tutorship, and seemed un