source of symp

ed porch of her aunt's house, with her hands loosely clasped

sically, harmonized with the summer sounds, the hum of the insects, and chirping of th

e he closed the book, an

he asked, bringing her e

me about

was as good as she was beautiful; never cross, never impatient, alw

prince?" he qu

ust a few little imitation ones. But she had

rced by a shrill cry from the

ere he found her exclaiming pityingly over a small, ragged, and decidedly

s asking as Robert came up

ly, between the sniffles into which his sobs had subsided, "I was running fast, an' I never seen

sympathetic rejoinder; "come right in the yard wit

s broad smile, bethought himself of his affliction, s

he it, but submitted like a martyr. After Meg had washed the wound free from dirt she looked up at

ddressing the boy, remarked, "The heroines one reads

boy, scarcely knowing

ays about just such a case as this?"

d alarm became visibly written u

When it was finished, she darted into the house and came out carrying an apple

oat pocket. She pulled it out and threw it as far as she could, then turned to the amazed boy with flashing eyes. "You horrid, bad, ugly boy! You we

e, which sent him scuttling down the yard a

, and wishing that at least she had been more dignified in her expression of disapproval. She became uneasy at the long s

met her look, he laughed outright. Then he said deliberatel