o his
summons. It seemed that he still had some doubts as to the
practicability of his mission; but they were not permitted to disturb
him long, for the door was opened by the Squire's pretty daughter
Annie, a young miss of twelve.

"O Bobby, is it you? I am so glad you have come!" exclaimed the little
lady.

Bobby blushed--he didn't know why, unless it was that the young lady
desired to see him. He stammered out a reply, and for the moment
forgot the object of his visit.

"I want you to go down to the village for me, and get some books the
expressman was to bring up from Boston for me. Will you go?"

"Certainly, Miss Annie, I shall be very glad to go for _you_," replied
Bobby with an emphasis that made the little maiden blush in her turn.

"You are real good, Bobby; but I will give you something for going."

"I don't want any thing," said Bobby, stoutly.

"You are too generous! Ah, I heard what you did this forenoon; and pa
says that a great many men would not have dared to do what you did. I
always thought you were as brave as a lion; now I know it."

"The books are at the express office, I suppose," said Bobby, turning
as red as a blood beet.

"Yes, Bobby; I am so anxious to get them that I can't wait till pa goes
down this evening."

"I will not be gone long."

"O, you needn't run, Bobby; take your time."

"I will go very quick. But, Miss Annie, is your father at home?"

"Not now; he has gone over to the wood lot; but he will be back by the
time you return."

"Will you please to tell him that I want to see him about something
very particular, when he gets back?"

"I will, Bobby."

"Thank you, Miss Annie;" and Bobby hastened to the village to execute
his commission.

"I wonder what he wants to see pa so very particularly for," said the
young lady to herself, as she watched his receding form. "In my
opinion, something has happened, at the little black house, for I could
see that he looked very sober."

Either Bobby had a very great regard for the young lady, and wished to
relieve her impatience to behold the coveted books, or he was in a
hurry to see Squire Lee; for the squire's old roan horse could hardly
have gone quicker.

"You should not have run, Bobby," said the little maiden when he placed
the books in her hand; "I would not have asked you to go if I had
thought you would run all the way. You must be very tired."

"Not at all; I didn't run, only walked very quick," replied he