ith wet and swollen
eyes in his interrupter's face.

"Why, what's the matter, youngster?" said Glyn, bestriding the form and
sitting down by Burton to take his hand.

"Oh, nothing, nothing," said Burton hurriedly, trying to withdraw his
hand; but it was held too tightly, and he had to use the other to drag
out his handkerchief from his jacket-pocket and wipe his eyes.

"You don't cry at nothing," said Glyn gently. "You are too plucky a
little chap. I saw Wrench's cat watching you, and I was afraid he had
got one of your mice."

"No, no; the poor little things are all right. But you oughtn't to have
watched me, Severn."

"I didn't. I was coming to my desk to write a letter to my father, only
I heard you sob."

"Oh!" ejaculated the boy.

"Come: out with it. You know you can trust me."

"Oh yes," said the little fellow earnestly. "I know that, Severn. You
always are such a good chap."

"Well then, why don't you tell me what's the matter?"

"Because I was ashamed," said the other, nearly in a whisper.

"Ashamed! You! What of?"

"Because it hurts so, and I couldn't help crying," faltered the boy;
"and I came in here so as no one should see me. Don't laugh at me,
please!"

"Laugh at you because you are in trouble and something hurts you! You
don't think I should be such a brute?"

"Oh, I didn't mean that, Severn," cried the boy earnestly, as he now
clung to his sympathiser's hand. "I was afraid that you would laugh at
me for being such a girl as to cry."

"But tell me," said Glyn.

"And I came in here to play with my mice, and it didn't seem to hurt me
so much then, because it kept me from thinking."

"Come, what was it?" said Glyn. "You are keeping something back."

The little fellow tried to speak, but it was some minutes before he
could command his voice. Then out came the story of the brutal kick he
had received, and of how hard he had struggled to conceal the pain.

"A beast!" exclaimed Glyn. And then half-unconsciously, as if to
himself, "I shall be obliged to give him another licking after all."

"Oh, do, please, Severn!" cried the little fellow joyously. "I'd give
anything to be as big and strong as you, and able to stick up for
myself; for, you see, I am such a little one."

"Oh, you will get big and strong some day," said Glyn. "Only wait."

"Yes, I'll wait," said the boy; "but it will be a long time first, and
old Slegge is going away at the end of this half, so that I c