going through an open gate
into the high road.

'Those are Farmer Green's sheep,' quoth he to himself. 'I'm glad of
it--horrid old man he is! No, Ipse, be quiet; that isn't the way to
think of him. I'll go and drive them back again!'

And he trotted off with this intention; but it is much more difficult to
get sheep into their rightful place than out of it, and this Teddy found
to his cost. His face was hot and red, his voice hoarse with shouting,
and then, to his consternation, Farmer Green appeared on the scene.

'You young vagabond,' he shouted, springing towards him, a thick stick in
hand, 'leave my sheep alone! How dare you come on my premises? You're
always after some fresh trick or other.'

Teddy stood still till he came up to him, then looked up frankly at him.

'Indeed, sir, I was trying to drive them back through their hole again.
Look, that's where they broke through.'

'A likely story! Much more probable you made the hole yourself.'

Teddy's blood rushed into his face. 'I never tell a lie!' he cried, 'and
you're a--'

He stopped, and hung his head in shame at the word that almost
slipped from him.

Jonathan Green looked curiously at him.

'Now may I ask what the end of that speech was going to be?' he
said grimly.

Teddy looked up. 'Ipse was going to say you was a liar yourself, but I
just stopped him in time.'

'I shall believe you have a bee in your bonnet, as some folks say,' said
the farmer; 'pray, if the sheep came out of their proper field, what
business was that of yours?'

'I wanted to be good to you. I'm sorry I tied you up that day, dreadful
sorry. And I've got to love you, so I thought it would be a good plan to
send your sheep back again.'

'You've got to love me!' repeated the farmer, opening his eyes in mock
surprise; 'and when did I ask for any of your love, young fellow?'

'I don't suppose you want me to,' observed Teddy cheerfully, as he saw
that the stick, instead of being brandished over his head, was now safely
resting on the ground, 'but I've got to do it, you see, because my banner
I'm holding for my Captain is Love, and I must love everybody.'

The farmer did not answer. Teddy continued earnestly,--

'Do you think you could manage to forgive me, and let us shake hands? It
would make it easier for me to love you if you could.'

There was such honesty of purpose in the blue eyes raised to his, such
wistful curves to the sensitive little lips, that Jonathan Green for