ther would dress me better, I should be very glad of it,"
said Joe. "If I am a ragamuffin, it is his fault."

"I'll report that to him," said Oscar maliciously.

"I wish you would. It would save me the trouble of asking him for
better clothes."

"Suppose we go on," said Annie Raymond.

"Certainly," said Joe politely.

And they walked on, leaving Oscar discomfited and mortified.

"What a fool Annie Raymond makes of herself" he muttered. "I should
think she'd be ashamed to go round with Joe Mason."

Oscar would have liked to despise Annie Raymond, but it was out of
his power. She was undoubtedly the belle of the school, and he would
have been proud to receive as much notice from her as she freely
accorded to Joe. But the young lady had a mind and a will of her
own, and she had seen too much to dislike in Oscar to regard him with
favor, even if he were the son of a rich man, while she had the good
sense and discrimination to see that Joe, despite his ragged garb,
possessed sterling good qualities.

When Oscar got home he sought his father.

"Father," said he, "I heard Joe complaining to Annie Raymond that you
didn't dress him decently."

Major Norton looked annoyed.

"What does the boy mean?" he said. "What does he expect?"

"He should be dressed as well as I am," said Oscar maliciously.

"Quite out of the question," said the major hastily. "Your clothes
cost a mint of money."

"Of course, you want me to look well, father. I am your son, and he
is only your hired boy."

"I don't want folks to talk," said the major, who was sensitive to
public opinion. "Don't you think his clothes are good enough?"

"Of course they are; but I'll tell you what, father," said Oscar,
with a sudden idea, "you know that suit of mine that I got stained
with acid?"

"Yes, Oscar," said the major gravely. "I ought to remember it. It
cost me thirty-four dollars, and you spoiled it by your carelessness."

"Suppose you give that to Joe?" suggested Oscar.

"He's a good deal larger than you. It wouldn't fit him; and,
besides, it's stained."

"What right has a hired boy to object to a stain? No matter if it is
too small, he has no right to be particular."

"You are right, Oscar," said the major, who was glad to be saved the
expense of a new suit for Joe. Even he had been unpleasantly
conscious that Joe's appearance had become discreditable to him.
"You may bring it down, Oscar," he said.

"I dare say Joe won't li