ther 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; but
his quick breathing indicated that his words or his walk had been very
much exaggerated. "Has your father returned?"

"He has; he is waiting for you in the sitting room. Come in, Bobby."

Bobby followed her into the room, and took the chair which Annie
offered him.

"How do you do, Bobby? I am glad to see you," said the squire, taking
him by the hand, and bestowing a benignant smile upon him--a smile
which cheered his heart more than anything else could at that
moment. "I have heard of you before, to-day."

"Have you?"

"I have, Bobby; you are a brave little fellow."

"I came over to see you, sir, about something very particular,"
replied Bobby, whose natural modesty induced him to change the topic.

"Indeed; well, what can I do for you?"

"A great deal, sir; perhaps you will think I am very bold, sir, but I
can't help it."

"I know you are a very bold little fellow, or you would not have done
what you did this forenoon," laughed the squire.

"I didn't mean that, sir," answered Bobby, blushing up to the eyes.

"I know you didn't; but go on."

"I only meant that you would think me presuming, or impudent, or
something of that kind."

"O, no, far from it. You cannot be presuming or impudent. Speak out,
Bobby; anything under the heavens that I can do for you, I shall be
glad to do."

"Well, sir, I am going to leave Riverdale."

"Leave Riverdale!"

"Yes, sir; I