ause of his sister's alarm, he comforted her in the very
best way by starting out to search for Biddy himself.

He had not gone more than twenty steps before a boy, who had watched him
come out, stopped him, and to his great surprise gave him a message from
Biddy.

Mr. Kennedy ran back and spoke with his sister, and then went quickly
away with the boy who had brought Biddy's message.

Now this is what had happened.

After Biddy had done her errand, she thought about Charley, and felt a
great wish to see him. She was prettily dressed, and it came into her
head that it would be a grand thing if she could walk by Mrs. Brown's
stand, and see if the old woman would know her. For a long time after
she ran away from Mrs. Brown, Biddy had been afraid to go near her old
home for fear Mrs. Brown might claim her, and perhaps in some way be
able to hide her from her new friends. But she had lost most of this
fear, and now thought it would be great fun to step up to the stand and
buy something, and see what the old woman would say.

The old days when she and Charley used to be so much together came into
Biddy's mind as she walked along, swinging her parasol. She remembered a
great many little things about him and his quiet kindnesses to her,
which she had hardly noticed at the time, and she thought with new
pleasure of Mr. Kennedy's words to her in the morning. He had passed her
in the hall as he was going out, and had laid his hand on her head and
said: "I think I shall be able to do something for Charley very soon.
Will you like that, Biddy?" And Biddy, as usual, when her heart was very
full, had not said a word. "I'll tell Charley," she thought to herself.

At last when there was only one more block to walk before reaching Mrs.
Brown's stall, and Biddy was just beginning to think about what she
should say to the old woman, she noticed an unusual stir down the
street. People old and young were darting about, running around and
forward, yelling at the tops of their voices; and there was another low
hoarse sound Biddy could not make out. Nearest were some children
running in her direction and screaming. Biddy stopped near a pile of
empty boxes. She was full of wonder and fear. One of the children was
Charley. He saw Biddy at the same moment she saw him, and it seemed as
if he flew, he came toward her so fast. As he came up with her he
grasped her arms, turned her around, and pushed her toward the boxes
with one quick movement.