was
over. What are you going at next? Have you anything in view?"

Bertie shook his head sorrowfully.

"No, sir; but," he added more cheerfully, "I guess I'll find something
if I hunt around lively. I almost always do."

He forgot his shyness; his face flushed hopefully, and he looked
straight at the doctor with his bright, earnest eyes. The doctor poked
the fire energetically and looked very wise. But just then the girls
came up and carried Bertie off to display their holiday gifts. And
there was a fur cap and a pair of mittens for him! He wondered whether
he was dreaming.

"And here's a picture-book for William John," said Amy, "and there is
a sled out in the kitchen for him. Oh, there's the dinner-bell. I'm
awfully hungry. Papa says that is my 'normal condition,' but I don't
know what that means."

As for that dinner--Bertie might sometimes have seen such a repast in
delightful dreams, but certainly never out of them. It was a feast to
be dated from.

When the plum pudding came on, the doctor, who had been notably
silent, leaned back in his chair, placed his finger-tips together, and
looked critically at Bertie.

"So Mr. Sampson can't keep you?"

Bertie's face sobered at once. He had almost forgotten his
responsibilities.

"No, sir. He says I'm too small for the heavy work."

"Well, you are rather small--but no doubt you will grow. Boys have a
queer habit of doing that. I think you know how to make yourself
useful. I need a boy here to run errands and look after my horse. If
you like, I'll try you. You can live here, and go to school. I
sometimes hear of places for boys in my rounds, and the first good one
that will suit you, I'll bespeak for you. How will that do?"

"Oh, sir, you are too good," said Bertie with a choke in his voice.

"Well, that is settled," said the doctor genially. "Come on Monday
then. And perhaps we can do something for that other little chap,
William, or John, or whatever his name is. Will you have some more
pudding, Bertie?"

"No, thank you," said Bertie. Pudding, indeed! He could not have eaten
another mouthful after such wonderful and unexpected good fortune.

After dinner they played games, and cracked nuts, and roasted apples,
until the clock struck nine; then Bertie got up to go.

"Off, are you?" said the doctor, looking up from his paper. "Well,
I'll expect you on Monday, remember."

"Yes, sir," said Bertie happily. He was not likely to forget.

As he went out Amy