ver to come here again, not only because I am fond
of your cousin myself, but because I value my bees. There is an old
superstition that you must not hate where bees are, for they feel it
and pine away and die. I cannot have my bees destroyed."

The boy, looking up quickly at his broad, friendly smile, realized
that the man believed neither the old superstition, nor that Oliver
entertained any evil feelings.

"Perhaps," went on the Beeman, "the bees were in some danger that
first day. You had it in mind, then, to go away for good, I think."

Oliver nodded. He wondered how he could ever have made that selfish
resolution to run away.

"How did you know?" he asked.

"I had guessed it from--oh, various things. I am about the age of your
Cousin Jasper, but I know more than he about people of your years from
being Polly's father. I even had some idea of what was the immediate
cause of your going." The boy flushed so guiltily that he went on, in
kindly haste, "I am troubled about Jasper Peyton myself--yes, don't
look surprised, I know him well enough to call him that. We all know
one another in Medford Valley. I--I even work for him sometimes. Now
tell me what you think is wrong."

Oliver, as he set forth his tale, had a feeling that not all of it was
new to his listener, but he hearkened attentively to all that the boy
had to say, frowning when he heard of Anthony Crawford's insistent
and disagreeable visits.

"Your cousin doesn't know how to deal with a man like that," he
commented. "He is too upright himself to know the mean, small,
underhand ways that such a person will take to get what he wants. I
know Anthony Crawford, too, and what he is trying to accomplish. It
will take all of us, every one, to beat him. But we will, Oliver, I
vow we will."

"What can we do, what can I do?" the boy persisted. He felt ready to
accomplish great things at once. "And can't you explain to me what it
is all about?"

To his great disappointment, the other shook his head.

"I feel that if your cousin does not wish to tell you himself, I ought
not to," he said, "though I should like you to know. But there are two
things that you can do. One is not to be impatient with your cousin
when he makes tactless mistakes about--about how you are to be
entertained. He depends on you and Janet for a little cheerfulness in
his house."

"That isn't much to do," observed Oliver. "I hope the other is more."

"It is only this. To borrow a boat