he and
his companions acted for the edification of their relations and friends.
At this moment he was composing a story which he intended should be very
thrilling. He had only got as far as the two first sentences.

"Charles was determined to have some adventures. So he went into a wood
and met a tiger."

At this point he heard his sister calling to him.

"What is it, Kitty? I wish you wouldn't interrupt me just now. I'm very,
very busy."

"Oh, Arthur, I wish you would come and see a little boy who's at the
gate. He looks so hungry."

Arthur rose somewhat slowly, and went to the boy. Like all authors, he
didn't much like being called away in the full swing of literary
production. He proceeded to a little side gate which opened on to the
highway and the open fields beyond. Here Arthur found a boy about a year
younger than himself, bareheaded and barefooted, without a coat, and
with a very worn and ragged shirt and trousers. The little fellow looked
both tired and hungry, and his wearied look would have touched harder
hearts than those of Arthur and Kitty.

"Are you hungry?" Arthur asked.

"Yes, vera. I've no had onything sin' yesterday."

"I'm sure he's telling the truth. You have only to look at him," said
Kitty, who now joined him.

"Well, we might get him something to eat, anyhow. You stay there, boy,
till we come back."

Arthur and Kitty went into the house together, and presently returned
with a very large slice of bread, a piece of cheese to correspond, and a
bit of cold pudding, that would have alone satisfied the appetites of
two ordinary boys, even though extraordinarily hungry. It was as much as
the lad could do to hold them all, and he thanked his young benefactors
more by looks than words.

On the following morning, shortly after breakfast, Arthur's mother
said--

[Illustration: "THE LITTLE FELLOW LOOKED BOTH TIRED AND HUNGRY" (_p.
147_).]

"I should like you to take something for me to Mrs. Stewart's to-day,
Arthur. There are several things I should like to send her. I have a
small cheese and a pot of currant jelly that can go. Then I want her to
have one of those young Dorking hens your father got the other day. I'll
give you a small basket for that."

Mrs. Stewart was a very old friend of the family, having been the nurse
of Arthur and Kitty, and of their mother before them.

Arthur set out with his leather bag strapped across his back, and the
basket containing a little Dorking hen i