ifred.

"It was because of me and my carelessness he got hurt and broke
himself. He was carrying my telegram that I ought to have sent long
before and he was so starved he fell off his bicycle and always ever
since I've wished I could help him some way and he'd have such a nice
home here and he wouldn't bring in goats, and his mother could do
things to help and I thought maybe he could do the shoes and other
things would be easier than what he did and could be a golf-boy for
the Bishop when the time comes and it's pretty near and--"

"There, Dorothy, take your breath, and put a comma or two into your
sentences. Then we'll talk about this project of yours. Where's Robin
now?"

"Right out on the settle this minute waiting--if he hasn't gone
away--May I--"

"Yes, honey, step-an'-fetch him!" laughed Winifred again, "he's used
to that sort of talk."

Away flashed Dorothy and now, at a really serious rebuke from the Lady
Principal, Winifred sobered her lively spirits to be an interested
witness of the coming interview, as Dorothy came speeding back,
literally dragging the shy Robin behind her.

But, as before, the presence of other young folks and Miss Muriel's
first question put him at his ease.

"Robin, are you willing to work rather hard, in a good home, for your
mother and to provide one for her, too?"

"Why, of course, Ma'am. That's what I was a-doin' when I fell off.
Goody! Wouldn't I? Did you ever see my mother, lady?"

"Yes, Robin, at our Hallowe'en Party," answered Miss Tross-Kingdon,
smiling into the beautiful, animated face of this loyal son.

"You'd like her, Ma'am, you couldn't help it. She's 'the sweetest
thing in the garden,' Father used to say, and he knew. She feels bad
now, thinking we've been so long at the farmer's 'cause she don't see
how 't we ever can pay them. And the doctor, too. Oh! Ma'am, did you
hear tell of such a place? Do you think I could get it?"

"Yes, lad, I did hear of just such, for Dorothy told me. It's right
here at Oak Knowe. The work is to pick up row after row of girls'
shoes, standing over night outside their bedroom doors and to blacken
them, or whiten them, as the case might be, and to have them
punctually back in place, in time for their owners to put on. Cleaning
boots isn't such a difficult task as it is a tedious one. The maids
complain that it's more tiresome than scrubbing, and a boy I knew grew
very careless about his work. If I asked you and your mother to com