nd as he looked he caught
sight of the footman gazing at him with a peculiar grin upon his
countenance, which seemed to be quite friendly, and indicated that the
man rather enjoyed the plight in which his young master was plunged.

Master Edgar howled again as he was raised, and directly after began to
indulge in what the plantation negroes used to call "playing 'possum"--
that is to say, he suddenly became limp and inert, closing his eyes, and
letting his head roll about, as if there were no more bone left in his
body, while his mother wrung her hands, and tried then to hold the head
steady, as the footman prepared to move toward the house.

"Now, sir," said Sir James sternly, "come here. We will have a few
words about this in my library."

Accustomed for years past to obey, Dexter took a step forward to
accompany the stern-looking man before him to the house; but such a
panorama of troublous scenes rose before his mind's eye directly, that
he stopped short, gave one hasty glance round, and then, as Sir James
stretched forth his hand, he made one bound which landed him in a clump
of hollyhocks and dahlias; another which took him on to the grass; and
then, with a rush, he dashed into a clump of rhododendrons, went through
them, and ran as hard as he could go toward the house.

For a few moments Sir James was too much astounded to speak. This was
something new. He was accustomed to order, and to be obeyed.

He had ordered Dexter to come to him, and for answer the boy had dashed
away.

As soon as Sir James could recover his breath, taken away in his
astonishment, he began to shout--

"Stop, sir! Do you hear? How dare you?"

If a hundred Sir Jameses had been shouting it would not have stayed
Dexter, for he had only one idea in his head just then, and that was to
get away.

"Put down Master Edgar, and go and fetch that boy back."

"Carefully! Oh, pray, put him down carefully," cried Lady Danby
passionately.

Just then Master Edgar uttered a fresh cry, and his mother wailed
loudly.

"No, never mind," cried Sir James, "carry him up to the house; I will
fetch that young rascal."

He strode off angrily, evidently believing in his own mind that he
really was going to fetch Dexter back; but by that time the boy had
reached the house, ran round by the side, dashed down the main street,
and was soon after approaching the bridge over the river, beyond which
lay the Union and the schools.

CHAPTER TWENTY.