t, just when he was going away?

"Why, you look quite worn out and dazed, Dexter," said Helen merrily.
"There, come along."

"Eh? Where was he? In mischief?" said the doctor sharply, as they
entered the drawing-room.

"Mischief? No, papa: for shame!" cried Helen, with her arm resting on
the boy's shoulders. "In your study, working away at those terrible
sides and angles invented by that dreadful old Greek Euclid."

"Work, eh? Ha! that's good!" cried the doctor jovially. "Bravo,
Dexter! I am glad."

If ever a boy felt utterly ashamed of himself, Dexter did then. He
could not meet the doctor's eye, but was on his way to get a book to
turn over, so as to have something to look at, but this was not to be.

"No, no, you have had enough of books for one day, Dexter. Come and
turn over the music for me. Why! what's that?"

"That?" said Dexter slowly, for he did not comprehend.

"Yes, I felt it move. You have something alive in your pocket."

He felt prompted to lie, but he could not tell a falsehood then, and he
stood with his teeth set.

"Whatever have you got alive in your pocket?" said the doctor. "I know.
A young rabbit, for a guinea."

"Is it?" cried Helen. "Let me look: they are such pretty little
things."

"Yes, out with it, boy, and don't pet those things too much. Kill them
with kindness, you know. Here, let me take it out."

"No, no!" cried Dexter hastily.

"Well, take it out yourself."

A spasm of dread had run through the boy, as in imagination he saw the
doctor's hand taking out the letter in his pocket.

"It isn't a young rabbit," he faltered.

"Well, what is it, then? Come, out with it."

Dexter hesitated for a few moments, and now met the doctor's eye. He
could not help himself, but slowly took out his pocket-handkerchief, as
he held the note firmly with his left hand outside the jacket. Then,
diving in again, he got well hold of Sam, who was snug at the bottom,
and, with burning cheeks, and in full expectation of a scolding, drew
the toad slowly forth.

"Ugh!" ejaculated Helen.

The doctor, who was in a most amiable temper, burst into a roar of
laughter.

"Well, you are a strange boy, Dexter," he said, as he wiped his eyes.
"You ought to be a naturalist by and by. There, open the window, and
put the poor thing outside. You can find plenty another time."

Dexter obeyed, glad to be out of his quandary, and this time, as he put
Sam down, the reptile crawled slowly