you into dreadful trouble you don t seem to think of all that � mr but think of it you think too much altogether � said almost � it vexed him to that this boy of barely eleven years was actually older and more in mind than himself a man of seven and twenty � you are always thinking yes � agreed gravely but then there s so much to think about in this world isn t there to this volunteered no answer he sat gazing at the dish of rosy apples in front of him with a brooding frown � and presently laid one little cold trembling hand on his arm but i shall never forget you � he said pausing before the name � you know you said i might call you sometimes you so have been very good to me � you are the youngest i have ever had � and the kindest � and though i can t keep all the lessons in my head i can keep the kindness i can indeed he looked so small and fragile as he spoke his sensitive little face a quiver with emotion and his soft eyes full of wistful affection and appeal that was much inclined to give him a hearty kiss just as he would have kissed a pretty baby but he remembered in time all the dry of so called wisdom that had been packed into that little curly head � all the profound of dead and philosophers that were stored in the recesses of that young mind � and he reflected with an odd sense of humorous pity that it would never do to kiss such a learned little man so he gave him a couple of pleasant on the shoulder instead and answered � a right i know only just think now and again of what i ve said to you and when you re getting puzzled and dazed like over your books go into the fresh air and never mind the lessons � and if you get a for it well � all i can say is a is better than a sickness health s the thing going � a far sight better than wealth at that moment the too too of the came ringing towards them in a gay echo and he started up by jove i must be off miss now if it isn t like your impudence mr � said miss appearing at the doorway with her strong bare arms dusty with the flour of the she had just been making to be calling me upon my word i don t know what the gentlemen are coming to � here she and in spite of her fifty two years as nothing dropped more than the money due for the breakfast into her hand and kissed her on the cheek � he had no scruples about kissing her oh no not at all � though he had about kissing � really they seem to be quite reckless nowadays � it was very different i dew assure you when i was a oh no it wasn t i assure you laughed with a of her voice and manner � it was just the same and always will be the same to the crack of doom men will always be devils � and women � angels good bye i good bye sir a pleasant journey to you i l and miss up and down under her rose covered porch after precisely the same fashion in which the greatest ladies of the land make their dip salutation to � hope to see you here again some day sir i hope so too he answered cheerily waving one hand while he grasped his with the other and walked with a swinging stride down the village street followed by to the pack o cards inn where the coach had just arrived it was a picturesque turn out with its four strong sleek horses its passengers all rendered more or less bright faced by the freshness of the morning air its white coachman and its jolly guard who blew the horn more for the pleasure of blowing it than anything else � and surveyed it in a kind of sober rapture you are glad to go mr � he said � you must be glad to go yes i am glad in one way � replied but i m sorry in another i m sorry to leave you � i should like to be living here for awhile just to keep you out of harm s way would you looked at him but i am never in the way of harm � nothing ever happens to me of any particular sort you know one day is just like another well good bye and having given over his to the coach guard laid both his hands on the boy s fragile shoulders when you get home tell your father it was i who took you out with me this morning to see me off and that if he wants to question me about it he knows where a letter will find me take all the blame remember good bye my dear � and � and � god bless you s lip quivered and the smile he managed to force was very suggestive of tears good bye he said faintly too too too too the guard on his shining horn � and climbed up to his place on the top of the coach the red faced driver bent a severe eye on certain village children that were standing about with admiration at himself and his now then out of the way there followed a general and the horses started too too too up the village street they galloped merrily in the cheerful sunlight their blown back by the dancing breeze good bye good bye shouted once more waving his straw hat to the solitary small figure left standing in 