matter. Tell me all about it, Philip."

And Philip told her what had happened that morning, laying bare all
his heart-aches, and not even concealing his evil deeds. When he had
done, she pondered awhile, tapping her little foot upon the turf.

"Philip," she said at last, in quite a changed voice, "I do not think
that you are being well treated. I do not think that your cousin means
kindly by you, but--but I do not think that you have behaved rightly
either. I don't like that about the ten pounds; and I think that you
should not have touched George; he is not so strong as you. Please try
to do as your father--dear me, I am sure I don't wonder that you are
afraid of him; I am--tells you, and regain his affection, and make it
up with George; and, if you get into any more troubles, come and tell
me about them before you do anything foolish; for though, according to
Grumps, I am silly enough, two heads are better than one."

The tears stood in the lad's brown eyes as he listened to her. He
gulped them down, however, and said--

"You are awfully kind to me; you are the only friend I have. Sometimes
I think that you are an angel."

"Nonsense, Philip. If 'it' heard you talk like that, you would join
Grumps. Don't let me hear any more such stuff," but, though she spoke
sharply, somehow she did not look displeased.

"I must be off," he said at length. "I promised to go with my father
to see a new building on Reynold's farm. I have only twenty minutes to
get home;" and rising they went into the house through a French window