"Oh, Miss Morgan," said the boy whom she addressed, lowering his
voice, but not lowering it sufficiently, "Miss Morgan, _you_ don't
know _him_"

Just then Bud was startled by a footstep at his side. He looked up and
saw Piggy Pennington, who had a big bunch of roses in his hands,
and who, seeing the stained face of his friend, said in embarrassed
confusion: "Ma sent 'em." Piggy put the roses by the new pine
head-board, and lay down--lying across his companion's feet.

"Get off me," said Bud, when he had treated himself to a long,
trembling sniff, after a painful silence. "I ain't no sidewalk."

When Piggy went to get his flying hat, he said under his breath
to Bud, "Wipe your face, quick; some one's comin'." Then he stood
awkwardly at Bud's back and shielded him. Piggy spoke first to the
little woman, now only a few paces away.

[Illustration: _Piggy went to get his flying hat_.]

"H'lo, Miss Morgan; lookin' for old Tom? He's buried off to the right
yonder."

"No, my dear. I want to speak to Henry Perkins," replied the woman,
beaming the kindest of smiles into the guardsman's face. He stepped
from the line between Miss Morgan and the Perkins boy, not sure that
the intruder would find a welcome. Bud was glaring steadfastly at the
earth, between his hands and knees. Piggy said, "Bu-ud?"