"Yes, master Charles," answered Leonard Hust, with a knowing smile.

"O," said the boy, as a glow of pleasure lit up his features for a
moment.

It was evident that the knowledge of the said cousin Helen's having seen
his exertions to save the little favorite spaniel, gave Charles not a
little satisfaction. Now cousin Helen--as a little blue-eyed child of
eight years, the daughter of the family whose estate joined that of
Bramble Park, was called--was no cousin at all, but the children had
thus nicknamed each other, and they were most happy playmates together.
Robert, who was three years his brother's senior, was more fond of
little Helen than of anybody else; indeed, in spite of his ill temper,
he was wont to try and please her at any cost. But the child, who was as
beautiful as a little fairy, did not respond at all to his advances of
friendship, while to Charles she was all tenderness and confiding in
everything, kissing him with childish fervor and truth whenever they
parted, a familiarity she never permitted to his brother.

The truth was, Robert to his great discomfiture, was aware that
Charles's manly and courageous act of saving the dog had been witnessed
by Helen, though his brother knew it not until told by Leonard Hust.
This had aggravated Robert so much that he had hastened home, and
fabricating a story of Charles having thrown the dog into the pond, and
wet himself completely, preparing his parents for a rough reception of
his brother when he should return, and hence the treatment he received.
Leonard made his young master change his clothes, and after making him
comfortable, left him to amuse himself in the open park with his ball,
where the light-hearted Charles was soon thoughtlessly happy, and