"I think I could, sir," said Morton demurely, dropping his lids, not to
show too strongly the joy in his eyes, for if he had been hungry in the
morning, he was ravenous now.

"All right, then; good-by, my little friend--or, rather, _au
revoir_. I'll see you in the morning," and the two separated,
mutually pleased with each other.

A few minutes later Morton entered the home kitchen, joy beaming from
his countenance, and a large basket hanging from his arm.

"Sara," he cried, "have you been to dinner?"

"No, we waited for you; but how late you are. It's after two."

"All the better, for here's a dinner to match the biggest kind of an
appetite! See here, and here!"

He spread out with intense satisfaction sandwiches, fried chicken,
cakes, doughnuts, and cheese, besides jellies and fruit, while Molly
fairly howled with delight, and even Sara's eyes shone happily; for,
unless you have lived for a week on salt herring and potatoes, topped
off by a long fast since breakfast, you cannot understand how good those
things looked to the hungry children.

"But, Morton, you didn't tell Mrs. Norris, did you?" Sara asked in a
distressed tone. "I didn't want"--

"Now, don't you worry, Sara! I sold her the goose, and got my money--