Paul the Courageous

e was terribly grieved and upset- grieved to see his bright, happy Stella so wan and quiet, and troubled sorely

all have to send for one of the maids to come and look after you all, for we cannot have such things happening! I will no

had not Paul given his word to be more

ny way, and he spoke so plainly about it that that very same day a man went out with a cartload of white hurdles to place around the margin o

d, Paul sitting beside Muggridge in the cart, when Muggridge pointed with his whip at the hurdles and laughed. A hot blush rushed over Pa

d he looked away across the moor that Muggridge might not see the

he c

lighter than I am, and I went in," a

nse not to go right slap in the middle as you did. I meant

tupid could do that!" he said loftily. "

ge, with an air of great knowingness. "It wouldn'

, that's all,"

ch sense. I can't afford to spoil a pair of boots, and I doubt if any one would take the trouble to ha

s further out than Muggridge had thought, but Paul did not let him know that. The very spirit of bravado and mischief seemed to fill him as he mocked at his companion, and then, with a sudden mad impulse, he climbed over and attempted to run around inside. But here matters were different; the ground was soft and slimy, his feet stuck an

ht of Paul's boots they looked at each other with grave faces and frightened eyes. What was to be done? The state of them was bound to be noticed, for the weather was fine and dry, Muggridge scraped off what he could with bits of stick, and tufts of grass, but his efforts were not very successful, for the mud was thick and clinging, and Paul clambered

other, and so start on what is often a long road of sin and misery, rather than courageously face at once the blame and punishment they deserve. The rest of the drive he did

hought, when they got back to the house there was no one about. It was close to the hour for the mid-day dinner. Mrs. Minards and the maids were busy in the kitchen, Mrs. Anketell and Stella were upstairs in their rooms. Paul could hardly believe his good fortune when he got past the windows, into the house, without meeting any one, and as he stood at the foot of the stairs listening, to try to discover where everyone was, and could hear no voices or footsteps near, his spirits rose. He crept upstairs swiftly and stealthily, almost without a sound, except for t

with a book on his knee, and apparently absorbed in the story. He was so deeply absorbed in fact that he did not look up when she spoke, not, indeed, u

s closed to everything, and he could hardly hear or take in what she was saying. "No-o not very long," he ans

oking over his shoulder. "I am glad you find it so interesting. Father was afraid you d

nny this way," he said lamely, and then, to his great relief, the maid said dinner was