Paul the Courageous

be the wiser. So Paul waited anxiously for the opportunity. He knew it must be done soon, as his mother would miss the boots and make inquiries about them, for he had only the o

was finished his t

n," said Mr. Anketell; "who will go with me? We w

uld be offered them; and, as a rule, Paul enjoyed it even more than they. But to-day he did not expres

say?" he asked, wonderi

ered Paul awkwardly, "but I've hurt my f

h a wet cloth, while Mrs. Anketell decided to give up the afternoon's excursion and stay at home with him. "And we will have tea in the orchard," she said consolingly, "to make up for the loss of our tea at Four Bridges; that will be pleasanter than having it indoors." The kinder they were to

en another, until he could have screamed with impatience and anxiety, and even when they were gone he could not get away, for his mother sat with him and read to him, and he watche

from using it altogether. Then he stumbled out to the stairs, and clambering up them a good deal faster than he usually moved, reached his room without further interruption. His heart was beating furiously with excitement and fear, but he could not pause a moment to steady himself, for he felt he had not a second to lose. Dragging his play-box softly out from under the bed, he plunged his hand to the bottom and soon drew out his troublesome

aid the old man, "I thought

y foot, and couldn't walk to F

ny-shaped protuberances under Paul's arms. "Be 'ee going for a stroll

stammered Paul. "I am onl

eadow? It wouldn't be far for 'ee to walk; we've got the new machin

e stopped. He could not go all out there with his boots under his arms, nor could he get rid of them while Farmer Minards stood looking at him; he had to keep up the pretence, too, about his foot

s you was all right again; but we shall be using un again next week, and you can come then, perhaps," and Farmer Minards at las

rds herself, and at sight of her Paul turned and fled in dismay. Too much scared to know what he was doing he ran swiftly through the yard, and into the kitchen-garden. At that moment a clock struck five and he knew that his mother would be expecting him down to tea now. What could he do? He could not get back to the house again; he peeped out and saw people moving about in the yard and at the doorw

r, the big brown old moor. Surely here he could find a hiding-place for his unfortunate boots, and could tell Muggridge where to look for them. It was a splendid idea, he thought; there could not be a better

reached them breathless and hot? So he slackened his pace, and when he came to the door leading from the garden into the yard he sauntered through in the most easy

I have searched for you all over the house. How hot and flushed and tired

very bad now, thank you. I think it is getting better." He spoke so oddly and

in the sun long?" s

"I've only been strol

and putting her arm about his shoulders they went to the orchard, where a glorious tea was spread for them. At any other time Paul's delight would

, dear?" she asked. "Can't you t

voice, touched Paul's heart. The whole confession trembled on his lips, and would have been poured forth, but at that moment the m