Paul the Courageous

esting person in the house just then, and was questioned, cross-questioned, pitied, talked at, until he was heartily sick of everything, and longed to run away, back to school, or anywhere,

ckles; and, worst of all, there was talk of putting him to sleep in his father's dressing-room, which opened out of his parents' bedroom, that he might be heard and checked if he attempted again to take any more midnight s

y morning early, and haven't been caught yet. One of 'em broke into Perry's farm last night, and stole a whole 'eap of Farmer Perry's clothes; 'tother one they've

sed beating with the su

aving windows open all night," nodding knowingly at Paul. "They're not nice chaps to

he night before. That must have been the convict he had heard. He longed to tell the f

n handcuffs, and-and chains

, you may be sure," answered the old man. "

've been told-I know a fellow who stayed near Princetown once, and he told me a heap about

spot. There's one thing, you won't be able to go out and get into any mischief for a day or two, I reckon. 'Tisn't a bad thing to have 'ee tied by

o schoolboy of fourteen would consent to spend a second perfect summer day in the ho

ice as he was, so the second day he declared himself quite fit to go out and stroll around, and Mrs. Anket

nd Stella, who was not strong yet after her illness, had also been nervous of being in the near neighbourhood of the prison. So the two younger ones ran out and played about with light hearts, full of pleasure that Paul was with them again, and anxious only to make him laugh and romp about, and tease them as he used t

lt they would be safe from harm, and Farmer Minards sent out for one of the shepherd's dogs to be with them too. So they had their mid-day dinner under the apple-trees, and played there

st then, he too being filled with a foreboding of fear, for which he could not account except by telling himself that Paul's extraordinary night adventure, and the narrow escap

the children in your charge. Keep the little ones in your sight, guard them all carefully. Cease to be a thoughtless child for the time, a

no time for it, though he felt that here was a chance to expiate his wickedness and deceit of the past. But if he could not confess, he could at any rate live

e a sober little party that gathered round the tea-table in the orchard, and after tea

s glass of milk before putting him to bed. "I think you had all better c

he maids, "I can't think where they are," she said anxiously, as the children passed her on their way out. "Mrs. Minards, I know, has gone out in t

e and Stella were bringing their last load before he saw them coming in at th

in the car, driven by her husband, and s