Barbara Ladd

rse. He was about to pass greeting to its occupants when something in the face of the big man sitting in the stern

wers looked around and grinned at her in humourous triumph. Then, her visions of life at

n his course, making a dart for the swifter water

ch us!" he decl

oice of Doctor Jim. "I know you, Bobby Gault. Do

is labour. Barbara lifted her face and stared through her tears. But the boy paid no

r Jim kne

. "I'm sorry to do bodily hurt to the son of

d pistol from under the

, taking careful aim, while one eyelid q

ttle, but his jaw set fir

t. She half arose in the canoe, glancing with horror fr

I will throw myself overbo

dle, laid it down in the canoe, folded his arms, and looked off o

by Barbara's sobbing and the splashing of waves on the boat and the canoe. The owner of the boat, a gaunt farmer from Westings Landing, a few miles down the river, who had not been initiated

new just what to say. They were embarrassed. But the child was right. Somebody h

ng away with a young man,-carrying him of

eyes opene

she cried,

now well what my friend, Richard Gault, your lamented father, with his nice notions of honour, would have thought of such an escapade." (Robert's father and mother had died within a few days of ea

ed the speaker proudly; but Barba

n an old raft; and he knew who I was; and because he was getting his feet wet on the raft, I invited him to get into the canoe; and I made him promise to paddle me just w

te grave; and Doctor Jim, who

cally, "it appears that you have a champio

stings. The story commanded my fullest sympathy, and I had just given her my word that I would aid her in escaping to her uncle, Mr. Glenowen, where she would be happy, when you came and vi

grown up. Barbara thought it was a miracle of eloquence, and cast him a grateful look. But Doctor John could not conceal his delight in the stilt

mewling baby. If I had but known enough to spank you once in awhile, you might not have grow

ng rapidly down-stream. Doctor John look

honour us with your company to Second Westings, we had better set you ashor

g with humiliation and the longing to strangle his h

er full red lips together in the resolute way that Robert's had. "I will never go back

ost its potency. No one appeared impressed but Robe

e or less serious obstacles to your plan is one of which I believe that

d Barbara, overwhelmed, subjugated

full effect of the news worked upon his v

rom him to-day, saying he expected to arrive at Second Westings not later than the end of next we

to escape from it. All she knew or cared for was that Uncle Bob would be there. He would make everything right. Her face was all radiance, as it turned to Docto

dears, had not come and caught us. They are always angels to me, you know. Now we will put you ashore right here. A

stiffly. "But I think I had better wait for Mr. Glenowen's permission, as the

a, impatiently. "Uncle Bob will think of you just as I

d Robert, "I ought to wait f

y old friend Richard's son speaking now. And I doubt not that our little mistress

stantaneous obedience to her will on the part of her champion; but Rob

use of an old servant of my grandmother's. It will be a long and difficult tramp for me up the shore now, in the dark, and with no road through the woods. By goi

ng that he is Richard's son, we'll have to take

canoe, and Barbara, and her kittens, and all her contraptions,-and we'll

e alongside of the boat, just out of reach of the oars, so that Barbara could talk conveniently with Doctor John and Doctor Jim, which she did in the most usual manner in the world,

harsh, tyrannical sort of wom

, which made even Barbara jump, inure

gentlest, sweetest, truest, most gracious lady that ever lived

ently. He was no less loyal a champion to Mistress Mehitable than was Doctor Jim, but with him his humour was ever at hand to assuage his wra

spare a moiety of your sympathies for that very noble lady, Mistress Ladd. In truth, for all her tears and anxiety on this mad little maid's account, I have a misgiving that we are doing the sweet lady no

ugh a few awkward phrases of deprecation and apology, but Barbara cut in upon his struggles without mercy

had gone away? Did she really feel so badly

a. Do you think no one has feelings but yours

ion Barbara ignored.

Hitty is not really cruel to me,-at least she never intends to be.

en to her so severely before, and she was amazed. But she saw that this time she had gone very near to forfeiting the sympathy o

," she proclaimed rebelliously. "One's father and mother, if they are go

t, sententiously. He flung

ant disappointment. Doctor John laughed hugely. But as for Doctor Jim, h

ed abrupt a moment ago, Robert. Pardon my quick temper. I see your heart is in the right place, and you have not let them stuff your head with pe

ween Robert and Doctor Jim which no aft

a was of a

ointed in you. But there are some nice Tories! You know even dear Doctor Jim is a Tory, though we can't see why, and he's just as lovely as if he were on the right si

them fight it out between them!" Then, suddenly grave, he added, "God grant the diffe

hook his hea

is is a stiff-necked and disloyal people, and I ha

-necked king, Jim,"

s scabbard to serve the king!" said Robert,

disapproved, and quite ignoring her feelings in the matter, Barbara felt a sudden

!" she pleaded, her voice pathetic

and in a little while, coming noiselessly to the landing-place, they s