Page:Anna Chapin--Half a dozen boys.djvu/177

Rh “You certainly have. It is nearly two in the morning,” answered Bess, as he rose.

“Oh, Miss Bess! And you sat here with me? How could you? What a pig I am!” said the boy remorsefully. Then, putting his hands on her shoulders as she still sat there, too  weary to move: “How awfully good you are to  me!” he said. “I wish I could live with you always.”

And Bess thought no more of her weariness, as they went up the stairs together.

The next morning, Wednesday, found the snow still falling, but the clouds looked broken,  and by noon some stray sunbeams were showing  themselves here and there. As the Carters sat at their late lunch, their fourth consecutive  meal of codfish, a scramble and clatter were  heard at the front door, and the next moment  Rob came tumbling in, with his pockets filled  with bundles of all shapes and sizes.

“Hullo!” he shouted. “Where are you all? Want some grub?”

“Where did you come from, and how in the world did you get here?” asked his aunt.

“On my feet, aunty. I have taken to snow-