Page:Anna Chapin--Half a dozen boys.djvu/231

Rh time when her Fred will be a good and true man, and she knows that it will come some  day. And always, Fred, when things go wrong, come straight to me, and we will talk it all over  together, and see if we can’t find the right of  it. But don’t for a moment think that just because you can’t see, we care for you any less,  instead of a great deal more than ever.”

“More than before I went to Boston?” asked Fred wonderingly. “And you aren’t ashamed to take me round with you?”

“Fred!” exclaimed Bess, shocked at the idea. “What could ever suggest such a thing to you?”

“Nothing, only I know mother was. She never took me anywhere with her, and I heard  her say so one day, when she didn’t know I  was there; and so I just thought I’d ask you  about it. I’m glad you don’t mind. And I’ll tell Ted to-morrow night that I’m sorry. Good-night.”

As was her usual habit, Bess went up-stairs a little later to say good-night, and see that the  boy needed nothing. When she came down-stairs again, tempted by the warm June moon-