Page:Anna Chapin--Half a dozen boys.djvu/255

Rh while Bess answered their inquisitive neighbor with an icy politeness, as she gave the boy’s  hand an encouraging pat. The brutal abruptness of the question was more than the child could bear, and it was long before he could  speak or join in the conversation. Rob, meanwhile, was vowing vengeance. His opportunity soon came.

Directly in front of him, in the seat vacated by his enemy, sat a middle-aged man, who was  carrying in his pocket a small gray kitten,  probably a gift to some child at home. Rob had noticed the little animal as the gentleman  came in, and from time to time he had turned  to peep over at it, when its owner was absorbed  in his reading. At length the man laid aside his paper, and turned to give his attention to  the cat, which, however, was nowhere to be  found. He began to search about for it, looking rather anxious. A sudden, naughty idea flashed into Rob’s brain. Rising with an air of polite sympathy, he inquired in a loud and  cheerful voice,—

“Can’t I help you, sir? Which was it, a rattler, or just a common snake?”