Page:Zodiac stories by Blanche Mary Channing.pdf/161

144 an end, for the May family were going back to London.

They were to leave on the sixth of September, and on the fifth, Paul went to bid Sir John good-by.

The old house looked very peaceful in the golden afternoon light. Bevis, the aged mastiff, rose from the porch as he saw the boy coming, and advanced toward him, wagging his tail. Paul put one arm over the brown neck and they went on to the house together. Sir John met them in the porch. He had meant to seem very cheerful, but his eyes grew moist as they took in the two figures.

"Well, my dear!" he cried, "Come in! Mrs. Burton is just carrying tea into the blue parlor."

Mrs. Burton, the stout housekeeper, had a soft spot in her heart for the little boy, whom every one at the manor loved.

On this evening she had made him one of her famous plum-cakes, and