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

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KING WINTER.
157

“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-