Page:Zodiac stories by Blanche Mary Channing.pdf/266

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Scorpio, the Scorpion
249

"The doctor. Little girl's hurt awful, they 're sayin' up at the house." The man looked curiously at Bobby. Bobby's face grew pale.

"If I was some people, I'd get away and keep meself out o' my pa's sight," added the groom with meaning. "I ain't never seen the guv'nor so put out, not as I remember, not since I've been here; and he 's a very easy-put-out gen'leman, too."

Bobby said nothing for a minute; then he asked,—

"Where is my papa?"

"Well, when I come out here, he were a-looking for his riding-whip!" William made answer, with a sly glance.

Bobby got up with a proud straightening of his back, and walked into the yard, and across it, through the kitchen-garden, into the front flower-garden, and towards the house. He met his father striding down the path. Mr. Fane looked very stern, and Bobby knew well enough what