"Your guardian, the old gentleman Scraper, desires of our company at breakfast.

How then, son of mine?
Shall we go, or shall I keep you here, and bid Sir Scraper find his way to the devil, which will be for him little difficult ?" He smiled on the boy, and took his hand with a caressing gesture.
Little John heaved a great sigh, and the cares of the world floated from him like a summer cloud.

"Oh, I knew it!" he cried, smiling joyously up into his friend's face.

"I knew it all the time, or almost all! You never meant anything but fun, did you?
and we will go back, won't we?
And we shall feel all right inside, and things will not sit--I--I mean nothing will feel bad any more.

I--I can't say all I mean," he added, rather lamely, "because I had thoughts in the night; but we will go now, you and I, you and I!" * * * * * As they approached the gate, John stopped a moment, and looked up at his companion.