"Now, see here, my friend," said he.

"Honest, now, no dodging.

Never mind if you do like things.

Honest--you can't cheat me, you know--" The boy looked back at him with eyes of profound simplicity and faith.

"I know it," he replied.
"Well, then, now you tell me, honest, if you do stay and have dinner with me won't your folks, your mother and your sisters, worry ?" The boy's face, which had been rather anxious, cleared at once.