He fully expected to encounter Tom on the way, who, he was afraid, would persist in accompanying him on his tour.

As before, he stopped at Squire Lee's to bid him and Annie good by.
The little maiden had read "The Wayfarer" more than half through, and was very enthusiastic in her expression of the pleasure she derived from it.

She promised to send it over to his house when she had finished it, and hoped he would bring his stock to Riverdale, so that she might again replenish her library.

Bobby thought of something just then, and the thought brought forth a harvest on the following Saturday, when he returned.
When he had shaken hands with the squire and was about to depart, he received a piece of news which gave him food for an hour's serious reflection.
"Did you hear about Tom Spicer ?" asked Squire Lee.
"No, sir; what about him ?" "Broken his arm." "Broken his arm! Gracious! How did it happen ?" exclaimed Bobby, the more astonished because he had been thinking of Tom since he had left home.
"He was out in the woods yesterday, where boys should not be on Sundays, and, in climbing a tree after a bird's nest, he fell to the ground." "I am sorry for him," replied Bobby, musing.
"So am I; but if he had been at home, or at church, where he should have been, it would not have happened.

If I had any boys, I would lock them up in their chambers if I could not keep them at home Sundays." "Poor Tom!" mused Bobby, recalling the conversation he had had with him on Saturday, and then wishing that he had been a little more pliant with him.
"It is too bad; but I must say I am more sorry for his poor mother than I am for him," added the squire.