He came down to the playground where we were, and beckoning to Billy, who happened to be the nearest at hand, said, "Bungle, will you go with this boy to the station, and see him off by the twelve train to X--?
Here is the money to get his ticket; and carry his bag for him, there's a man." Billy readily accepted the commission, and we watched him proudly marching from the playground with his small charge on one side and the carpet bag on the other.

The station was a mile off, and it was nearly one o'clock when he returned home.

We were in class at the time.
"Well, did you see him off ?" asked the doctor.
"Yes, sir, all right; we caught an earlier train than the one you said-- at a quarter to," replied Billy, with the tone of a clever man.
"But the quarter to doesn't go to X--.

Didn't I tell you to see him off by the twelve train ?" "I thought it would be all the better to catch the early one." "Stupid boy, don't you know that train doesn't _go to_ X-- ?" "No one said it didn't, sir," put in Billy, with an injured face.
"Did any one say it did ?" "I didn't hear," said Billy; "shall I go back and ask ?" "That would not be the least use," said the master, too vexed almost to speak.
Billy stood before him, staring at him, and looking anything but cheerful.
"I shall have to go down to the station myself," said the doctor.

"You are the stupidest boy I ever had to do with." Billy looked resigned; then fumbling in his waistcoat pocket, he pulled out a bit of blue cardboard.