I'll back you up; I'll vote for you." After breakfast the next morning Mr.Stanley drew me aside and said: "Now I want to pay you for your help yesterday and the day before." "No," I said.

"I've had more than value received.

You've taken me in like a friend and brother.

I've enjoyed it." So Mrs.Stanley half filled my knapsack with the finest luncheon I've seen in many a day, and thus, with as pleasant a farewell as if I'd been a near relative, I set off up the country road.

I was a little distressed in parting to see nothing of the boy Ben, for I had formed a genuine liking for him, but upon reaching a clump of trees which hid the house from the road I saw him standing in the moist grass of a fence corner.
"I want to say good-bye," he said in the gruff voice of embarrassment.
"Ben," I said, "I missed you, and I'd have hated to go off without seeing you again.