"I've just come for a minute!" he cried half breathlessly, catching her in his arms, giving her a resounding kiss, then bending over Gracie with a sudden change to extreme gentleness of manner; she was his baby sister and so weak and timid. "Poor little Gracie!" he said softly. "I wish I was a big man to take you and Lulu away and give you a good time!" "I love you, Max," she returned, stroking and patting his cheek. "I wish you'd be a good boy, so you could live here with us." "I don't want to," he answered, frowning. "I mean I don't want to live with her; I sha'n't ever call her aunt again. I wouldn't have come in if I hadn't known she was out. I saw her going to market. I'm going off to Miller's Pond to fish for trout. You know it's Saturday and there's no school. Jim Bates is going with me and we're to be back by noon; that is, old Tommy said I must." Lulu laughed at Max's irreverent manner of alluding to the man who had the oversight of him out of school hours; then jumping up, "O Max!" she cried, "I want to go too! I'll be ready in a minute." "What'll Mrs. Scrimp say?" laughed Max. Lulu tossed her head with a scornful smile which said more plainly than words that she did not care what Mrs. Scrimp might do or say in regard to the matter, ran into the hall, and returned almost instantly with hat and sacque. "Come, Max," she said, "we'd better be off before she gets back. Gracie, you won't mind being left alone for just a little bit? Ann's in the kitchen, you know." "I wish I could go too!" sighed Gracie. "I wish I could run about and have good times like you and Max!" "Maybe you will, some o' these days. Good-by, little one," said Max, giving a parting pat to the little white cheek. "Good-by," cried Lulu from the doorway; "don't fret, because maybe I'll find something pretty to bring you when I come back." She took a small basket from the table in the hall, Max shouldered his fishing-rod, which he had left there behind the front door, and they went out together. CHAPTER XI. "Bear a fair presence, though your heart be tainted, Teach sin the carriage of a holy saint." --_Shaks._ The children walked very fast, glancing this way and that till satisfied that there was no longer any danger of encountering Mrs. Scrimp, then their pace slackened a little and they breathed more freely. "Won't she be mad because you came without asking her, Lu?" queried Max. "I s'pose so." "What'll she do about it?" "Scold, scold, scold! and threaten to make me fast; but she knows she can't do that. I always manage to get something to eat. I've found a key that fits the pantry door; so I just help myself. She doesn't know about the key and wonders how it happens; thinks she forgot to lock it." "But, Lulu, you wouldn't steal!" "'Taint stealing to take what papa pays for! Max, you're too stupid!" cried Lulu indignantly.