"I have seen her in the store," replied Anderson, and he was conscious of coloring. "She knew you, then?" said his mother. "Yes. She was in the store this morning." "It was lucky you were there." "Oh, as for that, she was in no danger," said Anderson, coolly. "The tramp had gone." "If you hadn't been there, I believe that poor little thing would have fainted dead away and lain there, nobody knows how long. It doesn't do anybody any good to get such a fright, and she is a thin, delicate little thing." "Yes, she had quite a fright," said Anderson, walking over to the window with the defective shutter. "This shutter must be fixed," said he. "I think she is prettier than the one that got married, but it is a pity she belongs to such a family," said Mrs. Anderson. "Mrs. Ferguson was just in here, and she says it is awful, that they are owing everybody." "That is not the girl's fault," Anderson rejoined, with sudden fire. "No, I suppose not," said Mrs. Anderson, with an anxious look at him. "Only, if she hasn't been taught to think it doesn't matter if debts are not paid." "Well, I don't think that poor child is to be blamed," Anderson said. "Do they owe you?" "She came in and paid me this morning." "Oh, I'm glad of that!" said his mother, and Anderson was conscious of intense guilt at his deception. Somehow half a lie had always seemed to him more ignoble than a whole one, and he had told a half one. He turned to leave the room, when there came a loud peal of the door-bell. "Oh, dear, that will wake her up!" said his mother. Anderson strode past her to the door, and there stood Eddy Carroll. He was breathless from running, and his pretty face was a uniform rose. "Say," he panted, "is my sister in here?" "Hush!" said Anderson. "Yes, she is." "I chased you all the way," said Eddy, "but I tumbled down and hurt my knee on an old stone, and then I couldn't catch up." Indeed, the left knee of Eddy's little knickerbockers showed a rub and a red stain. "Where's Charlotte?" "She is lying down. She was frightened, and I brought her here, and she has had some wine and is lying down." "What frightened her, I'd like to know? First thing I saw you were lugging her off across the field. What frightened her?" Anderson explained. Eddy sniffed with utmost scorn. "Just like a girl," said he, "to get scared of a man that was fast asleep, and wouldn't have hurt her, anyway. Just like a girl. Say, you'd better keep her awhile." "We are going to," said Mrs. Anderson. "If she stays to supper, I might stay too, and then I could go home with her, and save you the trouble," said Eddy to Anderson. Chapter XXVI