Anna recognized this gentle pleasantry, and turning upon him, tried to smile, but instead of the smile came a burst of tears that seemed to freeze little Joseph in his tracks. “Why, Anna, what is the matter?” he said, laying his papers on the side-walk, and clinging to her hand, which was grasping the shawl hard in her anguish. “Why, how it trembles! Poor little hand! Poor, darling sister! what is it that makes you cry so? Stoop down, Anna, and let me kiss you. Nobody is in sight. There! There! Doesn’t that make you feel better?” “Yes, darling, yes!” faltered Anna, striving to hide the ache at her heart with a smile that was so mournful that it almost made the gentle boy cry too. “There is a man coming round the corner, or I’d give you plenty of ’em! Indeed, I would!” he said, feeling in his pocket and drawing forth some crumpled money. “I’ve had pretty good luck to-day, Anna; only see! Suppose we go out on a bender, and get a plate of icecream between us?” Anna shook her head, and drew the veil over her face. “What is that for? Don’t you see it is Mr. Savage.” Anna snatched her shawl from the boy’s grasp, and hurrying past him, turned the next corner. Horace Savage quickened his step as he saw the boy, who had gathered up his papers, and stood looking after his sister, surprised by her strange conduct. “Ah, ha! my little friend, is it you?” said Savage, speaking with great kindness. “How is trade to-day? Hand me out two or three papers, that’s a fine fellow.” Joseph forgot his usual alacrity, but stood looking toward the corner where his sister had disappeared in sad bewilderment. “What did she run away for?” he said at last, appealing to the young man. “Is she afraid of you?” “Of whom are you speaking, Joseph?” “Of sister Anna, to-be-sure.” “I saw a lady going round the corner, but did not observe her much—was that your sister?” “Yes it was. Some one has been making her cry. Who is it, I wonder?” “How should I know?” answered the young man, smiling a little at the boy’s earnestness. “Was she really crying?” “Not at first; she was walking along as proud as a queen, with her head up, and her cheeks as red as two peaches; but when I spoke to her and asked her to buy some papers—all in fun, you know—she burst right out a crying. I declare, sir, it was enough to break one’s heart. If I hadn’t been a fellow in business, with property to take care of, I should have burst out crying with her. I don’t know what has come over sister Anna, to go on as she does.” “Why, how does she go on?” inquired Horace, prompted to the question by the love which would not be crowded out of his heart. “She ought to be very happy, I should think.” “But she isn’t, sir. She doesn’t eat as much as a chipper-bird; and as for sleep, grandma says she don’t close her eyes sometimes all night.” “Indeed! What can trouble her so, Joseph?”