“Now for the red and white shawl, and that cap,” said the old man. “Here are lots of candies, and the other things in this paper, which we will roll up in them.” “Will you, though?” said Robert, taking a bundle under each arm. “I say, sir, won’t you let me hold your horse and run errands for all this? I’ll do it first-rate.” The old man looked down kindly upon him. “Perhaps, who knows,” he said, answering some idea in his own mind rather than what the lad was saying. “Here is the stall, but the lady is gone.” True enough; another person had taken the place of Georgiana Halstead, of whom the shawl and cap were bought. The old man was keenly disappointed, for he had intended to learn something more about the serpent-bracelet. But the young lady in charge had no knowledge of the lady who had preceded her temporarily. While the old man was questioning this lady, a young girl came hurrying through the crowd, eagerly looking for some one in eager haste. She saw the boys, and came breathlessly up. “Oh! I am so glad to have found you, boys!” she cried, addressing them in haste. “The ladies are waiting for you!” “Oh, Anna! he has been so kind! You wouldn’t believe it!” cried Robert, looking down at his bundles. “Such clothes!” “Such cakes and candies,” chimed in Joseph. “And something for you. Such a shawl—there it lies; and a cap for grandma!” said Robert. “Thank him, Anna; I cannot do it half!” “I don’t understand—I am in such haste. The time is up, sir; but I think you have done something very generous, that my brothers want me to thank you for. I do it with all my heart. But we must go.” “Not till you have taken these,” said the old man, hastily rolling up the paper of bon-bons in the shawl, which he had just paid for. “It is a present from this fine lad; wear it for his sake.” “I’ll carry it for her, and the cap, too,” cried Joseph, seizing on the carelessly-rolled bundle. “Good-night, sir! I wish I had time to thank you,” said Anna, earnestly. “Good-night!” “Good-by, sir!” said Robert, with a faltering voice; for he was near shedding tears of gratitude. “Good-by! I wish I could do something for you.” Away the three went, after uttering their adieus, passing swiftly through the crowd. The old man followed them at a distance till they led him into that portion of the building devoted that evening to tableaux, when they disappeared through a side door. “A dollar extra, here!” said a man stationed near the door. “The seats are almost filled!” The old man took some money from his pocket, and went in, feeling interested in the persons he had befriended, and resolved to find them again if possible. He sat down on a bench near the door, and waited. The room was full, the light dim, and a faint hum of whispering voices filled the room.