Laura gave him a quick look which expressed her gratitude, and then said: “Be careful not to let Mr. Reed know that we ever talked about this Mr. Dexter before, because it would be awful if papa were to find out that we went as far through the gateway as we did that afternoon. When we get there, just tell him that you have an errand with an old gentleman who lives in the house, and we’ll walk along slowly while you’re inside. That’s the best way.” That ended their conversation and a moment later Bruce and Harry had leaped the fence into an adjoining field, and were down on their knees in the grass hunting for mushrooms. Neither the tutor nor either of the children could distinguish the edible mushrooms from toadstools and other fungi, but Bruce, who had often gathered them near his country home, readily pointed out the difference in appearance and smell between the two. Mr. Reed seemed very much pleased with what the boy told him; for although he was thoroughly well versed in books and a most accomplished classical scholar and instructor, there were a great many things concerning everyday life of which he was ignorant, and it was plain to both of his young pupils that Bruce was rising rapidly in the tutor’s esteem. It was not long before they had gathered what the young country boy called “a good mess” of edible fungi, and when he had solemnly certified to the fact that there was not a toadstool in the whole lot, they were wrapped up in a bit of old newspaper and carefully hidden away in a cool, damp spot beside the very brook into which Harry had fallen the week before. [Illustration: Bruce delivers a lecture on botany.—_Page 122_.] “We’ll stop and get them on our return,” said the tutor, “and I shall tell Mr. Van Kuren when they are served at dinner to-night that it was you who showed us how to distinguish them.” They were drawing nearer the Dexter mansion as he said this, and Bruce took occasion to say to the tutor “By the way, I have a little errand here and if you’ve no objection I would like to stop a few minutes. There is an old gentlemen who sometimes sends magazines and books down to our quarters for the men to read, and I must see him for a moment.” “Certainly,” replied the tutor “where does he live?” “In the next house—that one with the big hedge in front of it,” replied the boy. Mr. Reed stopped short, and the smile disappeared from his face and was replaced by a queer look of annoyance and anxiety. “Do you mean Mr. Dexter,” he asked. “Yes, sir.” Mr. Reed looked at his watch, and then said quietly: “It’s rather later than I thought it was, so I think we will return to the house. We shall walk slowly, so you may overtake us if your visit is not too long, Master Decker.” Bruce and Laura exchanged glances but did not dispute Mr. Reed’s order, and then, while the others turned their faces toward their home, Bruce darted through the gateway, and sped along the winding path through the fir trees.