"O, I won't say a word, unless you give me leave; but my father is rich. He owns a great factory and a great farm. He has lots of men to work for him; and my father is a very good man, too. People will do as he wants them to do, and if you will let me tell him your story, he will go over to Redfield and make them let you stay at our house. You shall be my brother then, and we can do lots of things together. Do let me tell him." "I don't think it would be safe. I know Squire Walker wouldn't let me go to any place where they would use me well." "What a horrible man he must be!" "No; I think I will go on to Boston." "You will have a very hard time of it." "No matter for that." "They may catch you." "If they do, I shall try again." "If they do catch you, will you let my father know it? He will be your friend, for my friends are his friends." "I will. I should be very glad to have such a friend." "There is our dinner bell!" said Julia, as Harry heard the distant sound. "I must go home. How I wish you were going with me!" "I wish I was. I may never see you again," added Harry, sadly. "O, you must see me again! When you get big you must come to Rockville." "You will not wish to see the little poorhouse boy, then." "Won't I? I shall always be glad to see the boy that killed that snake! But I shall come up after dinner, and bring you something to eat. Do let me tell mother you are here." "I would rather you wouldn't." "Suppose she asks me what I am going to do with the dinner I shall bring you? I can't tell a lie." "Don't bring any, then. I would rather not have any dinner than have _you_ tell a lie." Harry would not always have been so nice about a lie; but for the little angel to tell a falsehood, why, it seemed like mud on a white counterpane. "I won't tell a lie, but you shall have your dinner. I suppose I must go now." Harry watched the retreating form of his kind friend, till she disappeared beyond the curve of the path, and his blessing went with her. CHAPTER X IN WHICH HARRY FARES SUMPTUOUSLY, AND TAKES LEAVE OF THE LITTLE ANGEL When Harry could no longer see the little angel, he fixed his eyes upon the ground, and continued to think of her. It is not every day that a pauper boy sees an angel, or even one whom the enthusiasm of the imagination invests with angelic purity and angelic affections.