At the last minute he
turned.
"Good _evenin'_," he said, as he vanished into the road.
"_Good_ evening," Uncle Felix answered him, as he closed the gate
behind him.
Then, how it happened no one knew exactly. Judy, walking up to the
shining figure, took him by the hand and led him slowly through the
gate on to the long white road. There was a blaze of sunset pouring
through the trees and the shafts of slanting light made it difficult
to see what every one was doing. In the general commotion he somehow
vanished. The gate was closed. Judy stood smiling and triumphant just
inside upon the mossy path.
"You saved his life," said some one.
"It's all right," she said--and burst into tears.
But children are not much impressed by the tears of others, knowing
too well how easily they are produced and stopped. Tim went burrowing
to find the bird, and Maria just mentioned that the Tramp had taken
the butter away in his pocket. By the time this fact was thoroughly
established the group was ready to leave, the tea-things all
collected, the fire put out, and the sun just dipping down below the
top of the old grey fence.
Pages:
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159