"I must go in presently and ask cook what vegetables are wanted to-day," said the elder man, after working away for some time in silence.
"Oh, let me go!" answered Robin with alacrity; and, almost before his companion could look up, the boy was off at full speed towards the kitchen door.
Cook met him with a smile of approbation. "It is all right," she said. "Mother was so glad I was able to send her that note. I can trust you again to do errands for me. See! here is a good hunch of plum-cake, which you can put in your pocket; and if it is too much for you now, save a bit for your poor little sister. Another day you will go again to mother's house for me, won't you? I cannot get out very often; there is so much to be done in this family."
Robin was thankful she did not ask him to go again to Andover Street that day. It would be time enough to refuse the next time she asked him to do it; he would not make her angry to-day. Thus he silenced the inward monitor once more.
"Has mother been out long, Corrie?" was his first question that evening on returning home, to find the little sister playing alone on the floor with her toys.
"No, Robin, only a few minutes; she said you would be coming directly, and she was obliged to go and get the money from some of the houses. Oh! what is that?" she added, looking with unfeigned satisfaction at the piece of cake.
"Nice cake for Corrie," replied Robin; "you like plum-cake, don't you?"
"Yes, very very much; may I eat it now? We must keep some for mother."
"No," said Robin, as the uneasy thought struck him that it was the price of sin. "You may eat it all; I will bring mother some more another day. Make haste, Corrie, and then I will tell you a story."
"A pretty Bible story?" queried Corrie with a wistful smile.