"Too long to tell you now; you'll hear all about it by and by."
"Give me a ha'penny to buy a paper, Dick, will you?"
"Here's a penny. So, Dr. Vinsen speaks against me?"
"Yes, and smiles and pats me when I stick up for you. He ain't angry, you know; he speaks as if butter wouldn't melt in his mouth. 'You'll know better, my child,' he says, 'before you are much older, and then you'll stick up for me.' He'll have to wait a long time for that. Mother's wild with me because I don't like him, but I can't, I can't! I feel sometimes as if I could stick a knife in him. I'm sure he'd do you a mischief if he could, so just you take care of him, Dick."
"I will; and I dare say I shall be a match for him in the end. We've talked enough about him, Gracie, my girl. Now we'll get back to the house, and I'll take you to your mother, who is fretting her heart out about you."
"I'd sooner go by myself, Dick, and I'll tell her you found me and sent me home."
"That will do as well. I know you will not break a promise you give me."
"Never, Dick, never! I'd die first!"
They returned to the house the way they came, and she lifted her face to his.
"Kiss me, Dick," she said.