Let him who sighs in sadness here,
Rejoice, and know a friend is near.
Joe sprang from his hiding-place, and startled Master Richard and Ichabod more than a little.
‘That thee, Dick?’
He knew it well enough, but it was quite delightful to be able to ask it with certainty.
‘Hillo,’ said Master Richard, recognising his sworn friend. ‘What are you doing? Are you trapping anything?’
‘No,’ the hereditary enemy answered. He had been crying, the poor little chap, until he had been frightened into quiet, and now on a sudden he was as brave and as glad again as ever he had been in his life. Once more adventures loomed ahead for the adventurous, and he shone within and grew warm with the sweet reflux of courage as he whispered, ‘I’m running away from home!’
Once again, the feat was glorious.
‘No?’ said Master Richard, smitten with envy and admiration. ‘Are you? Really?’
‘Yes,’ Joe answered. ‘I’m agooin’ to Liverpool, to begin wi’.’
This was exquisitely large and vague, and Master Richard began to yearn for a share in the high enterprise upon which his friend had entered. He had half a mind to run away from home himself, though, to be sure, there was nothing else to run away from. In Joe’s case there was a difference.