"Humph! Bad boy!" repeated Arthur. "That has to be proved, Miss Molly."
"Well, tell us what you have done, that we may judge," she said.
"I hope you have not forgotten that Mamma has already as much trouble as she can bear," said the elder sister gravely.
"That's just it, Annie," said the lad in a changed tone. "I know that Papa's death has changed everything for all of us, and that a lad like me ought to be doing something to help."
"Well, of course that was settled, dear, and we are only waiting—"
"For something to turn up, like Mr. Micawber," interrupted her brother.
"No, Arthur, it isn't exactly like that," said Molly quickly, "for old Mr. Best is looking out for you, besides some other friends."
"Yes! He has been looking out for the past six months; but as nobody has been to him to ask if he can get them a boy, why, of course, he hasn't heard of anything that will suit me; and so I've suited myself without troubling him."
"Oh, Arthur! We cannot afford to offend old friends like that," protested his elder sister.
"Tell us what you have done, and don't beat about the bush any longer," said Molly impatiently.