"Do they attend church?" asked Mabel.
"I conclude that they have not been church-going people. I invited them to our church, and Mr. Knapp was out last evening."
"I must call there at once," and taking the address from her friend, Mabel proceeded to carry out the intention.
Mrs. Knapp was a pale little woman, with a fretful and careworn expression. She was prepared to receive her visitor with pleasure, for Arthur had found things very much to his liking the previous day. Someway—neither of them knew how—Mabel walked right into the woman's heart, and soon found herself listening to the story of her trials, not the least of which seemed to be the boy Arthur.
"He was always a hard child to manage," said the mother. "He has a violent temper, and was always getting into trouble at school. If the boys provoked him, he would fly at them in a rage, and would just as quick fight a big boy as one of his own size; so he was always coming home with a bruised head and torn clothes, until we took him from school."
"I thought he appeared like a very pleasant boy," said Mabel.
"So he is, only when he is angry. If he could only control his temper! Sometimes I think perhaps we have not managed right. His father is very strict, and never overlooks any little fault in the children."
At this point, there came from the next room the sound of angry voices, and Mrs. Knapp stepped out to quell the disturbance.
"What is this all about?"
"Willy has put my dolly in a pail of water."