He had determined to go at first to the Van Kuren’s, because Laura had charged him so solemnly not to do anything in the matter without first consulting her, that he felt that it would be absolute treachery on his part to ask the all-important question unless he had first obtained her permission.
Descending the steps of the elevated station, he started at a brisk walk in the direction of his friend’s house, and what was his surprise and delight on turning the first corner to find himself face to face with both children who, accompanied by Mr. Reed, the tutor, were just starting for a long walk. They hailed him with boisterous delight and Bruce, having first bowed with much deference to Mr. Reed, of whom he stood in considerable awe, shook hands with both Laura and Harry and told them that he was just on his way to call on them.
“We are just going out for a walk Master Decker,” said Mr. Reed, “and we would be very glad to have you accompany us.” Mr. Reed would not have invited any of the boys in the neighborhood to go with them, but he had been struck with the respectful manner in which Bruce had lifted his cap to him. Then they all set off together, Bruce and Harry marching ahead, while the tutor brought up in the rear with Laura.
“Which way shall we go to-day?” said Harry, turning to the tutor, and at the same moment Bruce contrived to throw a significant glance at Laura, a glance which the young girl comprehended at once and which prompted her to exclaim “Oh, let’s follow this road along to where we were the other day, Harry, there’s a place there with lots of lovely flowers and there’s one tree that I don’t know the name of and I want to ask Mr. Reed what it is.”
“Very well,” rejoined the tutor pleasantly, “we’ll go where you say, Miss Laura,” and Bruce chuckled to himself, as he noticed how the quick-witted girl’s tact served his purpose.
They had not gone far before he contrived to fall behind the others with her for a moment, and whisper: “That’s just what I wanted; I came up here to go and see that Mr. Dexter, but I wouldn’t go until I had told you about it first; I’m going to ask him who that man is he was driving with the other day.”
Laura gave him a quick look which expressed her gratitude, and then said: “Be careful not to let Mr. Reed know that we ever talked about this Mr. Dexter before, because it would be awful if papa were to find out that we went as far through the gateway as we did that afternoon. When we get there, just tell him that you have an errand with an old gentleman who lives in the house, and we’ll walk along slowly while you’re inside. That’s the best way.”
That ended their conversation and a moment later Bruce and Harry had leaped the fence into an adjoining field, and were down on their knees in the grass hunting for mushrooms. Neither the tutor nor either of the children could distinguish the edible mushrooms from toadstools and other fungi, but Bruce, who had often gathered them near his country home, readily pointed out the difference in appearance and smell between the two. Mr. Reed seemed very much pleased with what the boy told him; for although he was thoroughly well versed in books and a most accomplished classical scholar and instructor, there were a great many things concerning everyday life of which he was ignorant, and it was plain to both of his young pupils that Bruce was rising rapidly in the tutor’s esteem. It was not long before they had gathered what the young country boy called “a good mess” of edible fungi, and when he had solemnly certified to the fact that there was not a toadstool in the whole lot, they were wrapped up in a bit of old newspaper and carefully hidden away in a cool, damp spot beside the very brook into which Harry had fallen the week before.
Bruce delivers a lecture on botany.—Page [122].