"I have broken it," she said.
"To be sure you have; but—"
"And then, you see, sir, I was overcome at the moment by the thought that as this was my first day here, how stupid you would think me."
"Stupid, indeed."
"Poor little chap," said one of the graziers. "Let him off this once, Mr. Barber—he seems a delicate little lad."
Todd smiled. Yes, Todd admirably got up a smile, or a something that looked like a smile. It was a contortion of feature which did duty for a piece of amiability upon his face; and, in a voice that he no doubt fully intended should be dulcet and delightful, he spoke—
"I'm quite a fool to my feelings and to my good nature," he said. "Lord bless you, gentlemen, I could not hurt a fly—not I. I used at school to be called Affectionate Todd."
"In joke?" said one of the graziers.
"No, gentlemen, no; in earnest."
"You don't say so! Well, my boy, you see no harm will come to you, as your master forgives you about the soap-dish, and we are in no sort of hurry."