"They runned away from Charlie," was the prompt reply, given with an aggrieved pout. "Charlie wanted to go, too, and Connie said 'no.' They wented to the the'ter where the band plays all the time."
"And where was nurse?"
"She wented away, too, but Connie didn't know it. She thought Charlie didn't know, either. But she told Bessie, and Charlie heard."
"So, that is the reason," murmured Mary. Then she said to Charlie, "If Mary takes you home will you promise her something?"
"Yes," nodded Charlie.
"Then promise Mary that you won't tell anyone you ran away, or that Mary brought you home."
"Aren't you going to tell Connie that Charlie was a naughty boy?" came the anxious question.
"No, not unless someone sees Charlie when he goes home and asks about it."
"Then Charlie won't tell, either," was the calm response. The boy was proving himself anything but a simpleton.
"All right. Now we must hurry." Mary took firm hold of the tiny hand and the two started for Gray Gables as fast as the boy's small feet would permit of walking. It was not far from the La Salle's home to Gray Gables. Mary was thankful for that. Not in the least oppressed with a sense of his own shortcomings, Charlie kept up an animated conversation during the short walk. He even proposed stopping in the middle of the street to demonstrate for her special edification his prowess as a fiddler. Mary vetoed this proposal, however. She was bent on reaching Gray Gables as soon as possible.