"Shall we take a walk together? I don't know anything of your village. You might show me something of it."
Robert hesitated, but he was naturally polite, and, though rather reluctantly, he walked through different parts of the village and pointed out the churches and the public library, the center school-house, and other buildings. Gradually they approached the outskirts of the village till they reached a house occupied by an eccentric old bachelor, who kept a large dog of an uncertain temper. As the two passed, the dog bounded from the yard and ran after them. This gave Robert a chance to judge of his step-father's courage.
James Talbot turned pale with fright, and started to run.
"Save me, Robert!" he called out, in tremulous accents. "Will he—will he bite?"
"I don't think so, Mr. Talbot," said Robert manfully, not exhibiting the least alarm. "What do you mean, Tige?" he continued sternly, addressing the dog.
He snatched a stout stick from the side of the road, and made threatening demonstrations.
The dog stood still, evidently cowed.
"I don't think he is dangerous, Mr. Talbot," Robert started to say, but he looked in vain for his step-father.
"Here I am, Robert," he heard in quavering accents.
James Talbot had managed, with an agility hardly to be expected of a man of forty-five, to climb into a tree by the roadside.