"Our house is close by," said Grit. "Let us take him there at once, and mother will take care of him, and dry his clothes."
The suggestion was adopted, and Mr. Jackson and his two young companions were soon standing at the door of the plain cottage on the bluff.
When his mother admitted them, Grit noticed that she looked disturbed, and he seized the first chance to ask her if anything were the matter.
"Your stepfather has come!" she answered.
CHAPTER V. THE STEPFATHER.
Grit was disagreeably surprised at the news of Mr. Brandon's arrival, and he looked about him in the expectation of seeing his unwelcome figure, in vain.
"Where is he, mother?" the boy inquired.
"Gone to the tavern," she answered significantly.
"Did you give him any money?"