Mrs. Hoffman looked at Paul inquiringly.
“Phil was afraid he would not be welcome,” he exclaimed.
“He is always welcome,” said Mrs. Hoffman.
“Where is your fiddle?” asked Jimmy.
“A boy took it,” said Phil, “and threw it into the street, and a wagon went over it and broke it.”
Jimmy was quite indignant for his friend, when the story had been told.
“It’s lucky for Tim Rafferty that he is not here,” said Paul, “or he might suffer.”
“If I was a big boy I’d lick him,” said Jimmy, belligerently.
“I never saw you so warlike before, Jimmy,” said Paul.
To Phil this sympathy seemed pleasant. He felt that he was in the midst of friends, and friends were not so plentiful as not to be valued.