“I’ve no doubt he will. He’s just mean enough to do that. I say. Bill, it’s a pity you don’t work for my father.”
“I wish I did, Dick, but perhaps you’d boss me, too.”
“Not much danger. We’d be like brothers.”
While this conversation was going on the two boys were walking across the fields to Mr. Schmidt’s farm. The distance was not great, and by this time they were at the back door.
As they went in Bill’s eyes glistened as he saw a nice supper laid on the kitchen table, waiting for him, for Dick had told his mother of the guest he expected. He decided to say nothing of the circumstances that led to the invitation. He might safely have done so, however, for Mrs. Schmidt was a good, motherly woman, who pitied the boy and understood very well that his position in Mr. Badger’s family must be a very disagreeable one.
“I am glad to see you, William,” she said. “Sit right down and eat supper. I’ve got a hot cup of tea for you.”
“I’ll sit down, too, mother. I only ate a little supper, for I wanted to keep Bill company.”
Presently the boys went to bed and had a social chat before going to sleep.
“I wish,” said Dick, “I could be where I could look on when old Badger goes up to your room and finds the bird flown.”
If Dick could have been there, he would have witnessed an extraordinary scene.