"But, Sue, dear! You musn't bring strange men in the house," said her mother.
"Oh, he was so hungry and ragged!" cried the little girl.
"She meant all right," remarked Aunt Lu. "I dare say it is some poor tramp. There are many of them in New York. I'll give him something to eat. Is Bunny bringing him here?"
"Yes, Aunt Lu. Bunny's walking up the stairs with him, so Henry won't see him, and put him out, like he did our dog that we found."
Aunt Lu and Mother Brown laughed at this, but Sue did not mind. Soon there came a ring at Aunt Lu's hall bell. She opened the door herself, and saw, standing there, Bunny and the ragged man.
"Here he is!" Bunny cried. "I got him up stairs all right, but he slipped on one step. I didn't let him fall, though, and Henry didn't see us. He's hungry, Aunt Lu."
The ragged man took off his ragged cap.
"I'm sorry about this, lady," he said to Aunt Lu. "But the little boy would have it that I come up with him. He said you'd give me a meal, but I don't like to trouble you—"
"Oh, I'm glad to help you," said Aunt Lu. "Wait a minute and I'll hand you out something to eat."
"Come on in!" said Bunny, who did not see why the ragged man should be left standing in the hall.