"Come right in, and get something to eat," went on the children's grandmother.
"Do you—do you mean me?" asked the strange boy.
"Why, yes. Who else do you s'pose she meant?" asked Grandpa Brown.
"I—I didn't know, sir. You see I—I'm not used to being invited into places that way. I thought maybe you didn't mean it."
"Mean it? Of course I mean it!" said Grandma Brown.
"You're hungry; aren't you?" asked Grandpa Brown.
"Hungry. Oh, sir—I—I haven't had anything since breakfast, and then it was only a green apple and some berries I picked."
"Land sakes!" cried Grandma Brown. "Why didn't you go up to the first house you came to and ask for a meal?"
"I—I didn't like to, ma'am. I thought maybe they'd set the dog on me, thinking I was a tramp."
By this time Splash, the big pet dog, had come around the path. The strange boy looked around as though getting ready to run.