"Why there's Dick!" exclaimed Mrs. Stuart growing very pale. "I hope nothing has happened."
Mr. Pond took the boy in his arms and brought him into the kitchen.
"I was going by the school house," he explained, "while the children were out at recess. There was a scream and presently the teacher found that Dick had stepped with his bare feet on some glass. She tried to stop the bleeding and then asked me to bring him home.
"You'd better let me carry him up stairs. He's a pretty good armful."
All this time Dick had avoided his mother's eye; and did not speak a word. Only when his father took off the handkerchief bound around his foot, and pressed the place with his finger the tears ran down his pale cheeks.
"Does it hurt you, dear?" asked his mother.
He bowed his head.
"Was it a large piece of glass, Dick?"
"No, sir, it was window glass. We were playing catch and I stepped on it."
Dick sobbed so much his father could scarcely understand.