"I'll run off, I wont see 'em," said Oscar to himself.
But Charley had already seen him, and ran pleasantly forward, exclaiming, in a cheerful voice,—
"Hollo, Oscar! Come and see what mother has brought you."
Oscar looked into the bright, happy face and wondered. His thoughts were very much confused; but if he could only have straightened them out, they would have been something very much like this,—
"What does it mean? She bring me something! If anybody had thrown a stone at me, I guess you wouldn't catch mother carrying 'em anything."
Charley could not get at Oscar's thoughts; but he imagined it very strange the boy did not answer. Presently he said again,—
"Come, mother's waiting to see you."
"I wont either," was the sullen reply. "I know what she's after; she's going to give me a licking."
"Oh, no, indeed!" was Charley's eager reply. "You don't know how much mother talks about you. She and I want to have you grow a real good boy; and then you could come and play with me. I've got ever so many pretty games. Oh, we'd have real nice times! Come into the house, and mother will tell you all about it."
Oscar, though he had all his life been a wicked child, had a warm place in his heart. Charley's kind words touched this place and made the tears come into his eyes. He couldn't understand what it meant; but when Charley held out his hand, he took it and walked up the narrow path to the front door.