WHAT HAPPENED NEXT.
IT was such an unusual event for Jimmy to be absent from school that the teacher requested Ralph to go a few hundred rods out of his way, and inquire whether her scholar was sick.
When he reached the house the girl in the kitchen told him that Mr. and Mrs. Dodge were away, and would not be home till bedtime. She said she didn't know whether Jimmy went with them; but she supposed he did, if he had not been at school.
"All right!" said Ralph. "I'll tell teacher in the morning; or he can tell her himself."
But as he was leaving the house he saw his schoolmate stealing like a thief into the barn; and he at once concluded it was all wrong. This was what made him shout as he did. "I wouldn't be you, Jimmy Dodge, for the biggest kite I ever saw."
Then, little imagining how he had set Jimmy's poor sore heart thumping against his side, he ran gaily home laughing as he went.
The first thing Jimmy noticed on entering the barn was that the horse was not in his stall; but perhaps his father or the hired man was using it in the field. He walked along into the carriage house. The buggy was gone too. He gave a start of pleasure, perhaps his father and mother were absent; but "what did Ralph mean? Does he know where I've been? Did he tell Ellen anything about me?"
With a bolder step, but still carrying his burden, he walked into the hencoop, took five eggs from the nest, put them carefully into his hat and went into the kitchen.
Ellen was busy getting supper and at first scarcely noticed him; but presently she asked laughing:
"Where have you been, Master Truant?"