“Get up to your room, then, and change your clothes,” said Titus, giving Higby a friendly push, “and you, boy,” and he beckoned to Brick, “come on out to the stable with me.”
Bethany seized upon Higby as he came toward her and the Judge, and so bewailed his misfortune, and so sweetly comforted him, that the old man went on his way upstairs with a calmer face.
“Hurry up,” said Titus to Brick. “I want to get you in your den before Roblee comes. He’s something of a prig. Dallas, come on, too.”
CHAPTER XVII
Titus as a Philanthropist
The two boys rushed Brick and the dog out to the stable.
“This way,” said Titus, and he ran upstairs and opened the door of a small room opposite Roblee’s.
“It used to be a harness room,” Titus explained, “but was fitted up once for a bedroom when that old goose Higby took measles and we had to isolate him. See, here is a bed, and table, and washstand. I’ll get Mrs. Blodgett to bring out some bedding by and by.”
Brick looked about him with his tongue and eyes both going. “’Tis a boss place, sah. Me an’ Bylow’s not slep’ in such a place, nevvah, no, nevvah.”
“You see,” went on Titus, hurriedly, “as Miss Bethany is so bent on keeping you round for a time, I’d like to get my grandfather to have Roblee take you for a stable boy. He’s looking for one just now. He won’t like your color, but we’ll try to get some of that off you.”
“You aint layin’ out fer to wash me, be you, young sah?” said Brick, anxiously.