"Max, you're better than I am!" cried Lulu with affectionate warmth. "I'd never have thought of anything but how to get away as fast as possible from that horrid, horrid beast of a man."
"Papa thinks he's good, and that's the reason he put me with him. Oh, but don't I wish he knew the truth!"
"I should think the old rascal would be afraid of what papa may do when he comes and hears all the things you'll have to tell."
"I suppose he thinks papa will believe his story instead of mine; and perhaps he will," said Max a little sadly.
"No; don't you be one bit afraid of that!" cried Lulu, hotly. "Papa knows you're a truthful boy. His children couldn't be liars!"
"But you know I can't say any more that I've never told an untruth," said Max, coloring painfully.
"Well, you couldn't help it," Lulu said, trying to comfort him. "I'm afraid that I might have done it myself to keep from being killed."
"Hello! here comes Jim!" cried Max with a sudden change of tone, his face brightening wonderfully as a lad somewhat older in appearance than himself, and carrying a fishing-rod over his shoulder, came hurrying down a lane and joined them.
"Hello! Max," he said; "we've a splendid day for fishing, haven't we?" Then in a whisper, "Who's this you're taking along?"
"My sister Lulu," Max answered aloud. "She'll help us dig worms for bait, won't you, Lu?"