"My poor Bobby! I am delighted to see you!" continued Mr. Bayard.
Bobby burst into tears, and sobbed like a child, as he was. The unexpected kindness of this reception completely overwhelmed him.
"Don't cry, Bobby; I know all about it;" and the tender-hearted bookseller wiped away his tears. "It was a stroke of misfortune; but it is all right now."
But Bobby could not help crying, and the more Mr. Bayard attempted to console him, the more he wept.
"I am innocent, Mr. Bayard," he sobbed.
"I know you are, Bobby; and all the world knows you are."
"I am ruined now; I shall never dare to hold my head up again."
"Nonsense, Bobby; you will hold your head the higher. You have behaved like a hero."
"I ran away from the State Reform School, sir. I was innocent, and I would rather have died than stayed there."
"I know all about it, my young friend. Now dry your tears, and we will talk it all over."