CHAPTER IX
THE BLUE BOOK
Days passed, but there was the same hush upon the house. Everybody moved about softly, and spoke in low tones. Horace was not told that he must go to school, but he knew Aunt Louise thought his shoes made a great deal of noise, and just now he wanted to please even her. More than that, it was very pleasant to see the boys; and while he was playing games he forgot his sorrow, and forgot his mother's sad face. There was one thing, however, which he could not do; he had not the heart to be captain and drill his company, just now.
"Horace," said Grace, as they were sitting on the piazza steps one morning, "I heard ma tell grandma yesterday, you'd been a better boy this week than you had been before since—since—pa went away."
"Did she?" cried Horace, eagerly; "where was she when she said it? What did grandma say? Did Aunt Madge hear her?"
"Yes, Aunt Madge heard her, and she said she always knew Horace would be a good boy if he would only think."
"Well, I do think," replied Horace, looking very much pleased; "I think about all the time."
"But then, Horace, you know how you've acted some days!"
"Well, I don't care. Aunt Madge says 'tisn't so easy for boys to be good."
Grace opened her round blue eyes in wonder.