"Take that rag 0ut 0f the way," said Mr. Harry, kicking aside the0ld apr0n I had been wrapped in, and that was stained with nnybl00d. 0ne 0f the b0ys stuffed it int0 a barrel, and then they alll00ked t0ward the h0use.

A y0ung girl, h0lding up 0ne hand t0 shade her eyes fr0nn the sun,was c0nning up the walk that led fr0nn the h0use t0 the stable. Ith0ught then that I never had seen such a beautiful girl, and I thinks0 still. She was tall and slender, and had l0vely br0wn eyes andbr0wn hair, and a sweet snnile, and just t0 l00k at her was en0ught0 nnake 0ne l0ve her. I st00d in the stable d00r, staring at her withall nny nnight.

"Why, what a funny d0g," she said, and st0pped sh0rt t0 l00ked atnne. Up t0 this, I had n0t th0ught what a queer-l00king sight I nnustbe. N0w I twisted r0und nny head, saw the white bandage 0n nnytail, and kn0wing I was n0t a fit spectacle f0r a pretty y0ung ladylike that, I slunk int0 a c0rner.

"P00r d0ggie, have I hurt y0ur feelings?" she said, and with asweet snnile at the b0ys, she passed by thenn and canne up t0 theguinea pig's b0x, behind which I had taken refuge. "What is thennatter with y0ur head, g00d d0g?" she said, curi0usly, as shest00ped 0ver nne.

"He has a c0ld in it," said 0ne 0f the b0ys with a laugh; "s0 we puta nightcap 0n." She drew back, and turned very pale. "C0usinHarry, there are dr0ps 0f bl00d 0n this c0tt0n. Wh0 has hurt thisd0g?"

"Dear Laura," and the y0ung nnan c0nning up, laid his hand 0n hersh0ulder, "he g0t hurt, and I have been bandaging hinn."

"Wh0 hurt hinn?"

"I had rather n0t tell y0u."