The little girl looked at him curiously for a moment, and then came towards him, saying,
"Are you not Benny, that papa has in his office?"
"Yes, 'm," said Benny, shuffling dangerously near the edge of the chair, and blushing to the roots of his hair.
"Don't be frightened," she said, noticing his embarrassment. "I've been wanting a long time to see you. Are you waiting for something?"
"Ay," said Benny, regaining his composure; "the master sent me with a letter, an' told me to wait an answer."
"Well, mamma won't be in yet, so you can come into the nursery; it is warm there."
Benny had not the remotest idea what a nursery was, but he followed his guide at what he thought a very respectful distance, and soon found himself in the most wonderful room he had ever seen in his life. Toys of every description were scattered about, and pictures of every description adorned the walls. A swing was suspended from the ceiling in the centre of the room, and in the nearest corner was a doll's house furnished in magnificent style. But what most attracted Benny's attention was a huge rocking-horse. At first he thought it was alive, but soon found out his mistake, though his wonderment was not in the least diminished by his discovery.
Little Eva Lawrence was evidently amused at Benny's astonishment, and after regarding him for some time with a merry twinkle in her eyes, said,
"Did you never see a rocking-horse before, Benny?"
"Wouldn't I just!" said Benny, his eyes beaming with pleasure.
"Well, here are the steps; take care you don't fall off, though," said Eva.
"Oh, never fear," said Benny, mounting the horse. "Now for 't, miss, an' see if I ain't a stunner at it!"
And the next moment our hero was sprawling on the floor in the middle of the room.
"Golly!" he ejaculated, picking himself up with a bewildered air, and scratching his head. "I's floored, to a sartinty."
"You tried to go too fast to begin with," laughed Eva; "you'll do better next time."
"Oh, yes," was the reply; "I want you to enjoy yourself."
And enjoy himself he did, to his heart's content.
After awhile Eva said, "Now, Benny, I want to know more about you: won't you tell me something about yourself and about your little sister?"
"Ay, that I will, if you wish," said Benny, sitting down in a low chair before the fire. And in his simple childish way he told her all the story with which the reader is acquainted--for he had lost all shyness now--told it with a simple eloquence and pathos that brought the tears again and again to his little listener's eyes. Ay, he wept himself when he told of his little sister, of her goodness and of her love. He did not even hide from his listener the story of his temptation, and how but for his little Nelly he would have been a thief in act as well as in heart.