human
Well, so Dick rolled off?
gpt
Oh! no, he didn't, said all three boys together;
human
But honestly and truly, father, said Jasper,
gpt
I do not think that it was the fault of the steerer.
human
Indeed it was not, declared Ben stoutly;
gpt
I share the blame, Ben, broke in Jasper,
human
Come here, Vanny, said old Mr. King, holding out his hand.
gpt
Why, you needn't be afraid, my boy, aghast at the tears that no power on earth could keep back.
human
Now all leave the room, please.
gpt
Where's Polly?
human
She's run home, said David,
gpt
I guess. She isn't here.
human
And that's where I must be too,
gpt
Why, here comes dear Grandpapa,
human
Here's my little girl, cried the old gentleman, opening his arms, when she immediately ran into them.
gpt
Now we're all right.
human
Is Dicky all right?
gpt
Yes, indeed; as well as a youngster can be, who's broken his leg.
human
But then, that's nothing, Mr. King hastened to add;
gpt
I broke my own when I was a small shaver no bigger than Dick, and I was none the worse for it. Boys always have some such trifling mishaps, Phronsie.
human
Ben never broke his leg, nor Joel, nor Davie, said Phronsie.
gpt
Must they yet, Grandpapa?
human
O dear, no, declared Mr. King hastily;
gpt
Yes, he did, said Phronsie, quite relieved to think that this trial could take the place of the usual leg-breaking episode in a boy's career.
human
And so did Joel, and Davie--all of them, Grandpapa dear.
gpt
Exactly; well, and then Ben had to work hard, and Joel and Davie too, for that matter. So, you see, it wasn't as essential that they should break their legs, child.
human
But Jasper and Percy and Van don't have to work hard; oh! I don't want them to break their legs, said Phronsie, in a worried tone.
gpt
You don't think they will, Grandpapa dear, do you? Please say they won't.
human
I don't think there is the least danger of it, said Mr. King,
gpt
Van's head which had dropped a bit at the last words, came up proudly.
human
Van, here, has acted nobly --he put his hand on the boy's shoulder--
gpt
Halloo! cried Van, rushing over the flat stone, and past Mrs. Pepper,
human
Well, Mrs. Pepper, said the old gentleman, coming up to the step, Phronsie hanging to his hand,
gpt
Oh! what shall we do, sir? cried Mrs. Pepper, in distress.
human
To think you have come down here in the goodness of your heart, to be met with such an accident as this. What shall we do?
gpt
Goodness of my heart, repeated Mr. King, nevertheless well pleased at the tribute.
human
I've had as much pleasure out of it all as you or the young people. I want you to realize that.
gpt
So does any one who does a kind act, replied Mrs. Pepper, wiping her eyes;
human
That remains to be seen, said Mr. King slowly, and he took a long look at the winter sky, and the distant landscape before he ventured more.
gpt
It very much looks as if we all should remain for a few days, to see how Dick is to get on, all but the four boys; they must pack off to school to-morrow, and then probably Mrs. Whitney will stay over with the boy till he can be moved. Dr. Fisher will do the right thing by him. Oh! everything is all right, Mrs. Pepper.
human
Good-by to the little brown house!