PAYING THE RENT. | 161

When they arrived at the gate, the ferocious
dog began to bark, as usual.

“ Hector, good Hector,” said Bessie.

The dog was quiet, and when the children
walked up the path to the house, he wagged
his tail and walked quietly by their side.

“Who comes there?” said Mr. Starr, who
was walking in the piazza with Ada.

“Oh, that is sweet little Bessie, from the
brown cottage, and her brother Tom—Honest
Mixon’s children.”

“That would make a pretty picture. The
little girl, with her flaxen curls, the basket of
flowers upon her arm, her bonnet in her hand,
the fine, manly boy, in his suit of blue,
with the large white collar turned over,
the noble dog at their side, the graceful
branches of elm over their heads, the winding
path. See! Is it not a beautiful picture ?”

Just at this time, the breakfast-bell rang, and
Mr. Starr and Ada went in. Tom began to
feel the sheepishness coming over him as they
rang at the door, but Bessie cheered him up
by saying :

“You have come to pay money, Tom, not to

11