Lom Runs Away. 43

 

“Bob,” he said, after a minute, “I’ve been
thinking. Tl tell you what I'll do. Ill push
the table in, and jump on it and fetch it down,
and we'll clean it together !”

Bob raised himself on his elbow. His eyes
brightened with pleasure.

“Oh, Tom!” he said, eagerly, “do you
think you could? ‘Take the things off the
table first—there, push it gently—more to
the side. Now don’t fall and sprain your
ankle also.”

Tom had climbed up, and stood quite close
to the shelf. Neither of them said a word
while he slowly climbed down again, and
landed safe and sound on the floor. Bob
stretched out his hands to receive it, then
looked at it carefully all over.

“It’s very dusty—yjust see,” he said;
“dreadfully dusty. It would never have
done to have left it longer. You shall rub
one part while I do another. There, let's
begin at once.”

Tom was quite ready. He was not at all
angry now. He pulled out his handkerchief,