236 Zom Seven Years Old.

CS

While Tom stood drying in the sun, he
tried to scrape the mud off his stockings as
best he could, because he was ashamed that
Richard, when he opened the door, should
see he had fallen into the ditch. He had
already fallen in three times, and he did
not like Richard to know he had done so
again. Long before his legs were dry he

got tired of standing in the sun, so he ran
after Archie and the blackberries.

“What do I look like now?” he asked.
Archie stared at him from head to foot.

“All scratched, and torn, and muddy, and
queer,” answered he.

“Then Pl get behind you,” said Tom.
“You walk in first, and carry the basket. It
will help to hide me.” |

They reached the house. Richard opened
the door. Tom hid as well as he could behind
Archie and the basket; but, of course, no
sooner had they walked into the passage than
Richard saw all his back and legs. |

“Why, Master Tom,” cried he, « you've
fallen into the ditch again, I do believe.”