He brightened a little at her words but he only said, briefly,

"Yes--tell him that," and then he went sorrowfully away.

Mrs. Martin stood at the window and looked after him as he went sluggishlydown the street, his arms inside his pockets and his eyes on the ground,while Tag, well aware that something was wrong, trotted beside himwith drooping ears and tail.

"Tell me that that's a bad kid!" the good woman exclaimed to herself. "Iknow much better! I don't care what that Mr. Gibson exclaimed. I never took muchstock in Mr. Gibson myself, anyhow. He always had something to sayagainst anybody that the bishop took an interest in. There--I wish I'dtold Theodore that he was here only as a substitute, and had to leavewhen the regular secretary was well enough to come back. I declare myheart aches when I think of that poor little fellow's face when I toldhim that the bishop was gone. Ah well, this is a world ofdisappointment!" and with a sigh she turned away from the window.

Nan sat in a rocking-chair with Little Brother in her arms, whenTheodore opened her door.

"0h Theo--what is it? What is the matter?" she cried, as she saw hisface.

He dropped wearily into a seat and told her in a few words the resultof his visit.

"0h, I am so sorry!" she exclaimed. "And it seems so hard to thinkthat you would have seen the bishop if you hadn't lost that fivedollars!"

The boy sighed, but made no reply. He could not talk about it then,and presently he got up and went out.