Francis, whom was already acquainted with his Grandpapa's habits,never came to disturb him while he was in the summer-house, andwhenever he saw his Grandpapa going out of the little gate he tookgood care not to follow him.

But in about an hour or two, he would go to meet him, sometimestowards the road, at others, as far as the bridge over the stream;--his Grandmamma was never uneasy, because she really knew that Francis was aprudent boy, and that God watched over him, as one of the lambs ofthe good shepherd.

Grandpapa then, had just finished reading; he had put on his hat andtaken his cane, and had gone out through the gate.