’I wanted to be good to you.  I’m sorry I tied you up that day, dreadful sorry.  And I’ve got to love you, so I thought it would be a good plan to send your sheep back again.’

‘You’ve got to love me!’ repeated the farmer, opening his eyes in mock surprise; ‘and when did I ask for any of your love, young fellow?’

‘I don’t suppose you want me to,’ observed Teddy cheerfully, as he saw that the stick, instead of being brandished over his head, was now safely resting on the ground, ’but I’ve got to do it, you see, because my banner I’m holding for my Captain is Love, and I must love everybody.’

The farmer did not answer.  Teddy continued earnestly,—­

’Do you think you could manage to forgive me, and let us shake hands?  It would make it easier for me to love you if you could.’

There was such honesty of purpose in the blue eyes raised to his, such wistful curves to the sensitive little lips, that Jonathan Green for the first time felt the thrall of the child’s power.

‘Come into the house with me,’ he said, ’and I’ll see what the missus has to say to you.’

Teddy followed him without the slightest misgiving, and he was led into the farmhouse kitchen, where Mrs. Green sat knitting over the fire, and one of her daughters was laying the cloth for tea.

’Mary Ann, here’s the scamp of the village come to see you; keep him here till I come back.  I’m after some stray sheep’; and shutting the door with a bang the farmer disappeared.

Teddy shook hands with the old lady and the young one, and then seated himself in the big chair opposite Mrs. Green.

‘What have you been doing?’ the latter inquired; ’how is it your mother can’t keep you out of mischief?’

‘I haven’t been in mischief, really I haven’t’; and poor Teddy felt the truth of the saying, ‘Give a dog a bad name, and hang him.’

He tried to tell his story, and then when that did not seem to be understood, he deftly changed the subject.

‘What does Farmer Green like best in the world?’ he asked.

This astonishing question struck Mrs. Green dumb, but her daughter Natty laughed.

‘Gooseberry pudding!’ she said.  ’Now then, what’s the next question?

But Teddy was silent, and not another word did he say till the farmer came in again.

‘This youngster is on the tack of reforming himself, Mary Ann,’ said Jonathan, sitting down in the chair that Teddy immediately vacated upon his entrance; ‘do you believe it?’

‘I have no faith in boys,’ said Mrs. Green, with a shake of her head, ‘they’re all alike, and are always taking you unawares!’

’You hear what the missus says; you won’t get no help from that quarter.  But I’ll give you a chance; would you like to stop to tea with us?’

Teddy smiled.  ’Thank you, sir, but mother will expect me home to tea; may I go now?  And do you forgive me for what I did the other day?’