“I was afraid you would not obey me,” said George, and then turned and followed Egbert into the forbidden path, without making any further objection.  Egbert concluded at once that he should find George as easily to be managed as he had found other people.

The Disobedience.

When they came in sight of the brook, George saw that there was a narrow log across it, in guise of a bridge.  He called out to Egbert, who had gone on before him, not to go over the log until he came.  But Egbert called back in reply that there was no danger, that he could go across alone, and so went boldly over.  George, on arriving at the brook, and finding that the log was firm and strong, followed Egbert over it.  “I told you I could go across it,” said Egbert.  “Yes,” replied George, “and you were right in that.  You did cross it.  The log is very steady.  I think it makes quite a good bridge.”

Egbert said he could hop across it on one foot, and George gave him leave to try, while he, George, held his fishing-pole for him.  George followed him over the log, and then told him that he was very sorry to say it, but that he found that they could not go a-fishing that day.  Egbert wished to know the reason.  George said it was a private reason and he could not tell him then, but that he would tell him that evening after he had gone to bed.  There was a story about it, too, he said, that he would tell him at the same time.

Egbert was curious to know what the reason could be for changing the plan, and also to hear the story.  Still he was extremely disappointed in having to lose his fishing, and very much disposed to be angry with George for not going on.  It was, however, difficult to get very angry without knowing George’s reason, and George, though he said that the reason was a good one—­that it was a serious difficulty in the way of going a-fishing that day, which had only come to his knowledge since they left home, steadily persisted in declining to explain what the difficulty was until the evening, and began slowly to walk back toward the house.

Egbert becomes Sullen.

Egbert then declared that, at any rate, he would not go home.  If he could not go a-fishing he would stay there in the woods.  George readily fell in with this idea.  “Here is a nice place for me to sit down on this flat rock under the trees,” said he, “and I have got a book in my pocket.  You can play about in the woods as long as you please.  Perhaps you will see a squirrel; if you do, tell me, and I will come and help you catch him.”  So saying, he took out his book and sat down under the trees and began to read.  Egbert, after loitering about sullenly a few minutes, began to walk up the path, and said that he was going home.

George, however, soon succeeded in putting him in good-humor again by talking with him in a friendly manner, and without manifesting any signs of displeasure, and also by playing with him on the way.  He took care to keep on friendly terms with him all the afternoon, aiding him in his various undertakings, and contributing to his amusement in every way as much as he could, while he made no complaint, and expressed no dissatisfaction with him in any way whatever.