When he had studied this, Teddy took up the photograph, and examined it earnestly.  The dress, the long curled hair, the joyous expression, were very different from the pale face, wild eyes, and cropped head of the little sister at home; but Teddy’s heart sank within him as he traced the delicate features, the curved lips, and trim little figure.  He dropped the picture, and, leaning his face upon his arm, sobbed aloud.

“I’ll lose her anyway, if she dies or if she lives; and it’s all the little sister ever I got.”

But presently another thought made Teddy lift his head, and look anxiously about him to make sure that his emotion had not been seen by any one.  He was still alone; and, with a sigh of relief, he dashed away the tears from his eyes, muttering,—­

“It’s the big fool I am, entirely!  Sure and mightn’t she have picked up the bracelet in the street, where maybe the little lady they’ve lost dropped it?  And, if she looks like the picture, so does many a one beside; and it’s no call I have to be troubling the master with telling him about her anyway.  She’s my own little sister, and I’ll keep her to myself.”

A sudden sharp recollection darted through the boy’s mind, and he grew a little pale as he added,—­

“Leastways, I’ll keep her if God will let me; and sure isn’t he stronger nor me?  If it isn’t for me to have her, can’t he take her, if it’s by death, or if it’s by leading them that’s searching for her to where she is?  And more by token, that’s the way I’ll try it.  If God means she shall stay and be my little sister, she’ll live, and I’ll take her, and say nothing to nobody about it:  but, if it’s displasin’ to him, she’ll die; and then I’ll tell the master all about it, and he may do what he’s a mind to with me.  That’s the way I’ll fix it.”

And Teddy, well satisfied with his own bad argument, took comfort, and went back to his books.

When Mr. Burroughs returned to the office, he was accompanied by Mr. Barlow, the gentleman who was to occupy it during his absence; and he did not speak to Teddy, except to give him a few directions, and bid him a kind good-by.  The paper and picture he found lying upon his desk, and hastily put in his pocket without remark or question.

For the first time in his life, Teddy avoided meeting his master’s eye, but watched him furtively over the top of his book, raising it so as to screen his face whenever Mr. Burroughs looked his way, and trembling whenever he spoke to him; and, for the first time in his life, he secretly rejoiced at seeing him leave the office, knowing that he was to be gone for some time.

The long day was over at last; and, so soon as the hour for closing the office had begun to strike, Teddy locked the door, sprang down stairs, and ran like a deer towards home, feeling as if in some manner the little sister was about to be taken away from him, and he must hasten to prevent it.