JACK SHORT. 
339 
grew deeper and deeper, and he bit his 
lip. 
“ Don’t think any more about it,” said 
Richard, all the small remains of his anger 
vanishing before Jack’s voice and words. 
“ I was to blame, too, I dare say; but, at any 
rate, I am sure I forgive you, Jack.” 
“You are a good fellow.” Jack could 
say no more. He turned and was going 
away, but Richard and Sidney stopped him. 
“Ho, don’t go so,” said Sidney: “it isn’t 
school-time yet. Stay and help us a little.” 
“Help us, indeed!” said Annie, not in a 
very low tone. “Have you taken leave of 
your senses, Sidney?” 
“I think you have taken leave of your 
senses and your manners too, Annie,” re¬ 
turned Sidney, indignantly,—and then, turn¬ 
ing to Jack, “Will you tell us about some¬ 
thing we want to do? We want to make 
a rustic seat,—something like this,” (show¬ 
ing him a print in a book containing designs 
for all sorts of rustic work.) 
Jack had never seen any thing of the 
kind before, and looked at it with great in¬ 
terest. “I never saw any such,” he said, 
finally; “but I should think it would be 
