He is runned erway, an me an Diddie know where he is,
an' we've ben feedin' him, an' we don't want you ter whup him; will
you please don't?" and Dumps's arm slipped down from the old man's
head, until it rested around his neck; and Mr. Smith, looking into her
eager, childish face, and seeing the blue eyes filled with tears,
thought of the little faces that long years ago had looked up to his;
and, bending his head, he kissed the rosy mouth.
"You won't whup him, will you?" urged Dumps.
"Don't you think he ought to be punished for running away and staying
all this time, when I needed him in the crop?" asked Mr. Smith,
gently.
"But, indeed, he is punished," said Diddie; "he was almost starved to
death when me and Dumps carried him the picnic; and then he is so
scared, he's been punished, Mr. Smith; so please let him come home,
and don't whup him."
"Yes, PLE-EE-ASE promise," said Dumps, tightening her hold on his
neck; and Mr. Smith, in memory of the little arms that once clung
round him, and the little fingers that in other days clasped his,
said:
"Well, I'll promise, little ones. Pomp may come home, and I'll not
whip or punish him in any way;" and then he kissed them both, and said
they must have a lunch with him, and then he would take them home and
bring Pomp back; for he was astonished to learn that they had walked
so long a distance, and would not hear of their walking back, though
Diddie persisted that they must go, as they had stolen off, and nobody
knew where they were.
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