XXXIII

as if done with; a ragged bird, without any tail, chirped on one window-seat, and a box of white mice adorned the other; half-finished boats and bits of string lay among the manuscripts; dirty little boots stood drying before the fire; and traces of the dearly beloved boys, for whom he makes a slave of himself, were to be seen all over the room. After a grand rummage three of the missing articles were found⁠—one over the birdcage, one covered with ink, and a third burnt brown, having been used as a holder. “ ‘Such a man!’ laughed good-natured Mrs. K. , as she put the relics in the ragbag. ‘I suppose the others are torn up to rig ships, bandage cut fingers, or make kite-tails. It’s dreadful, but I can’t scold him: he’s so absentminded and good-natured, he lets those boys ride over him roughshod. I agreed to do his washing and mending, but he forgets to give out his things and I forget to look them over, so he comes to a sad pass sometimes.’ “ ‘Let me mend them,’ said I. ‘I don’t mind it, and he needn’t know. I’d like to⁠—he’s so kind to me about bringing my letters and lending books.’ “So I have got his things in order, and knit heels into two pairs of the socks⁠—for they were boggled out of shape with his queer darns. Nothing was said, and I hoped he wouldn’t find it out, but one day last week he caught me at it. Hearing the lessons he gives to others has interested and amused me so much that I took a fancy to learn; for Tina runs in and out, leaving the door open, and I can hear. I had been sitting near this door, finishing off the last sock, and trying to understand what he said to a new