"Is this," she asked, taking it all in at the first glance--the boy with
the honest eyes as Ben had described him--and the big, black
dog--"is this the boy who saved my little girl?"

"Oh, ma'am," cried Jasper, "1 didn't do much; 'twas Prince."

"I guess you never'll know how much you did do," said Mrs.
Pepper. Then looking with a long, keen gaze into the boy's eyes
that met her own so frankly and kindly: "I'll trust him," she said to
herself; "a boy with those eyes can't help but be good."

"Her eyes are just the same as Polly's," thought Jasper, "just such
laughing ones, only Polly's are brown," and he liked her on the
spot.

And then, somehow, the hubbub ceased. Polly went on with her
work, and the others separated, and Mrs. Pepper and Jasper had a
long talk. When the mother's eyes fell on Phronsie playing around
on the floor, she gave the boy a grateful smile that he thought was
beautiful.

"Well, I declare," said Jasper, at last, looking up at the old clock in
the corner by the side of the cupboard, "I'm afraid I'll miss the
stage, and then father never'll let me come again. Come, Prince."

"Oh, don't go," cried Phronsie, wailing. "Let doggie stay! Oh, make
him stay, mammy!"

"I can't, Phronsie," said Mrs. Pepper, smiling, "if he thinks he