Page:The little blue devil (IA littlebluedevil00mackiala).pdf/42

As Robertson had foretold, there was not much trouble about taking Tony away. Of course, the manager explained that they had only lodged the boy out of charity, and Robertson did not bother either to conceal or to give his opinion of the transaction.

He saw a good deal of Tony in the five days before his boat sailed, and bought him an outfit for the voyage, finding a queer, unfamiliar pleasure in choosing it.

Tony nominally blacked boots up to the day he sailed, but unharried and at ease. He was very happy then, and still more so on the voyage, though he did not get on quite smoothly with the other boys on board. There were several about his own age. As he confided to Robertson one day—it was his eleventh birthday and they were just nearing Sydney—the boys were all right, really, only the mothers minded him because he swore.

“They tell ’em not to speak to me.” He chuckled grimly.

“But why did you swear? It’s rather silly of you, Tony, old man.”

“I lost my temper—and something had to go. And Mrs. Sandys overheard me.”

“Yes, you’ve a bad temper.” Robertson was thoughtful. “But you mustn’t go making enemies, you know. It’s not wise.”

“Yes, I know that, but when I really get angry I forget