He had not one regret at leaving
the bespangled suit, for it was the best he could command, and
surely nothing could be too good for Mr. Stubbs.
Tenderly he laid him in the little grave, and, covering the body
with flowers, said, pausing a moment before he covered it over
with earth, and while his voice was choked with emotion: "Goodby,
Mr. Stubbs, goodby! I wish it had been me instead of you that died,
for I'm an awful sorry little boy, now that you're dead!"
Even after the grave had been filled, and a little mound made over
it, the young man had the greatest difficulty to persuade Toby to
go with him; and when the boy did consent to go at last he walked
very slowly away, and kept turning his head to look back just so
long as the little grave could be seen.
Then, when the trees shut it completely out from sight, the tears
commenced again to roll down Toby's cheeks, and he sobbed out: "I
wish I hadn't left him. Oh, why didn't I make him lie down by me?
an' then he'd be alive now; an' how glad he'd be to know that we
was getting out of the woods at last!"
But the man who had caused Toby this sorrow talked to him about
other matters, thus taking his mind from the monkey's death as
much as possible, and by the time the boy reached the village he
had told his story exactly as it was, without casting any reproaches
on Mr. Lord, and giving himself the full share of censure for
leaving his home as he did.
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