Ned was one of the hopeful members of a family that lived in a tumble-down shanty just across the road from the Carrolls . They were wretchedly poor , and old Brooke , as he was called , and Ned were employed a good deal by Mr. Carroll -- more out of charity than anything else , I fancy . The Brookes had a rather shady reputation . They were notoriously lazy , and it was suspected that their line of distinction between their own and their neighbours ' goods was not very clearly drawn . Many people censured Mr. Carroll for encouraging them at all , but he was too kind-hearted to let them suffer actual want and , as a consequence , one or the other of them was always dodging about his place . Ned was a lank , tow-headed youth of about fourteen , with shifty , twinkling eyes that could never look you straight in the face . His appearance was anything but prepossessing , and I always felt , when I looked at him , that if anyone wanted to do a piece of shady work by proxy , Ned Brooke would be the very lad for the business . Mr. Carroll came at last , and we all went down to meet him at the gate . Ned Brooke also came shuffling along to take the horse , and Mr. Carroll tossed the reins to him and at the same time handed a pocketbook to his wife . `` Just as well to be careful where you put that , '' he said laughingly . `` There 's a sum in it not to be picked up on every gooseberry bush . Gilman Harris paid me this morning for that bit of woodland I sold him last fall -- five hundred dollars . I promised that you and the girls should have it to get a new piano , so there it is for you . '' `` Thank you , '' said Mrs. Carroll delightedly . `` However , you 'd better put it back in your pocket till we go in . Amy is in a hurry . '' Mr. Carroll took back the pocketbook and dropped it carelessly into the inside pocket of the light overcoat that he wore . I happened to glance at Ned Brooke just then , and I could not help noticing the sudden crafty , eager expression that flashed over his face . He eyed the pocketbook in Mr. Carroll 's hands furtively , after which he went off with the horse in a great hurry . The girls were exclaiming and thanking their father , and nobody noticed Ned Brooke 's behaviour but myself , and it soon passed out of my mind .
`` Come XXXXX take the place , are you , Amy ? ''
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