I shouldn't be surprised but what he was planning some joke.

Oh, dear! I wish he was more steady, and wasn't always up to some mischief.

Still, he's a good boy at heart, and perhaps he'll grow better when he gets older." She rubbed her left cheek with the back of her hand, leaving a big patch of flour under one eye.

Then she called once more.
"Bob! Bob Henderson! Where are you?
I want you to go to the store." "Here I am, mother.

Were you calling me ?" asked a boy, emerging from behind a big apple tree.
He was not a bad-looking lad, even if his nose did turn up a bit, though his hair was tinged with red, and his face covered with freckles.