fraid.

The next moment I was reaching up cautiously, and by degrees got my hand
just under the apple, but could get no higher. My head was thrown back,
the branch bending towards me, and my feet on the top round, so that I
was leaning back far out of the perpendicular, and the more I tried to
get that pippin, and could not reach, the more bright and beautiful it
looked.

I forgot all about the danger, for Shock was watching me, and I would
have it; and as I strained up I at last was able to touch it with the
tips of my fingers, for my feet were pressing the branch one way, my
hands drawing it the other, till it came lower, lower, lower, my fingers
grasped the apple--more and more, and at last, when I felt that I could
bear the strain no longer, the stalk gave way, and the apple dropped
between the twig and my hand.

Then for a moment, as I grasped it, I felt as if I was going to lose my
footing, and hang off the ladder. If I did, the bough was so thin that
I knew it would break, and it was only by exerting all my strength that
I held on.

At last, lowering hand below hand, I got to be a little more upright.
My feet were firmer on the ladder, and I was able to take a step down.

Another few moments and, with a sigh of relief at my escape from a heavy
fall--for it really was an escape--I thrust the beautiful apple in my
breast and descended to my basket, gave a final glance round to see if
there was any more fruit within reach, found there was not, and so I
went to the foot of the ladder, emptied my basket, took out the apple
from my breast, and found that it was as beautiful as it had seemed up
there.

"I must have you," I thought, and, turning the rosy side towards me, I
took a tremendous bite out of it, a rich sweet juicy bite, and then
stood staring stupidly, for Old Brownsmith was standing there with his
cats, looking at me in a quiet serious way.

CHAPTER ELEVEN.

MAKING THINGS RIGHT.

Just at that moment I fancied that I heard a sort of laugh from up in
the other tree, but my eyes were fixed upon Old Brownsmith, and I had a
large piece of apple in my mouth that I dared not begin to chew.

He stood looking at me as I stood there, feeling three of his cats come
and begin rubbing themselves up against my legs in the most friendly
way, while I felt as if my misfortunes were being piled up one on the
top of the other.

From previous conversations I had gathered that he expected the boys to
now and