sert it, for, you see,
in our business everything depends on a life-like turn being given to an
eye--or a beak--or a toe, and we don't like to put inferior work out of
our hands. So you'd better leave the bird and call again."

"Very well, sir, w'en shall I call?"

"Say next week. I am very busy just now, you see--extremely busy, and
cannot possibly give proper attention to your affair at present. Stay--
give me your address."

The woman did so, and left the shop while Mr Blurt looked about for a
memorandum-book. Opening one, which was composite in its character--
having been used indifferently as day-book, cashbook, and ledger--he
headed a fresh page with the words "Memorandum of Transactions by Enoch
Blurt," and made the following entry:--

"A woman--I should have said an idiot--came in and left a pheasant,
_minus_ an eye, to be repaired and called for next week."

"There!" exclaimed the unfortunate man, shutting the book with emphasis.

"Please, sir," said a very small sweet voice.

Mr Blurt looked over the top of his desk in surprise, for the owner of
the voice was not visible. Getting down from his stool, and coming out
of his den, he observed the pretty face and dishevelled head of a little
girl not much higher than the counter.

"Please, sir," she said, "can you change 'alf a sov?"

"No, I can't," said Mr Blurt, so gruffly that the small girl retired in
haste.

"Stay! come here," cried the repentant shopman. The child returned with
some hesitation.

"Who trusted you with half a sov?"

"Miss Lillycrop, sir."

"And who's Miss Lillycrop?"

"My missis, sir."

"Does your missis think that I'm a banker?" demanded Mr Blurt sternly.

"I dun know, sir."

"Then why did she send you here?"

"Please, sir, because the gentleman wot keeps this shop is a friend o'
missis, an' always gives 'er change w'en she wants it. He stuffs her
birds for her too, for nothink, an' once he stuffed a tom-cat for 'er,
w'ich she was uncommon fond of, but he couldn't make much of a job of
it, 'cause it died through a kittle o' boilin' water tumblin' on its
back, which took off most of the 'air."

While the child was speaking Mr Blurt drew a handful of silver from his
pocket, and counted out ten shillings.

"There," he said, putting the money into the child's hand, "and tell
Miss Lillycrop, with my compliments--Mr Enoch Blurt's compliments--that
my brother has been very ill, but is a little--a very little--better;