boy's eye and lied, but Dick was not deceived.

''Twould a-served him good,' he said thoughtfully; 'but you oughter get
on to him when Miss Shine ain't about. She's terrible good an' all
that--better 'n Miss Keeley, don't you think?'

Miss Keeley was a golden-haired, high-complexioned, and frivolous young
lady who had enjoyed a brief but brilliant career as barmaid at the
Drovers' Arms. Harry had never seen her, but expressed an opinion
entirely in favour of Christina Shine.

'But her father,' continued Dick, with an eloquent grimace, 'he's dicky!

'What've you got against him?'

'I do' know. Look here, 'tain't the clean pertater, is it, for a
superintendent t' lay into a chap at Sunday School for things what he
done outside? S'pose I float Tinribs's puddlin' tub down the creek by
accident, with Doon's baby in it when I ain't thinkin', is it square fer
him to nab me in Sunday School, an' whack me fer it, pretendin' all the
time it's 'cause I stuck a mouse in the harmonium?'

Dick's contempt for the man who could so misuse his high office was very
fine indeed.

'That's the sorter thing Tinribs does,' said the boy. 'If I yell after
him on a Saturdee, he gammons t' catch me doin' somethin' in school on
Sundee, an' comes down on me with the corner of his bible, 'r screws me
ear.'

Harry considered such conduct despicable, and thought the man who would
take such unfair advantage of a poor boy might be capable of any infamy;
and Dick, encouraged, crept a little nearer.

'I say,' he whispered insinuatingly. 'You could get him any day on the
flat, when he comes over after searchin' the day shift.'

Harry shook his head, and slowly plucked at the dry bark.

'I don't mean to touch him,' he said.

Dick was amazed, and a little hurt, perhaps. His confidence had been
violated in some measure. He thought the matter over for almost a minute.

'Ain't you goin' to go fer him 'cause of her, eh?' he asked.

'Her? Who d'you mean?'

'Miss Chris.'

'It's nothin' to do with her.'

Dick deliberated again.

'Look here, she was cryin' after you went this mornin'. Saw her hidin'
her face by the harmonium, an' wipin' her eyes.'

Harry had not heard evidently; he was, it would appear, devoting his
whole attention to the antics of a blue grub. Dick approached still
closer, and assumed the tone of an arch-conspirator.

'Heard anything 'bout Mr. Frank?'

'Not a thing, Dick.'

'What yer goin' to do?'

'I can't say, my boy