them
out--very careful indeed, and I'm always glad when them sort gets a few
over-ripe ones--there was two other ladies talkin' over the fence. An'
one on 'em said to the other on 'em just like this--

"'I've told both gells to come, and they can doss in with M'ria and
Jane, 'cause their boss and his missis is miles away and the kids too.
So they can just lock up the 'ouse and leave the gas a-burning, so's
no one won't know, and get back bright an' early by 'leven o'clock. And
we'll make a night of it, Mrs Prosser, so we will. I'm just a-going
to run out to pop the letter in the post." And then the lady what had
chosen the three ha'porth so careful, she said: "Lor, Mrs Wigson, I
wonder at you, and your hands all over suds. This good gentleman'll slip
it into the post for yer, I'll be bound, seeing I'm a customer of his."
So they give me the letter, and of course I read the direction what was
written on it afore I shoved it into the post. And then when I'd sold
my barrowful, I was a-goin' 'ome with the chink in my pocket, and I'm
blowed if some bloomin' thievin' beggar didn't nick the lot whilst I was
just a-wettin' of my whistle, for callin' of oranges is dry work. Nicked
the bloomin' lot 'e did--and me with not a farden to take 'ome to my
brother and his missus.'

'How awful!' said Anthea, with much sympathy.

'Horful indeed, miss, I believe yer,' the burglar rejoined, with deep
feeling. 'You don't know her temper when she's roused. An' I'm sure I
'ope you never may, neither. And I'd 'ad all my oranges off of 'em.
So it came back to me what was wrote on the ongverlope, and I says to
myself, "Why not, seein' as I've been done myself, and if they keeps two
slaveys there must be some pickings?" An' so 'ere I am. But them cats,
they've brought me back to the ways of honestness. Never no more.'

'Look here,' said Cyril, 'these cats are very valuable--very indeed. And
we will give them all to you, if only you will take them away.'

'I see they're a breedy lot,' replied the burglar. 'But I don't want no
bother with the coppers. Did you come by them honest now? Straight?'

'They are all our very own,' said Anthea, 'we wanted them, but the
confidement--'

'Consignment,' whispered Cyril, 'was larger than we wanted, and they're
an awful bother. If you got your barrow, and some sacks or baskets, your
brother's missus would be awfully pleased. My father says Persian cats
are worth pounds and pounds each.'

'Well,' said the