l-house he sat on a stone and held converse with an educated
cockatoo next door.

That evening, clean-shaven, freshly-bathed, dressed in a cast-off suit of
James Nippit's, whole if slightly rusty, and robbed of its clerical
significance, Nickie the Kid attended a religions function with his
reverend employer. Nickie was orderly, wakeful and fairly attentive. When
the plate came round he put threepence in, but he took a shilling out. It
was a useful trick, taught him by an expert in the art of rigging the
thimble and the pea. Nickie, when he had fairly good clothes, often
attended church merely to practise it. To-night the exploit was more an
act of unseemly and impious levity than a crime.

The Rev. Nippit had a theory which he believed would succeed with nine
malefactors out of ten if exerted under fair conditions it was based on
kindness, forebearance and the inculcation of excellent precepts.

It is distressing to have to report that Nickie took few pains to
encourage his preceptor. He was lazy, he sometimes forgot to shave, he
often forgot to bath, he was not always temperate; but the Rev. James
bore it all with unconquerable patience. If Nickie was lazy, he talked
with him like a brother of the twin virtues, industry and thrift; if he
were unwashed, he explained to him that cleanliness was next to
godliness: if he seemed to, have gazed too, long upon the wine when it
was red, or the beer when it foamed in the bowl, the clergyman pointed
out the advantage of strict sobriety, and earnestly besought Nicholas
Crips to strive for higher things and the true light.

The Rev. James Nippit was not discouraged. He saw Nickie often clean,
usually decently attired, generally fairly decent in his behaviour, and
always respectful in his manner, and believed the seed of righteous was
sprouting; but Nickie was living comfortably, he was being well fed and
well bedded, and was careful not to over-exert himself in the pursuit of
his duties; consequently, it was easy for him to maintain a certain show
of decorum.

After Nickie the Kid had been under the tutelage of the Rev. James for
about three weeks, the latter was puzzled to find that Mr. Crips was far
from penniless. Now Nickie was paid nothing his services, but every week
a small sum, representing his wages, was paid into the Savings Bank, and
the deposit was to be transferred to him when he gave proof of complete
and perfect regeneration. When asked to account for a bottle