e where he sat, and once a squirrel ran right along a bough to look
down at him and chatter, thickening its tail as a cat does hers when she
is angry.

It was a long and very beautiful day, the first that Dickie had ever
spent alone. He worked harder than ever, and when by the lessening light
it was impossible to work any longer, he lay back against a tree root to
rest his tired back and to gloat over the thought that he had made two
boxes in one day--eight shillings--in one single day, eight splendid
shillings.

The sun was quite down before Mr. Beale returned. He looked unnaturally
fat, and as he sat down on the moss something inside the front of his
jacket moved and whined.

"Oh! what is it?" Dickie asked, sitting up, alert in a moment; "not a
dawg? Oh! farver, you don't know how I've always wanted a dawg."

"Well, you've a-got yer want now, three times over, you 'ave," said
Beale, and, unbuttoning his jacket, took out a double handful of soft,
fluffy sprawling arms and legs and heads and tails--three little fat,
white puppies.

"Oh, the jolly little beasts!" said Dickie; "ain't they fine? Where did
you get them?"

"They was give me," said Mr. Beale, re-knotting his handkerchief, "by a
lady in the country."

He fixed his eyes on the soft blue of the darkening sky.

"Try another," said Dickie calmly.

"Ah! it ain't no use trying to deceive the nipper--that sharp he is,"
said Beale, with a mixture of pride and confusion. "Well, then, not to
deceive you, mate, I bought 'em."

"What with?" said Dickie, lightning quick.

"With--with money, mate--with money, of course."

"How'd you get it?"

No answer.

"You didn't pinch it?"

"No--on my sacred sam, I didn't," said Beale eagerly; "pinching leads to
trouble. I've 'ad my lesson."

"You cadged it, then?" said Dickie.

"Well," said Beale sheepishly, "what if I did?"

"You've spoiled everything," said Dickie, furious, and he flung the two
newly finished boxes violently to the ground, and sat frowning with eyes
downcast.

Beale, on all fours, retrieved the boxes.

"Two," he said, in awestruck tones; "there never was such a nipper!"

"It doesn't matter," said Dickie in a heartbroken voice, "you've spoiled
everything, and you lie to me, too. It's all spoiled. I wish I'd never
come back outer the dream, so I do."

"Now lookee here," said Beale sternly, "don't you come this over us,
'cause I won't stand it, d'y 'ear? Am I the master or is it you? D'ye