think I'm going to put up with being bullied and druv by a little nipper
like as I could lay out with one 'and as easy as what I could one of
them pups?" He moved his foot among the soft, strong little things that
were uttering baby-growls and biting at his broken boot with their
little white teeth.

"Do," said Dickie bitterly, "lay me out if you want to. I don't care."

"Now, now, matey"--Beale's tone changed suddenly to affectionate
remonstrance--"I was only kiddin'. Don't take it like that. You know I
wouldn't 'urt a 'air of yer 'ed, so I wouldn't."

"I wanted us to live honest by our work--we was doing it. And you've
lowered us to the cadgin' again. That's what I can't stick," said
Dickie.

"It wasn't. I didn't have to do a single bit of patter for it anyhow. It
was a wedding, and I stopped to 'ave a squint, and there'd been a
water-cart as 'ad stopped to 'ave a squint too, and made a puddle as big
as a tea-tray, and all the path wet. An' the lady in her white, she
looks at the path and the gent 'e looks at 'er white boots--an' I off's
with me coat like that there Rally gent you yarned me about, and flops
it down in the middle of the puddle, right in front of the gal. And she
tips me a smile like a hangel and 'olds out 'er hand--in 'er white
glove and all--and yer know what my 'ands is like, matey."

[Illustration: "'AN' I OFF'S WITH ME COAT, AND FLOPS IT DOWN IN THE
MIDDLE OF THE PUDDLE, RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE GAL'"

[_Page 133_]

"Yes," said Dickie, "go on."

"And she just touched me 'and and walks across me coat. And the people
laughed and clapped--silly apes! And the gent 'e tipped me a thick 'un,
and I spotted the pups a month ago, and I knew I could have 'em for five
bob, so I got 'em. And I'll sell em for thribble the money, you see if I
don't. An' I thought you'd be as pleased as pleased--me actin' so silly,
like as if I was one of them yarns o' yourn an' all. And then first
minute I gets 'ere, you sets on to me. But that's always the way."

"Please, please forgive me, father," said Dickie, very much ashamed of
himself; "I am so sorry. And it _was_ nice of you and I am pleased--and
I do love the pups--and we won't sell all three, will us? I would so
like to have one. I'd call it 'True.' One of the dogs in my dream was
called that. You do forgive me, don't you, father?"

"Oh! that's all right," said Beale.

Next day again a little boy worked alone in a wood, and yet not alone,
for a small pup spra