r Waller, and, of course, I won't."

"Then I do say you are not to. I wouldn't have that poor fellow found
and taken for the world."

"All right, Master Waller."

"And as for the money you will miss, Bunny, I have got some saved up,
and you shall have the waistcoat and the boots before a month's passed."

"Na-ay, I shan't," growled the man. "Bang the boots and the weskit! I
won't have 'em now. You say it's right for that there poor young chap
to be took care of, and it shall be done. You have got him all right up
there; but your father's coming home. What will he say?"

"Oh, don't talk about it," cried the boy excitedly. "It makes me
shiver!"

"Do it? Well, look here, lad; when you know he's coming home, you hand
the chap over to me."

"What, could you hide him somewhere?"

"Could I hide him somewhere? Haw! Haw!" laughed the man. "He says,
could I hide him somewhere?" And he looked round as if to address the
robin; but the bird had flitted away, and Bunny Wrigg gazed straight in
the boy's eyes again. "Of course I could, lad, and where no soldiers
could find him and even you couldn't. You let me have him, and he'll be
all right."

"Bunny, you are a good fellow!" cried Waller excitedly. "And you shall
have the best waistcoat and boots that money can buy."

"Nay I sha'n't, lad," growled the man, "and if you say any more about
them things I shan't play. That there young Frenchy chap must be a good
sort, or you wouldn't have made him your friend. Why, I'd rather hear
you call me a good fellow like you did just now, and think of me, being
the young Squire, as your friend, than have all the weskits in the
world. But I say, look here, Master Waller," said Bunny thoughtfully,
"I could hide that chap in one of my snuggeries; but what about the
winter time?"

"What about the winter time?" said Waller, staring.

"Ay; when it's always raining, or snow's on the ground. I don't mind,
because the water runs off me, same as it would off a wild duck; and as
for the frost and snow, I could roll in 'em like a dog. But such a chap
as your friend--it'd kill him in no time. He'd be catching colds and
sore gullets, and having the roomis."

"Oh, but it wouldn't be for long."

"What are you going to do with him then? Not setting anybody else to
take care of him?"

"Oh, no, no, Bunny."

"Because I shouldn't like that, sir, when I'd undertook the job. What
are you going to do with him then?"

"Wait til