won't have other folks prying after me here.'

'I won't tell Mrs. Western, if that's what you mean,' said Willie; 'and
I'll ask her to forgive you.'

[Illustration: 'CAN'T HELP THAT,--HERE GOES.'

_See page 52._]

'My! you may do as you like about that. I ain't in such a hurry to be
forgiven. But what I mean is, you ain't to tell your father nor nobody
where you found me.'

'I must tell papa if he _asks_ me,' said Willie.

'Then you shan't have the 'mometer; I'll pitch it into the pond.'

'That would be wicked,' said undaunted Willie, 'for it does not belong
to you.'

'Can't help that; here goes,' and he held it over the edge of the pond.
'It'll be in in another minute if you don't say you'll not tell your
father.'

'I shan't tell him if he doesn't say I am to; but if he does, I must.'

'Why must you?'

'Because I must obey him, even when I'd rather not; it's right.'

'That beats all,' said Bob in unbounded surprise; but he didn't throw
the thermometer into the pond. It was some time, however, before Willie
could persuade him to give it up, though at length he did, and received
the shilling, observing,

'I could ha' took this from you if I'd liked, and kep' the 'mometer too;
but I ain't a thief, let folks say what they please.'

'No, I know you're not,' said Willie. 'Oh, Bob, if you would only----'

'What?' said Bob; 'you hadn't no call to stop just then. I thought you
was a-going to make a fine speech.'

'No, I mustn't.'

'Mustn't what?'

'Mustn't lecture; mamma won't ever let me. There are other people to
teach you.'

'They did teach me a lot,--parson did, and schoolmaster did; but I got
tired of it, and now I'm too big to go to school. But I'm thinking of
looking out for a bit of work.'

'Oh do, do, _please_; we should be so glad.'

'If you ain't the funniest little gentleman!' said Bob with increasing
astonishment. 'But I kind o' like you too, I ha' been thinkin' o'
taking a turn for the better, as they say, lately; but bless you, not
even my mother would believe I was in earnest, so who is there to care
if I do?'

'Seven Campbells,' said Willie; and then, fearing this was not quite the
truth, he added, 'No, Georgie is too young to care, but all the rest of
us would be glad, Bob;' and when he had said this he ran home. His
arrival with the thermometer caused great delight to all his brothers,
and Dr. Campbell called Lackland down to hear the good news, saying
kindly, 'You have had oppor