they're calling
you. Will you have to go?"

"Not me," said William earnestly. "I'm not going--not till they fetch
me. Here! you begin. I don't want any. I've had lots of things. You
eat it all."

Her face radiant with anticipation, the little girl took up her spoon.

William leant back in a superior, benevolent manner and watched the
smile freeze upon her face and her look of ecstasy change to one of
fury. With a horrible suspicion at his heart he seized the spoon she
had dropped and took a mouthful himself.

_He had brought the rice-mould by mistake!_

CHAPTER III

WILLIAM'S BURGLAR

When William first saw him he was leaning against the wall of the
White Lion, gazing at the passers-by with a moody smile upon his
villainous-looking countenance.

It was evident to any careful observer that he had not confined his
attentions to the exterior of the White Lion.

William, at whose heels trotted his beloved mongrel (rightly named
Jumble), was passing him with a casual glance, when something
attracted his attention. He stopped and looked back, then, turning
round, stood in front of the tall, untidy figure, gazing up at him
with frank and unabashed curiosity.

"Who cut 'em off?" he said at last in an awed whisper.

The figure raised his hands and stroked the long hair down the side of
his face.

"Now yer arskin'," he said with a grin.

"Well, who _did_?" persisted William.

"That 'ud be tellin'," answered his new friend, moving unsteadily
from one foot to the other. "See?"

"You got 'em cut off in the war," said William firmly.

"I didn't. I bin in the wor orl right. Stroike me pink, I bin in the
wor and _that's_ the truth. But I didn't get 'em cut orf in the wor.
Well, I'll stop kiddin' yer. I'll tell yer strite. I never 'ad none.
_Nar!_"

William stood on tiptoe to peer under the untidy hair at the small
apertures that in his strange new friend took the place of ears.
Admiration shone in William's eyes.

"Was you _born_ without 'em?" he said enviously.

His friend nodded.

"Nar don't yer go torkin' about it," he went on modestly, though
seeming to bask in the sun of William's evident awe and respect. "I
don't want all folks knowin' 'bout it. See? It kinder _marks_ a man,
this 'ere sort of thing. See? Makes 'im too easy to _track_, loike.
That's why I grow me hair long. See? 'Ere, 'ave a drink?"

He put his head inside the window of the White Lion and roared out
"Bottle o' lemonide fer the