ap lives
on 'em. You ask anybody in the village, and they'll tell you they can't
keep an onion in their gardens for him. He's a savage at 'em. And you
mean to tell me that you didn't smell onions when you was fighting with
him last night?"

"No, I'm sure I didn't."

"I don't like that," said David, polishing one of his red ears.
"P'r'aps he hadn't been able to steal any yesterday. But it's a wonder
you didn't smell that."

"But perhaps it wasn't Pete."

"Now don't say that, my lad. There's no getting away from them bones.
Nobody never had such loose bones. It was him right enough."

"Think so, David?" said Tom dubiously.

"Course I do, Master Tom. Who else would ha' knowed where to find
Jellard's ladder?"

"Plenty o' people," said Tom eagerly; "all the village."

"Don't you say a word, like that, Master Tom," said the gardener
solemnly, "because it arn't right. I've knowed Furzebrough man and boy
ever since I was born, and there arn't a soul in it as'd go and get that
ladder and break in and steal your uncle's contrapshums. I won't say as
there arn't a lot o' people who talk about 'em, and believe old Mother
Warboys when she says they're bad and dangerous, and like to bring evil
on the place; but, bless your 'art, sir, there arn't one as would do
your uncle harm. I won't say as the boys, and maybe a school-gal,
wouldn't help theirselves to a happle or a pear or two as were in
reach--I won't deceive you, Master Tom, I've done it myself coming home
from school; but take it altogether, there arn't a honester village
nowhere in Sorrey, and I'll stick to that, even if I was up before a
judge, and a jury of my fellow-countrymen swore me till I was black in
the face."

Tom smiled.

"Ah, you may laugh, sir," said David, shaking his head; "that's youth,
and wanting to know better. I'm a bit older than you. This here's a
honest place, sir. I won't say nothing about tramps from London, and
furreners coming in search o' work; but you might keep gold and silver
jools down here without locking your doors--leastwise if Pete Warboys
warn't about; but I told you how it would be."

"Well, let's go down, David," said Tom, who could not help thinking
about the proverb concerning a dog with a bad name. "This shutter must
have a proper fastening. But who would have thought of any one getting
a ladder? You had better take it back."

"Yes, sir, and tell old Jellard to put a chain and padlock on it, or
else ther