uld not get back the way they came, because the
cow was there still. He walked briskly on till they came to a cottage,
over whose door swung a sign; and on the sign was a painting of a bottle
and a glass, and a heap of things which were probably meant for cakes,
as there were cakes in the window. Here Lamb turned in, and the woman
seemed to know him well. She smiled, and closed the door behind the
three boys, and asked them to sit down: but Lamb said there was no time
for that to-day,--she must be quick. He then told the boys that they
would have some ginger-beer.

"But may we?" asked the little boys.

"To be sure: who is to prevent us? You shall see how you like
ginger-beer when you are thirsty."

The woman declared that it was the most wholesome thing in the world;
and if the young gentleman did not find it so, she would never ask him
to taste her ginger-beer again. Hugh thanked them both; but he did not
feel quite comfortable. He looked at Holt, to find out what he thought:
but Holt was quite engrossed with watching the woman untwisting the wire
of the first bottle. The cork did not fly; indeed there was some
difficulty in getting it out: so Lamb waived his right, as the eldest,
to drink first; and the little boys were so long in settling which
should have it, that the little spirit there was had all gone off before
Hugh began to drink; and he did not find ginger-beer such particularly
good stuff as Lamb had said. He would have liked a drink of water
better. The next bottle was very brisk: so Lamb seized upon it; and the
froth hung round his mouth when he had done: but Holt was no better off
with his than Hugh had been. They were both urged to try their luck
again. Hugh would not; but Holt did once; and Lamb, two or three times.
Then the woman offered them some cakes upon a plate: and the little boys
thanked her, and took each one. Lamb put some in his pocket, and advised
the others to do the same, as they had no time to spare. He kept some
room in his pocket, however, for some plums; and told the boys that they
might carry theirs in their handkerchiefs, or in their caps, if they
would take care to have finished before they came within sight of the
usher. He then asked the woman to let them out upon the heath through
her garden gate; and she said she certainly would when they had paid.
She then stood drumming with her fingers upon the table, and looking
through the window, as if waiting.

"Come, Proctor, you have