I hesitated.

"Well," he said, "what is it?"

"You don't think it was I who went to steal the pears, sir?" I said

uneasily.

"My good boy, no!" he said. "Pooh! nonsense! Looked like it at first.

Caught you dirty-handed. Good night!"

He turned away, and I ran into the yard, where Shock was slowly going

back to his hole in the straw.

"Good night, Shock!" I said.

He stopped without turning round, and did not reply. It was as if the

sulky morose fit had come over him again, but it did not last, for he

half turned his head and said: "I hit one on 'em such a crack on the nut."

Then he went to the ladder and climbed up into the loft, and I stood

listening to him as he nestled down in amongst the straw. Then Old

Brownsmith came to the back-door with the lantern and called me in to go

up to my room.




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