"'Tis a good job there are so many of them that every Jack may have his Jill: else I fear that we should get fighting for them.

Indeed," said he, becoming very grave, "I don't say that it does not happen even now, sometimes.

For you know love is not a very reasonable thing, and perversity and self-will are commoner than some of our moralist's think." He added, in a still more sombre tone: "Yes, only a month ago there was a mishap down by us, that in the end cost the lives of two men and a woman, and, as it were, put out the sunlight for us for a while.

Don't ask me about it just now; I may tell you about it later on." By this time we were within the shop or booth, which had a counter, and shelves on the walls, all very neat, though without any pretence of showiness, but otherwise not very different to what I had been used to.
Within were a couple of children--a brown-skinned boy of about twelve, who sat reading a book, and a pretty little girl of about a year older, who was sitting also reading behind the counter; they were obviously brother and sister.
"Good morning, little neighbours," said Dick.

"My friend here wants tobacco and a pipe; can you help him ?" "O yes, certainly," said the girl with a sort of demure alertness which was somewhat amusing.