His tongue was sharp on occasion, and his fists ready, so that after various attempts to make a butt of him he was generally let alone.

He got what he wanted--he learnt to know what smoking and drinking might be like, and the jokes of the taproom.

And all by the help of a few shillings dealt out to him this winter for the first time by Reuben, who gave them to him with a queer deprecating look and an injunction to keep the matter secret from Hannah.

As to the use the lad made of them, Reuben was as ignorant as he was of all other practical affairs outside his own few acres..