At the sight of Tinker, Josiah bolted for home; but he had not gone twenty yards before the stinging switch was curling round him.

He ran the harder, howling and roaring; and Tinker accompanied him to the door of his father's cottage.

As the roaring Josiah rushed in, the infuriated Mrs.Wilby rushed out, and Tinker withdrew.

From a convenient distance, he raised his hat, and protested his regret at having had to instruct her son in the first principles of honour.

Mrs.Wilby took his politeness as an insult, and with a rustic disregard of his pretty manners called him a limb, and threatened him with merciless punishment on the return of her husband.