He do teach you to-rights, so I let you know, he do." "What else does he teach you besides your letters ?" "Oh, about a bloke called Cain as give 'is pal a topper, and--" He stopped abruptly, as he noticed the smile I could not restrain, and then added, in his offended tone, "I ain't a-goin' to tell you.

'Tain't no concern of yourn." I knew Billy well enough by this time to be sure it was no use, after once offending him, trying to cajole him back into a good-humour, so I left him.
So the wretched weeks passed on, and I almost wished myself back at Stonebridge House.

There at least I had some society and some friends.
Now, during those lonely evenings at Mrs Nash's I had positively no one--except young Larkins.
That cheery youth was a standing rebuke to me.

He had come up to town a year ago, a fresh, innocent boy; and a fresh, innocent boy he remained still.

He kept his diary regularly, and wrote home like clock-work, and chirruped over his postage-stamp album, and laughed over his storybooks in a way which it did one's heart good to see.