But it can't be brutal for a little one to stick up for himself and thrash the big coward, can it ?" "That is a question upon which I cannot pretend to decide, Vince.

You had better ask your father." "Oh, no! I shan't say anything about it," replied the boy, giving his short shock-brown hair a rub.

"I don't like talking about it.

Nearly done ?" "Yes, I am fastening off the thread." There was a snip given directly after by a pair of scissors; Vince gave his leg a shake to send the trouser down in its place, and then stooped and kissed the sweet, placid face so close to his.
"There," he cried; "don't you tell me I didn't pay you for mending the tear." "Ready, Vince ?" said the Doctor, entering with the bottle neatly done up in white paper.
"Yes, father." "Mind, sir! don't break it." "No, father: all right." The next minute Vince was trotting sharply down the road towards the rough moorland, which he had to partly traverse before turning down a narrow track to the cliff edge, where, in a gap, half a dozen fishermen's cottages were built, sheltered from the strong south-west wind.
"You will not send him away, Robert ?" said Mrs Burnet.
"Humph! Well, no," said the Doctor, wrinkling up his brow; "it would seem so dull if he were gone.".