Re

n the street singing (the word is a euphemism) his scout songs in his strong young voice. Curious smells emanated from the depth of the garden where William performed mysterious culinary operations. One old lady whose

omed the suggestion of Wi

m out of mischie

y optimistic where W

r brother only

" he said, and in that dar

ne (and one only) deed of kindness a day. There were times when he forced complete strangers, much to their embarrassment, to be the unw

oquence of his elder sister when she found

olly good knots,

days for a long time. He was to "go und

disturbed by William, whose room was just above and who had spent mos

t would make us grow up strong men. Don't you want me to grow up

burnt out and at once accused William o

got to make things if I'm a scout. I didn't mean to forget it. I won't forget it

bour whose garden adjoined William's and whose life had bee

e was co

ended upon Wi

vas next week an' I'm jolly glad I'm goin

e, his hands in the pocket of his short scout trousers, for Wi

. "Can't even use their rotten ole pans. Can't tie knots in

with it a desire to be

ded to a rose bush with a ferocious

brightened.

he was dead and they'd be sorry then alright. He imagined their relief, their tearful ap

stay away for lunch and tea and supper, and to retur

s for a fire, but they refused to light, even with the aid of the match that W

der the strain. William's handkerchiefs, being regularly used to perform the functions of blotting paper

began to wonder whether

half-a-dozen lions, then tired of the sport. It must be about lunch-time. He could imagine Ethel, his sister, hunting for him wildly high and low with growing pangs of remorse. She'd wish she

ere! How different we shall b

pped-was pacing his study, waiting for news, eager to atone for his unkindness to his missing son. Pe

giving. He would accept the gift of the new bugle without

t be after lunch-time. But it would

ure regarding him with a steady gaze

tared dow

for?" said the apparition, wit

acred uniform and scowled. "

ition, with an air of polit

lli

you catch me a wops

lliam caught sight of a crowd of

the infant. "Want lo

nails from a miniature pocket

t! Watch 'em walk. Look! They

them up and returned them to their pocket

ned, casually. "Got wo

ch he held between a finger and thumb laid thoughtfully

himself from hi

you catch 'e

s an' they don't sting. Sometimes they do, thoug

atly the young naturalist picked him

one," he or

nger. As a wasp obligingly settled on a flower near him, he put out his

he said.

ted a peal

said. "Did it st

n of rage and pain

rdered at last. "Let

dered dignity m

e said. "I'm pl

y you'self an' me play by myself, an' w

path, and meekly

olly late-al

homas suddenly. "Giv

any," said Wi

ome," persist

here isn't

, buy

n't any

buy som

lliam turn

y!" he

beneath a mop of c

ly. "There's some blackberries ther

lk away, but Thomas

I'm pointing. Lovely great big su

t turned to perform

erries faster than Wil

one right up there I want. I want i

at last the rapacious Thomas was satisfied. Then he partook of a

'em go now

however, stayed moti

with it?" said W

uccinctly. "Now, get me some lickle fishes, an'

round from his

e said decidedly.

tin for the sings, so be kick. Oo, here's a fly! A green fly! It's si

ing a purple-stained cou

He wanted to be as kind as possible. He'd forgive them at once when he got home. He'd ask for one

not like me?"

estion and questioner

ot like me?" he s

t like peop

t?" retort

know anythin

name's Thomas," he said to the fl

y had now vanished, and Tho

d. "Come on an' f

en that he followed his new acquaintance to a neigh

, "take off your boots an' stocki

led William, "an' find

bite my toes. An pittanopotamuses might be there. If

am we

muddy pond. Thomas watched

our hair," he s

am gr

objects in the tin, and brought

n that," said

't get it," re

y how to rid himself of his unwanted companion. But Fate solved

. "You ought to be ashamed of yourself," she said. "A great boy of your age leading a little child lik

am ga

liam. "You ought to be asha

bin doin' deeds of kindness

ndignantly, holdi

that nasty rough boy ag

' some fishes," murmur

h a feeling of depression and disil

-time. It would be getting dark soon. But it still stayed light a long time now. It wouldn't matter if he just got in for sup

be bygones ... if there

sort to him yet, but, by a violent stretc

e, would cry over hi

ave been so miserable since you went awa

l he knew, but sorrow has a re

Ethel was at the front-door. She looke

u're going to be ready fo

ed William. "Wh

in, so I warn you,"

n a dazed fashion. His

eally are careless. You'll have to stop being a scout if th

irs. His father was coming out of the librar

e lunch-bell goes, my son," he said, "you won't

m swal

er," he sa

y upstairs to

s a rot