560 THE LOVE-CHILD. 



I was bewildered the sixpence lay glittering in my open hand, 

 and while I stood gazing at my mysterious benefactor, who had now 

 gone on, Seth Holloway, one of my companions, made a successful 

 grab at the coin, and started off at full speed with his twin brother 

 Bob, and one of his cousins, whose name I forget. My first impulse 

 was to run after Lavolta. Hearing my frantic exclamations, he turned 

 round before I had proceeded half a dozen yards, and perceiving at 

 a glance the posture of affairs, he shouted loud enough for the delin- 

 quents to hear him, "Very well, young gentlemen." Then dropping 

 his voice, he said to me, " After them, Tadpole : let me see you catch 

 them ; knock it out of the rascals, and a whole half crown shall be 

 ready for you on Monday next at Caddiscombe. Halloo! my lad! 

 no snivelling !" 



Away I went, at my best pace, and after a chase of nearly three 

 quarters of a mile, I began to gain so rapidly on Seth, who was a fat, 

 square, burly little blackguard, that seeing I should soon be up with 

 him, he adopted the mean device of sending his brother on with the 

 sixpence, while he and his cousin faced about, and prepared by force 

 of fists to cover Bob's retreat. This, of course, could not be done with- 

 out a fight, in which, however, I was so terribly thrashed, that when 

 they withdrew, I had neither the heart nor strength even to dog them. 

 After lying where they had left me, coiled up like a sleeping cur, 

 at the foot of the mile-stone, for nearly an hour, bitterly bemoaning 

 my lost opulence, I was picked up and perched, against my will, on 

 the summit of the stone by Blue Peter. On my making two or three 

 impotent hits at his face for disturbing me, to my deep indignation 

 Blue Peter laughed. He then stepped back a couple of paces, and 

 in a more serious tone than it was his custom to assume, even on the 

 most important occasions, he thus addressed me, " Of all the cantan- 

 kerous, resolute, wilful young badgers I ever came athirt, thee'rt 

 out-and-out the worst. Instead of a'kind hand and a civil word, thy 

 best friend can get nothing from thee less than a snap and a growl. 

 But there it's thy fury of a grandmother that's spoiled thee so I 

 suppose we must put up wi' thee but I'd as soon live with a hedge- 

 hog mind me." 



Blue Peter's serious tone touched me, and I began to whimper. 

 " Well ! come ! dont be a fool," said the kind-hearted fellow, " but 

 let's hear what it's all about, and see if we can't mend it." 



As well as my sobs would permit, I told him of Lavolta' s generosity, 

 and Seth Holloway's turpitude. I even admitted that I had been 

 licked, but added, that the first time I caught Seth or his cousin alone 

 I'd prove pretty soon who was the best man. Blue Peter condoled 

 with me, and after having stated that he had heard all about my 

 hiring with Farmer Belroy, and it's consequences, he most earnestly 

 urged me to go at once to Cuckold's Harem field, and resume my 

 vocation. In reply, I dwelt with emphasis on the consequent restric- 

 tion of my freedom to a solitary area of four acres, totally destitute 

 as I should be of all interest or amusement being forbidden even to 

 do any more than merely frighten the pheasants. Peter frankly ad- 

 mitted that so tyrannical an inhibition was altogether insufferable 

 human nature could not stand it ; and when I mentioned to him the 



