ERNIE 209 



motor, and has fallen asleep from ex- 

 haustion. He breathes quietly, his mouth 

 droops. 



" Poor lill chap, he'm be tired," says 

 Ernie's father; " dear lill boy, he'm be." 



It is always the same tender remark. No 

 wonder Ernie loves his father. But this 

 does not prevent the most savage quarrelling 

 sometimes. Then through the wall I hear 

 him yelling, 



" Dawbake ! dawbake ! dawbake ! " 



And his father's threat (it never materia- 

 lises into action), " Naughty boy, swearin'! 

 Ah'll tell plicemun! " 



" Dawbake! dawbake! dawbake!" yells 

 Ernie. 



" Ee shouldn't speak tew ees feyther like 

 that." 



" Dawbake! " moans Ernie, and hides 

 his curly head at father's knees. 



" Could never whip ee," mutters the 

 parent, " ee be so little." 



" Of course," I agree, having decided 



