BRING ON GREAT ONES. 105 



the bank of our high pond ; it will get big- 

 ger and bigger in ordinary times; bnt if 

 the spring comes down a bit stronger after 

 heavy rain, the bank would go down alto- 

 gether. It will be so with you, if you don't 

 take care ; for some great temptation may 

 come, and then look out." "!No fear of 

 that," said he. "Well," said I, " you'll 

 go back again with the nectarines, and I 

 don't care if you tell the cook what I say ; 

 and mind this, if ever you want a bit of 

 fruit, ask me, and if it's right you shall be 

 sure and have it ; but don't you be so silly 

 as to meddle and help yourself to any thing 

 that doesn't belong to you. And if you'll take 

 my advice, you'll never take any thing again 

 of any house-servant without first knowing 

 whether their masters or mistresses allow 

 of it ; for, I can tell you, it's not a bit better 

 than stolen goods ; and it's a pity people 

 should be so foolish as to try and mako 

 themselves believe that there's no harm in 

 taking other people's victuals, though they'd 

 call it thieving if it was clothes, or any thing 

 else." 



In the evening, down I went again to 

 the cage, and then Andrews told me all about 



