AT THE FAIR. 



245 



watching me as if to know how I would con- 

 duct myself in novel circumstances. As I am 

 taking my departure father comes in. He has 

 been looking for Little Big Breeches high and 

 low, as he was told to be back from the fair at 

 four, and it is now seven. " And thank you, 

 sir, for your kindness to the youngster. Here 

 Johnny, shake hands with the gentleman, and 

 bid him good night/' And Little Big 

 Breeches shuffles over shyly enough, consider- 

 ing we had been so much together. 



I was not back at the lodge until late. I 

 felt very much the better for my excursion, 

 which seemed to draw my thoughts away from 

 the one idea. 



Hilthorpe was seated on an ottoman with 

 Kate ; Mr. Dalrymple and Miss Hilthorpe were 

 engaged in a game of chess. I was very soon 

 challenged generally to relate my adventures, 

 and I told them with all the interest in the 

 chief character which I have shown above. 



Hilthorpe couldn't imagine how I could 

 have spent eight hours dry nursing. Was 

 I quite sure I hadn't wheeled a perambulator 

 part of the time ? 



