A Lucky Magpie 175 



"So we went back in procession to the 

 school after I had kissed Nelly, and my clothes 

 had been dug up in the garden, brushed, and 

 put on me again ; and when they locked me 

 up in the whitewashed cell, where refractory 

 boys were confined, the sergeant winked at 

 the master, and put Mag's cage in with me. 

 When the labour-master unlocked the door to 

 give me my dinner of bread and water, he 

 brought something for Mag, and said a kind 

 word to both of us. 



" I was quite happy in Mag's company all 

 that day and night. Nelly's pluck had made a 

 man of me, in spite of all her fine schemes 

 being upset. And I had a sort of dim hope 

 that the magistrate, who was coming to see 

 the runaway boy, might bring me some kind 

 of good luck. 



" Next morning I heard a carriage drive up, 

 and in a few minutes I heard the key put 

 into the lock. I stood up, and put my hands 

 behind me, as we were always made to do 

 when visitors arrived. Mag's cage was on the 

 floor at my feet 



