Littlebourne Lock

the second time did not surprise or frighten her relations

s; "never fear. When she is hungry she'

Philip had taken his boat to the place where he had left Juliet, but she was not there. He went again and shouted for her, but there was

left her there, Phi

ame place," was Phil's defence, "to

but Juliet i

ccounted for Juliet's absence,

pants of each of them, "If you should see a girl of thirteen what has got lost,

said "Very well;" but evening deepene

s made his speech about the missing girl, the man replied, "I know; that is the child whose father is a printer.

inter!" Rowles repeated. "Y

y Mr. Burnet began life near the top, and is ending it quite at the top. Hard work, Mr. Rowles, hard work, perseve

Rowles, shaking his head; "and no

he lock which was now full. "I've got relations of my own in the same line, so I know they can

. I'm glad you've learn

It is hard work, and perseverance, and honesty, a

s inmates went to bed. Mrs. Rowles had little sleep, wa

dless and warm. While he was standing idly beside the running water, listening to the twitter of birds and the lowing of cows, he

it's Mrs. Bosh

d the man, as if ha

ferry. Here you, Phil, jump into the Fa

e ferry and brought Mrs. Bosh

o his sister's house, evidently a runaway, and had engaged herself as a general servant. But Mrs. Bosher, who was one that never took no rest, never even took off her bonnet, sa

ack in the Fairy to his own side of the river, with a request that Mrs. Bosher would take Juliet

ipe and a gossip with him, when down came a boat rowed by Leonard Burnet, and steer

o land, Rowles; I want to have a talk with you. Who is that man?" l

I hope you are well, sir, and the yo

ch of rheumatism, and will not come on the river to-day. May I sit her

r. Why, Emma, wher

I heard say that Mr. and Mrs. Webster are going to London to-day, and

ly undertook the charge of Juliet if Mrs. Bosher should bring h

th Mr. Burnet under the small trees. Neither Leonard nor Phil heard what passed, as they were not wi

e a good move. These young people sometimes get hold of ideas which are worth carrying out. And then Rob

s to a stranger. But I'm much afeard that Thomas Mitchell is so used to his topsy-turvy way of

at all events. I have taken a lease of t

was a boy, as like to you, sir, as one pea is to another; and, what is

-in-law can rent cheap from me; and I will put him on the Thames Valley Times and Post, which only comes out once a week, and does not keep the men up at night. We also do a good deal

ement would not answer. But Mr. Burnet was determined

have to learn all about country things. I don'

the first of the country from the train window, she

brother and talk over the barns and the stables and the farm-buildings. "And on Monday," he added, "I think I shall go to town and s

Mr. Burnet and Leonard to step into it, and his forebodings of

nd of Roberts, when his master talked so hopeful

t's father will have better health living in the country, but as for

so much from it that he was almost cross. He was laid up the very day that Mr. Burnet took

piercing between his bones, "about your Juliet's father and your Mrs. Bosher's broth

ng on him began to say, "The

do! How this arm do

He got as far as, "The

erts, kicking out his right foot,

and see him on Mo

flung out the left foot in

alid to himself. When this attack was over Roberts

Mr. Burnet was in the habit of leaving a great deal to Roberts, being himself old and ailing, and easily upset. On

calm of Sunday evening. Everything had been beautiful; the hymns, the sermon i

enjoy it all. I am afraid his exertions at the oar, and his exposure to the evening damps, have brought on this painful

resently Leonard said, "Do you think I could

ning on his stick said, "Upon my word,

head of the press where Mitchell works, perhaps he would le

!" exclaimed

and Roberts very rheumatic, there was no one who could possibly go to town e

resses, the paper, and other things used for printing that morning journal which deprived Thomas Mitchell and many others of almost every night's rest. Having seen as much as he co

is a good, steady fellow, and if his health become

a telephone, "Send T

tchell has this moment kn

!" said th

ard. "I know his address, and I

d the narrower streets were far from pleasant. He was struck by the number of small grocers' shops, and the smell of paraffin which pervaded this part of London. He also noticed how dry the vegetables appeared, and how moist the f

ief. Leonard was too young to be suspicious. He scarcely saw a shambling poorly-dressed rather wasted man whom he passed, and who afterwards st

them. When they stood in the middle of the narrow

!" said

t!" said

onfess it on you

very bone in your

un to collect. The two men s

someone!" cr

cried a costermonger, sea

lay!" roared a g

t of this, young fellow!" and looking round the lad

them all four i

bobbies!" wa

which one of the disputants r

arm came over the other shoulder and another hand clutched the first one. At the same moment two

and only the second remained, and Leonard found himself thus

s to show fight. Naturally Leonard began to plunge and to double his fists. But he could not keep this up, for the man whos

olicemen stood with faces fixed in s

Leonard, in astonishment at the

hat if you want to walk about in this part of London you

-way out of his scarf. He said angrily, "Then why don't you take the thie

us. He's on the other side o

ried Leonard, pointing ag

ed your pin from them two thieves. You owe him many thank

mart colleagues from making off with the valuable pin given him by his late mother, a

icemen saun

you, I'm sure," said Leon

thing upsets me. I shall be better in a few minutes. You put your pin in your poc

must have c

reet do

rd na

have taken these short cuts, which are all very well for some of us, but not for young gents with 'turkey

don; but as he really had reason to feel obliged to this man, he put a