Part 15 (2/2)

”Then you are not going to marry Aunty Halsa? But she wouldn't marry you; she is going to marry Mr. Galbraith.”

”What!” Sarkies pulled the reins in and stopped the horse.

”Yes. What'er you stopping for?”--chick, slish--and Eddy used the whip with all his little might.

”Are you sure of this?” asked Sarkies, as they moved on.

”Yes; paw said he'd lick me if I spoke about it.”

”Well, look here, Eddy; I want you to give a letter I have to Lizzie; give it to Florry, and tell her to give it. I will give you a ru--no, eight annas, if you do this, and mind and keep quiet about it, or I'll tell that you spoke about Aunty Halsa.”

”Give me the eight annas,” said Eddy, stretching out his disengaged hand.

They had reached the school gate by this time.

”All right; get down first.”

Eddy descended, and held out a small paw, into which Sarkies dropped the coin.

”Quick!” said Eddy, ”the bell is ringing. Give me the letter.”

Sarkies handed him the note. ”Be careful,” he said, and Eddy, nodding, turned back in the direction of the school. He had not gone ten yards, however, when he stopped suddenly.

”Mr. Sarkies!” he shouted.

”What is it?”

”Oh! I heard paw tell maw that you are to be turned out of church--wot fun!” He turned again and ran down the road toward the school.

Sarkies was taken aback. He had no idea that the elder meant to carry his threat out.

”Damfool!” he burst out savagely and loudly, for there was no danger of being overheard. Having relieved his feelings in this manner, he urged the old Arab forward, and the buggy once more joggled down the road.

It was not until the half-hour's recess that Eddy obtained an opportunity to deliver the note. He pulled out of his satchel, which hung on a peg in the veranda of the school, a brown paper parcel containing his lunch--egg sandwiches. Clutching this in one hand, he made his way to the back garden of the school, and found Flora Bullin there. It was their trysting place.

”Have a sweet?” she asked, handing him a lozenge which had become rather damp and limp in her hand.

”Lozengers--eh!” said Eddy, and transferred the delicate morsel to his mouth.

”I say,” he said, ”that's nice.” He took a huge bite out of one of his egg sandwiches and began to speak again, with his mouth full.

”I say, Florry, Jim Sarkies is sweet on Lizzie.”

”Lizzie is a horrid cat,” replied Florry, as she soberly chose a sweet for herself out of a gla.s.s bottle. ”She pinched me--awfool, last night, as I lay awake and listened. See there,” and Florry bared a small arm showing the blue marks of a finger and thumb.

Eddy examined it gravely. ”How did you get caught?” he inquired--”laff?”

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