OR, CLARENCE. MORTIMER. 83

 

ced sutend to pull the wool over his eyes,”
said Dick, with a hateful grin.

Now Ben was not a very bright lad, and
though he had been much in the society of
his companion, he could not always keep
pace with him. He did not at all under-
stand what he meant in the present case, and
said, somewhat pettishly —

«TI do wish you would say plain out
what you mean, and not go beating about
‘he bush forever.” : je,

<< Well, then, I mean I'll pretend to be
very kind to Clare Mortimer, and to love
him dearly,” said Dick; ‘and then I'll
_ make a fool of him.” . :

‘© Won’t that. be too mean?” said Ben,
who was pretty good natured in the main.

‘* Not at all,” said Dick. <* Iam bound to
do it, just to show what I can do. I would

hot advise people to offend me.”