40 Turnaside Cottage.
he remarked, “The boy looks fairly intelligent :
puny, though. Do you go to school regularly ?”

“No, sir,” said I, wondering what objectionable
quality might be meant by “ puny.”

“No! LI hope your father punishes you well for
mitching : he ought.”

“No, sir,” said I again, seeing that the Squire
scemed to expect an answer, but in no little alarm
at his loud voice.

“Reuben has not been sent to school yet,” inter-
posed Miss Churchill, “but he can read, for all that;
can you not, Reuben ?”

“Not go to school!” exclaimed Mr. Prickard.
“What on earth do you spend your day in, then?
Mischief, eh ?”

“T keep father’s cow,” said I, rather indignantly,
for I had never spent a day in mischief in my life.

“Oh! Then I suppose he feeds her about in the’
lanes and hedges like a pauper’s cow, instead of
hiring a field like an honest man. Tell him I say
he ought to be ashamed of himself. And tell him
from me that he ought to put you to school: do
you hear ?”

“Ves, sir,” said I; but without the slightest in-
tention of repeating all this to my father.

“ Here, Reuben, thank you ; and good night,” said
Miss Churchill, returning me my hat.