54 Turnaside Cottage.

“Don’t,” repeated I, feeling ready to cry.

“Simon’s jealous, he wants to be the lady’s pet
hisself,” remarked Tommy, with his mouth full of
apple.

“TJ don’t, then!” cried Simon, turning upon him.
“Who says I do?” ;

“You hadn’t better go on a that way any more,
or everybody will think you do,” returned Tommy.
“T say, Simon, I jumped over the ditch a sight
furrer’n you, yesterday.”

“Vou didn’t, then!”

“ Did, though ; and Pll do it again to-day if you
don’t look out.”

“Come on, then!” shouted Simon; and away
they went down the hill, with all the rest of the
boys after them, some to watch their jumping, and
some to go home to dinner. I had brought my
bread and cheese with me, and as soon as Tommy’s
cleverness had set me free from my troublesome
companions (for the challenge to go and jump had
been made, I knew, for my sake) I bethought me
of dinner, and went in to fetch it from among the
hats and caps, where [had leftit. Alas! somebody
had been there before me, and all the dinner I
found was the empty cotton handkerchief in which
it had been wrapped. I had to struggle with my
tears as I picked up the empticd handkerchief ;