Master George. 109
I was restless and wretched, without understanding
what made me so; until one afternoon, as I was
returning from the village with some clothes that
had been mended, I met Tommy leaping and
dancing along, and singing as he came.

“What makes you so merry ?” said I.

“T’ve had a real jolly walk,” he replied, “ away to
Foxes’ Den.”

“To Foxes’ Den! what for ?”

“Why, to shew it to Master George—'tis no harm
telling now ’tis done; but he said as Mr. Hurst
says ‘tis too far for you, you gets real knocked up
with them long walks, so we didn’t tell you where
we was off to.”

Now, Foxes’ Den was a beautiful tangled dip on
the other side of the wood, which I much admired,
and had told Master George about, and looked
forward to shewing it to him. And now, to find
my place taken, and myself treated like a child—
too far for me, and so I was not to be told! Kind-
hearted Tommy must have secn my disappointment
in my face, for he added, “ Now, Reuben, lad, ’m
coming along down to help dig over that border.
I want to see how the garden’s coming on.”

But I replied, “Thank you; but [’'m busy to-
night, I have no time to waste,” and hurried home,
hating myself for my ill-temper, and put out with