146 Zom Seven Years Old.

 

moment he put it out in a great hurry, for it
did not taste inside nearly as nice as it looked
outside. Tom had still some in his hand
when Archie came up.

“What have you got ?” asked he. “Sloes!
Are there sloes here ?” |

Sloes were another kind of fruit that grew
in the hedge, and were as purple as plums,
but not nearly so nice to eat. Tom did not
answer, but he crushed his berries up in his
hand, and threw them into the ditch when
Archie’s back was turned.

“Why, Tom!” cried Archie, soon after,
when they were crossing the road to go
home; “what have you done to your jacket?
Look !” |

Tom looked. It was stained all round the
pocket with the juice of the red berries,

“What isit?” said Archie. “What a mess!”

Tom did not say what the stain was,
though he knew quite well. There was a
little dirty pool by the side of the road, where
tadpoles lived, and where animals liked to
stop and drink as they passed.