Lom gets into disgrace. 147

 

“T know,” said Tom; “stop a minute—
Pll wash it!”

“But what is it?” repeated Archie,
‘When did you do it ?”

‘How can I tell ?” answered Tom, crossly.
“Can’t you help me to get it clean, instead of
standing there asking stupid questions ?”

Archie very kindly knelt down on the grass
and pulled out his handkerchief.

“It's no good washing it with this water,”
he said, after dipping itin. “ Look how black
itis! It will only make it dirtier.”

“Never mind,” said Tom; “let’s try.”

He did not want to go into the house with
such a nasty mess on his jacket, in case his
mamma or somebody should see it, and find
out what it was. They both rubbed together
as hard as they could. Then Tom let it go,
and looked at it. The dirty water had left a
black mark round the pocket.

“It’s worse than ever,” said Archie. “We
had better not rub it any more.”

It was worse than ever; there was no
doubt of it. Tom saw he would have to go