38 DOGGED JACK.

close to her brother she whispered mysteriously, It's
an awful big one, Jack."
 "Well, what if it is, Poll ? asked Jack, very much
 amused, and sitting bolt upright.
 "Sally told me some dreadful things about it,"
 quoth Polly gravely.
 Here I may mention that the Sally alluded to was
a wild, young, Irish girl, who had been engaged in the
capacity of housemaid at Hillside for a year past,
and was in the habit of amusing Polly, for hours
together on a wet day, with all sorts of absurd and
ridiculous stories delivered impromptu out of her own
imaginative head.
 "Tell me some of them, Poppet," said Jack, for he
immensely enjoyed hearing them secondhand from
Polly, who believed what Sally told her with all a
child's credulous faith.
 "But perhaps, Jacko, it will make you too fright-
ened to go ?" said Polly feelingly.
 "Oh no, I'll try and be brave," promised Jack
reassuringly.
 Well, then, Jacko, Sally says that at the Sunday
school if the boys don't know their lessons and
things," with an expressive look at her brother, Mr.
Lane puts them flat against the wall, and runs his
nose right through their bodies."