A BARGAIN 27

your back upon any enemy you may meet
until you have finished the business which
takes you to Venomista’s oak. When this
is done, and you have succeeded, as I hope
you will, remember that I shall expect my
milk,’

With these words, the hedgehog turned
round, and began to roll himself up as
comfortably as if nothing had happened.
The nurse, however, who by no means liked
being left out of the business, as seemed to
be the intention of the speaker, thought it
high time to put in a word on her own
account.

‘And what am I to take and to do, Mr.
Hedgepig ?’ she exclaimed, in rather an
indignant tone.

‘Go home and milk the cows,’ replied the
animal with a snarl, and rolled himself up
tighter than ever.

‘ Hoity-toity !’? cried the good woman in
great wrath. ‘A pretty pass things are
come to, surely, when children are told to
do this, and that, and the other, and nurses
not to have a word in the matter! I never
saw such goings on in all my born days!
Here, Princey, dear, come away home with