THE TALE OF A THIEF. |. 33

 

dignified manner, Raggles following reluctantly. In spite of losing her hat she was quite
pleased to have got the papers, and she made up her mind to come back for the holly, as
there would be plenty of time when she had told the good news to the Ashursts. When
she had got out of the wood and was crossing the fields she heard a little squeak, and
looking round, to her astonishment saw Beppo dancing along after them, dragging the hat
-behind him by one of its ribbons. Dolly stood still and he slowly approached her ;
stopping every now and then to jabber in a deprecating way.

“You ought to be ashamed of yourself,” she said earnestly when he had reached them.

And Beppo did seem ashamed of himself, for when Dolly bent over him and lifted her
finger gravely to rebuke him, he showed his teeth and chattered away in a very submissive

 

and appealing manner ; and he put out his hand with the ribbon in it, as if he wanted to
restore Dolly’s property to her. She took it, saying—

“Well, I’m glad, to see you are ashamed of yourself.”

Beppo seemed to take this as forgiveness, for he gave a complacent little gurgle, and
hopping off jumped right upon Raggles’s back, where he held himself on by means of the
little black curls. And in this way the three proceeded into the village.

How overjoyed Mr. and Mrs. Ashurst were at getting back the papers! And how
delighted Dick was at the recovery of Beppo! They made so much of Dolly that she
grew quite shy, though she was very happy. But I think she was even happier that
evening when her father returned, and found the house all decked with laurel and holly
and oak-leaves and his little daughter waiting for him in the midst of it all.

D