“ CARROTS.”

if they've ‘nucken’ to say,” said Mott, as if
he didn’t believe Carrots.

«“T didn’t mean that I wasn’t goimg to say
nucken,” said Carrots; “I mean I haven't
nucken to say now.”

« And what were you going to say?” per-
sisted Mott.

Carrots looked frightened.

“T was only sinking if you knowed, and
nurse knowed, and Floss knowed, and I
knowed, it wouldn’t be a secret.”

Mott burst out laughing.

«What a precious goose you are!” he ex-
claimed. ‘ Well, secret or no secret, I’m going
to hear it; so tell me.”

Floss looked at nurse despairingly.

«You tell, nurse, please,” she said.

So nurse told, and Maurice looked more
amused than ever. “What an idea!” he ex-

claimed. “I don’t believe Carrots ’ll hold out

for a month, whatever Floss may do, unless

he has a precious lump of ac—ac— what is

it the head people call it ?— acquisitiveness.