THE STOKESLEY SECRET

by Charlotte M. Yonge




CHAPTER I.



"How can a pig pay the rent?"

The question seemed to have been long under consideration, to judge
by the manner in which it came out of the pouting lips of that sturdy
young five-year-old gentleman, David Merrifield, as he sat on a volume
of the great Latin Dictionary to raise him to a level with the tea-table.

Long, however, as it had been considered, it was unheeded on account
of one more interesting to the general public assembled round the table.

"I say!" hallooed out a tall lad of twelve holding aloft a slice
taken from the dish in the centre of the table, "I say! what do you
call this, Mary?"

"Bread and butter, Master Sam," replied rather pettishly the maid who
had brought in the big black kettle.

"Bread and butter! I call it bread and scrape!" solemnly said Sam.