'He isn't better. Yes--don't get angry, Nancy; let's say they're just
the same.'

And with this admission Nancy was for the time pacified.

Before they parted she looked at her little companion with solemn eyes.

'I won't promise, but I'll think about belonging to the Captain. I should
like to go to heaven.'

It was one day soon after this that Teddy was straying over the fields in
his happy, careless fashion; fond as he was of games with the village
boys, often there were times when he liked his own society best, and he
wandered on talking to himself, and gathering grass and wild-flowers as
he went. His quick eyes soon noted some sheep making their way through a
gap in the hedge, and from thence they were going through an open gate
into the high road.

'Those are Farmer Green's sheep,' quoth he to himself. 'I'm glad of
it--horrid old man he is! No, Ipse, be quiet; that isn't the way to
think of him. I'll go and drive them back again!'

And he trotted off with this intention; but it is much more difficult to
get sheep into their rightful place than out of it, and this Teddy found
to his cost. His face was hot and red, his voice hoarse with shouting,
and then, to his consternation, Farmer Green appeared on the scene.

'You young vagabond,' he shouted, springing towards him, a thick stick in
hand, 'leave my sheep alone! How dare you come on my premises? You're
always after some fresh trick or other.'