itself at home on the bottom step; resting, doubtless, before it came
hopping up. Another dozen steps, and--It was beautifully dressed in one
piece of yellow and brown that reached almost to its feet, with a bit
left at the top to form a hood, out of which its pert face peeped
impudently; oho, so they came in their Sunday clothes. He drew so near
that he could hear it cooing: thought itself as good as upstairs, did
it!

He bounced upon her sharply, thinking to carry all with a high hand.
"Out you go!" he cried, with the action of one heaving coals.

She whisked round, and, "Oo boy or oo girl?" she inquired, puzzled by
his dress.

"None of your cheek!" roared insulted manhood.

"Oo boy," she said, decisively.

With the effrontery of them when they are young, she made room for him
on her step, but he declined the invitation, knowing that her design was
to skip up the stair the moment he was off his guard.

"You don't needn't think as we'll have you," he announced, firmly. "You
had best go away to--go to--" His imagination failed him. "You had best
go back," he said.

She did not budge, however, and his next attempt was craftier. "My
mother," he assured her, "ain't living here now;" but mother was a new
word to the girl, and she asked gleefully, "Oo have mother?" expecting
him to produce it from his pocket. To coax him to give her a sight of it