more monkey shines around me, remember that."

"All right, Peleg, I'll remember. And how is Mrs. Green, our worthy
housekeeper?"

"First-rate."

"No whooping-cough?"

"No."

"Nor measles, or chicken-pox?"

"Not a bit of 'em."

"Or mumps? Tell me, now, she really hasn't got the mumps, has she?"

"See here, Master Tom, didn't I jest tell you--"

"No, you didn't tell me, and that's why I'm so anxious to know. If
she's got the mumps, and the chilblains, and the ingrowing warts--"

"Oh, crickey! I knew it!" groaned Peleg Snuggers. "I says to myself as I
was a-drivin' over, 'if thet Tom Rover comes back, I might as well throw
up my job, for he won't give nobody a rest!' If you would only--"

"All right, Peleg, I see you are really and truly bound to go back on
me. You hate me!" Tom drew his handkerchief from his pocket. "It is
awful, after all I have tried to do for you in the past. I've got to--
to--cry! Boo--hoo!" And the boy began to wipe his eyes.