rest of the circle, added, severally and collectively, "'Tis likely,
too."

But, as George beat his way home over the downs in the dusk, he said
aloud, under cover of the roaring wind, and in all the security of
the open country, -

"Vive pound! vive pound! And a offered me vive shilling for un.
Master Lake, you be dog-ged cute; but Gearge bean't quite such a
vool as a looks."

After a short time the advertisement was withdrawn.



CHAPTER VI.

GEORGE GOES COURTING.--GEORGE AS AN ENEMY.--GEORGE AS A FRIEND.--
ABEL PLAYS SCHOOL-MASTER.--THE LOVE-LETTER.--MOERDYK.--THE MILLER-
MOTH.--AN ANCIENT DITTY.

One day George Sannel asked and obtained leave for a holiday.

On the morning in question, he dressed himself in the cleanest of
smocks, greased his boots, stuck a bloody warrior, or dark-colored
wallflower, in his bosom, put a neatly folded, clean cotton
handkerchief into his pocket,--which, even if he did not use it, was
a piece of striking dandyism,--and scrubbed his honest face to such
a point of cleanliness that Mrs. Lake was almost constrained to
remark that she thought he must be going courting.