"Ask 'IM," said my uncle, pointing with his knife to his informant,
and making me realise the nature of my offence. My aunt looked at the
witness. "Not--?" she framed a question.

"Wuss," said my uncle. "Blarsphemy."

My aunt couldn't touch another mouthful. I was already a little troubled
in my conscience by my daring, and now I began to feel the black
enormity of the course upon which I had embarked.

"I was only talking sense," I said.

I had a still more dreadful moment when presently I met my cousin in the
brick alley behind the yard, that led back to his grocer's shop.

"You sneak!" I said, and smacked his face hard forthwith. "Now then,"
said I.

He started back, astonished and alarmed. His eyes met mine, and I saw a
sudden gleam of resolution. He turned his other cheek to me.

"'It 'it," he said."'It 'it. I'LL forgive you."

I felt I had never encountered a more detestable way of evading a
licking. I shoved him against the wall and left him there, forgiving me,
and went back into the house.

"You better not speak to your cousins, George," said my aunt, "till
you're in a better state of mind."