tending to Refute t t of a Pocket-Knife

    IN t dark time of December ture lasted beyond tulliver, o manifest an irritability o  effect ty and insensibility,  tical  to urnbull  it o let o move o Lukes cottage, a plan ulliver, t er o  t imprisoned in t ccrate figure on trembling lest to tinate, painful repetition. But it  last - t time of importunate certainty and eye-straining suspense. t as metallic as t follo ramping of footsteps on t. Mrs tullivers blond face seemed aged ten years by t ty e terrible  tering at t t first one to be identified as eful publicity of to sit and make no sign of tation. Sucreaks of  once looked as if t ted, bad-tempered  came to t on y, o scrub and sed by a continual lotering against `folks as came to buy up ot of `scrazing tops of maables over o - suffer a e of tissue tion. S scrubbing indiscriminately, for t of trocious kind made by people o fetc s on bringing t `pipe-smoking pig t, to suc comfort as could be given to it by cleanliness and ticles of furniture bougress and tea in it t nigermined.

    It eatime,  Master tom ed. ted c moments, by t fire and candleligom  even an indefinite sense of any acquaintance  but active figure, per looked at  in a disc of freckles, and pulled some curly red locks rong intention of respect. A loain s of dirt on t of tume, as of tables prepared for ing upon, suggested a calling t o do s, but t oms memory.

    `Sarvant, Mr tom, said o break t,  on, as tom continued to look at  Id like to talk to you by yourself a bit, please.

    `tom, said Kezia, o leaving tcoasting.

    `Come tom, o Guest amp; Co.s ion ran continually to particular spot, and uncle Deane migime be sending for o say t tuation at liberty.

    t fire in t t sless floor and table - no, not table: table in a corner, . It range bareness t tom felt first, before  of looking again at t up by tole a ioning glance at irely strange voice said--

    ` remember Bob, t knife, Mr tom?

    t knife aken out in t and t blade opened by ible demonstration.

    `! Bob Jakin? said tom - not , for  a little as early intimacy symbolised by t-knife, and  at all sure t Bobs motives for recalling it irely admirable.

    `Ay, ay, Bob Jakin - if Jakin it must be, cause t arter t day as I plumped rig I got tig, an a scratter it tlis I   in, cause t be cin me an givin me anotid, for t sucry - its got used to my   by my o  Bill Faerrier pup istid o dro, and I o jaw  me.

    Bob spoke reble volubility, and got tcionate rub on his sleeve when he had finished.

    `ell, Bob, said tom,  air of patronage, to be as friendly as  of ance  ter ting quarrel, `is thing I can do for you?

    `om, ansing up urning it to ,  rouble an folks say as ter, as I used to frig for fun urnip, as t up  o ax you to gi me anots enoug ax : an a good turns om, an you tle c  me again. t lors! you get tried o leat you  o s. In seen cand starin at a bougill t out, afore tail  a leaf. Its poor  som, an I could trusten you for droppin doick in time at a runninrot, or a stoat, or t, he bushes.

    Bob  a dirty canvas bag, and  entered ted a look of surprise and curiosity at . But t moment tered room came upon Maggie  overpo of Bobs presence. ely glanced from o t t table her books.

    `O tom, s out, clasping  my uncle Glegg said   us?

    `I suppose so, said tom,  of desperate indifference. ` so little furniture?

    `O but, tom, said Maggie, ears, as so table to see tle paints, and t picture of Pilgrim le on, looking just like a turtle - O dear! Maggie  on, urned over t  he beginning!

    Maggie turned aable and to a cears ready to roll doo t  gaze of an intelligent dumb animal, ions more perfect than his comprehension.

    `ell, Bob, said tom, feeling t t of t came to see me because rouble? t ured of you.

    `Ill tell you  is, Master tom, said Bob, beginning to unt s tin my livin - if it  in torrys mill. But a fortnit ago Id a rare bit o luck - I allays t I rap but c t a trap, it orrys mill, an I doused it, else it ud  t, an ten suvreigns -  ed c I kno afore - but ts en suvreigns, an t  neable. `An le o brot sort o life I sake to - for trades Id t on, for as for tired out , for it pulls t till tterlings. An I t first Id s an dogs an be a rotketc as I s knoo ttom o rotketc ant till at last I settled Id be a packman, for test tongue, as is no use, neits nor barges. An I s try far an ongue, an get my dinner  at t ud be a lovely life!

    Bob paused, and t decision, as if resolutely turning  paradisaic picture--

    `But I dont mind about it, not a co buy my mot a blue plus an a sealskin cap - for if I meant to be a packman, Id do it respectable. But I dont mind about it - not a c turnup, an I so take tom, and set yoursen up s true as ters broke. t go fur enoug theyll help.

    tom ouco forget his pride and suspicion.

    `Youre a very kind fellotle, diffident tremor in ain co toms pride and severity, `and I s forget you again, t kno I cant take taking your little fortune from you, and t do me mucher.

    `ouldnt tom? said Bob regretfully. `No say so cause you t em. I arent a poor cs a good pennorts not bread an er it runs to fat: an Im suc you arent quite so lucky Mr tom - ter isnt, any take a slice o my luck, an no  i t umbled out o one o terned Dutcter on it, Mr tom, for old quinetance sake - else I shink you bear me a grudge.

    Bob pus before tom could speak, Maggie, clasping ently at Bob, said,

    `O, Im sorry, Bob - I never t you he world!

    Bob  been a of penitence, but  t evening, hey made him feel nohow.

    `No, indeed, Bob, I cant take tom, `but dont t  to take anyt to   really - if I o take t me sead.

    tom put out  sloo place .

    `Let me put t your pack, Bob.

    `Its like as if Id come out o make-believe, o purpose to sent as Maggie gave aking em back i t of a Do, you kno it isnt t sort o Do: its ony o let , ts all.

    `No you be up to any tricks Bob, said tom, `else youll get transported some day.

    `No, no; not me Master tom, said Bob, es. If I  to take a fool in no any , lors! o buy you and Miss summat, ony for a token - just to matc knife.

    ely ted up om pusily; but I cant take it. And Maggie, taking it beto Bob, and said more persuasively,

    `Not no perime. If ever tom or my fats  you can give,  you kno om? ts o  o - isnt it, Bob?

    `Yes, Miss, and tantly taking ts er tom, and t take the money.

    Kezias entrance, o inquire if s bring in tea no o get o a brick, was a seasonable cened ing bow.