"No; but I can easily carry it inside my coat, it will be quiet there, won't it?"
"Quiet enough, but mind not to squeeze it—these white rabbits are delicate creatures. Well, I'm pleased to have done business with you and I shall hope to see you again. You're a stranger in the town, I take it? Ah, I thought as much; if you'd lived long in the place you'd have found me out before. Any time you find yourself this way come in and have a look round, I shall be glad to see you, and bring your friends."
"Thank you," Tim replied; "I have no friends in the town, though I may have some later on. Perhaps I may call in again on another occasion as you've been so kind as to ask me."
The little boy paid his money, and unfastening a couple of buttons of his double-breasted coat, he put the rabbit inside, where it appeared quite comfortable and happy. Then he said good-bye to Mr. Dottin, who parted from him most affably, and set out for home. As he went, he turned over in his mind ways and means of conveying the rabbit to Kitty. He wanted the little girl to have it without knowing, in the first place, whom it came from. And, later on, he intended to tell her that he was the donor. After which, he assured himself sanguinely, she and her brother would gladly—and gratefully—allow him to be their friend.
Tim planned everything very carefully. That night, he meant to get over the partition wall, by means of the ladder, and put the rabbit in the hutch, which he had perceived had been placed near the back door of the house. No one would see him do it after dark; and to-morrow morning Kitty and Bob would discover the rabbit; then, on the first favourable opportunity, he would confess that he had bought the rabbit to replace their dead pet. How surprised they would be and how kind they would consider him, whilst he would have salved his conscience to a very great extent.
It was nearly tea-time when Tim arrived at home, so he ran straight upstairs and put the rabbit into one of the drawers in the set in his bedroom, leaving the drawer a little open to admit the air. Then, after washing his hands and brushing his hair, he went downstairs and joined his uncle, who immediately told him of Mrs. Glanville's visit and the purport of it.
"Mrs. Glanville knew mother years ago, and she has asked me to tea to-morrow!" he exclaimed delightedly, his eyes sparkling with excitement, after he had listened to Mr. Shuttleworth's tale. "Oh, Uncle John, how jolly of her!"
"But I thought you didn't think much of the next door children," remarked Mr. Shuttleworth, with an amused smile. "If I remember rightly you said you considered them stuck-up."
"That was because they wouldn't have anything to do with me; but now it will be all right. We shall soon be good friends, you will see."
"I hope so," Mr. Shuttleworth replied. "You are to go early to-morrow afternoon, remember."