‘It was all in the way of business,’ said George Albert, ‘and I dare say monkey-nuts will do every bit as well as Omnibus Nuts, whatever they may be.’
Emmeline meantime gave Micky a little lecture as they walked away from the shop.
‘I do wish you would be more careful,’ she was saying. ‘You very nearly let out about Diamond Jubilee just now.’
‘I never said his name even,’ said Micky indignantly; ‘I’ve been most frightfully careful.’
‘You said quite enough to let out, if anyone had been paying much attention,’ said Emmeline, severely. ‘Luckily Mrs. Freeman seemed thoroughly stupid, but I don’t feel sure that sharp young man mayn’t have guessed something.’
Micky thought it as well to change the subject.
‘We seem to have got a great many monkey-nuts for one boy,’ he remarked, peering into his bag. ‘Don’t you think he’ll get rather tired of them before they’re done?’
‘Oh no, Micky. What silly ideas you have!’ said Emmeline impatiently. ‘You must remember that Diamond Jubilee isn’t like us. I expect he’s often been used to going days and days without the least little scrap of food; so he ought to be only too thankful to have plenty of nice, nourishing monkey-nuts.’
They had got well outside the village, and were just passing a farm famous for its apple-orchard, when Emmeline was startled, and Micky interested, by sounds of wrath and battle.
‘Get out, you young varmint!’ shouted an angry voice; ‘and if ever I catch you in my orchard again I’ll give you such a warming——’