"Ah! that I don't know at all."
"Hadn't you better be beginning pretty soon? because an ear-trumpet will cost a good deal, and it would be a pity to keep old Dyson waiting."
Sir Everard handed him a shilling, saying, as he did so: "Now, mind, it is not to be spent on anything else," and Humphrey faithfully promised it should not.
Old Dyson was in his garden when they passed, so they drew up to speak to him He was not so deaf as to be unable to hear Sir Everard's powerful shout, but Humphrey's little attempts were futile.
"How pleased he'd be," thought Humphrey to himself, "if he knew I was going to save up my money to buy him an ear-trumpet."
And he held up his shilling to the old man in triumph, as if the very sight of it would tell him the whole story.
Dyson smiled and nodded. "Ay, ay, going to buy sweeties, I see!"
Humphrey shook his head vehemently, and tried to shout an explanation.
"No!" said the old man; "then it'll be a top, maybe?"
It was no use trying to make him understand; and as Sir Everard was moving off, Humphrey was obliged to follow, shaking his head to the last.