“Take home a pair of new boots.”
“What! did Max give Dick an order for a new pair?” Mrs Shingle nodded.
“Wonderful! Max is getting more virtuous than ever. I’ll praise him next time I go.”
“No, don’t—please,” said Mrs Shingle earnestly. “Every little does help so just now; and we can’t afford to offend Max.”
“So you make traps, and put Jessie in for a bait, and try to catch his wife’s two boys, eh?”
“Indeed I did not,” cried Mrs Shingle; “it was all Tom’s own doing.”
“Ah, I dare say it was; but young Fred’s always hanging about here too; and as soon as-ever Max hears of it, there will be no end of a row. I shall put him on his guard.”
“Pray say nothing!” cried Mrs Shingle imploringly. “Why not? Best for both the young noodles to be brought to their senses.”
“No, no; it would make them so unhappy. Let matters take their course. It will be quite time enough for the trouble to come when Maximilian finds it out for himself. Hush! here’s Dick.”
“Hulloa! What’s that? The old game. Woman all over. Keeping secrets from your husband. Glad I never married!”