"Don't you remember me, Peggy?" asked Lyman, sinking with rare courage into a chair which cracked under his weight.
"No, sir, I don't. If I had my glasses, perhaps——"
"I see you've got company, Peggy," continued Lyman, with a significant look at Tim. "I would like to speak to you alone. It'll be to your advantage, mind," he added, detecting a suspicious look on the old woman's face. "Just send the two boys out to play, and we'll speak together."
"First, hand over what money you've got, Jack," said Peggy. "I ain't goin' to have you wastin' it outside. Let me see your matches! How many boxes did you sell?"
"Five," answered Johnny.
"Only five!" exclaimed the old woman, holding up her hands. "You were playin' in the strates, I'll be bound!"
"No, I wasn't, Aunt Peggy. I tried to sell more, but——"
"Oh, yes, I understand! And you'd done so well you thought you'd buy yourself a dinner off my money. Come here and let me shake you!"
"Tim told you!" said the little boy, with a reproachful look at his betrayer.
"Yes, he told me, and he was a good bye for doin' it."