"I've bin beat," he whispered.
"Why, what had you done?"
"I thrown a stwun at Earny Mustoe akez 'e did call oi 'Jemima,' and it did break 's mother's windy."
"Is he bigger than you?"
"Yes, 'e be noine!"
"Then why didn't you go for him and hit him? You couldn't break any windows that way, and it would teach him better manners."
Jethro stared in astonishment at this war-like lady.
"But 'e be ever so much bigger nor me," he exclaimed, "and I be allays beat aterwards"; then, remembering his woes, "and it do 'urt so, it do," and Jethro began to wail again.
Mary gathered the woebegone little figure into her arms and sat down on the floor, saying cheerfully:
"Cheer up, old chap; I'll pay for that window, and you mustn't throw any more stones; and don't cry any more, and we'll have ever such nice times while I'm here."