Ben laughed, then put out his hand and gathered up the thin nervous fingers.
"You can grin," said Pickering, as he moved off, "but I tell you it's no laughing matter, Ben Pepper. You'd much better shake off that leech while you can."
Meantime Joel had been making little runs around the group of which Ben was the centre; each step that he took nearer Pip he would dart off again in the opposite direction, only to think better of it and plunge up once more. On one such occasion he caught Ben's blue eyes fixed upon him reproachfully.
"Oh, I say, Pip," screamed Joel, prancing up, "come with me, I've lots to show you."
For answer he got a grimace done in Pip's best style, who crowded closer to Ben than before.
"You needn't then," said Joel, in a small passion. "Hoh! I don't really want you, only—"
"Joel!" said Ben.
"Well, he's a—a—"
"Joel!" Ben said it again. "Come, Pip, with me," and the two turned off.
"Ben," screamed Joel, in a dreadful voice, and dashing after him to seize his jacket-end. "Oh, I won't—I will, Ben, I'll be good."