"What, in there?" inquired snub-nose amazedly. "But ain't there gunpowder inside?"
"Shove 'em in, they won't hurt it."
"Won't it explode?"
"Not unless a spark from your eyes catches it."
The nursery-maid timidly lifted the brightly-polished lid of the cartridge-box, peeping half up at the soldier to see if he meant to frighten her, and at the same time gazing curiously at the many funny round little things in the cartridge-box, at which she pretended to be desperately afraid.
The gallant soldier was in duty bound not to move his hand, but he so far relaxed as to allow the tips of two of his fingers to crook downwards and give the plump round arm of the wench a good tweak.
"Be off with you, I'm afraid you're a bad man after all, Mr. Soldier!"
"I fancy I am too, otherwise I suppose there would not have been so much of me—little and good you know!"
"Do you know why the cook sent you those cakes?"
"That I may eat them instead of you, I suppose."