William met Mr. French’s eye across the table and Mr. French blushed.
“No, not a bit like that,” said William.
When pressed, he admitted having gone to the fair.
“Someone gave me half-a-crown,” he excused himself plaintively. “I jus’ had to go somewhere.”
“It’s perfectly absurd of people,” said Mrs. Brown indignantly, “to give large sums of money to a boy of William’s age. It always ends this way. People ought to know better.”
As they passed out from the supper-table, William whispered hoarsely to Mr. French:
“It was the half-crown what you give me.”
“Don’t tell them,” whispered Mr. French desperately.
“What’ll you give me not to?”
Furtively Mr. French pressed a two-shilling piece into his hand.