William pondered deeply. His most guileless and innocent expression came to his face.
“No,” he said at last. “No, Ethel, I didn’t see nobody.”
William coughed and discreetly withdrew.
That evening he settled down at the library table, spreading out his books around him, a determined frown upon his small face.
His father was sitting in an armchair by the window reading the evening paper.
“Father,” said William suddenly, “s’pose I came to you an’ said you was to give me a hundred pounds an’ I’d give you five pounds next year an’ so on, would you give it me?”
“I should not, my son,” said his father firmly.
William sighed.
“I knew there was something wrong with it,” he said.
Mr. Brown returned to the leading article, but not for long.