“Oh, never mind, we can go shares sometimes, if you like, you know,” said he, not without an effort.
“I don’t want your watch,” was Master Halliday’s somewhat ungracious reply. “Let’s have a look at it, will you?”
He took me, and examined me; and evidently would not have objected to be the possessor of a watch himself, though he tried to make it appear it was a matter of indifference to him.
“Why don’t you get your father to give you one?” asked Charlie innocently.
“Because I haven’t got a father.”
“Not got a father! Oh, I am sorry!” and the starting tears in the little fellow’s eyes testified only too truly to his sincerity. “Look here,” he added, “do take the watch, please; perhaps you would like it, and my father would give me another.”
Joe Halliday gazed at his young fag in amazement.
“Why, you are a queer chap,” he said. “I wouldn’t take your watch for anything; but I tell you what, I’ll ask you the time whenever I want to know.”
“Will you really?” cried the delighted Charlie. “How jolly!”
“And look here,” continued Halliday, “take my advice, and don’t go offering your watch to everybody who hasn’t got a father, or some of them might take you at your word, and then you’d look foolish. Come along now.”