“Is this yours?” asked the elder brother.
“Yes; did Mr Cripps send it?”
“Mr Cripps the lock-keeper?”
“No, his son. He said he would get it for me. I say, is that a good bat, Oliver?”
“Nothing out of the way. But, I say, young ’un, how much have you given for it?”
“Not anything yet. Mr Cripps said I could pay in June, when I get my next pocket-money.”
“What on earth has he to do with when you get your pocket-money?” demanded Oliver. “Who is this young Cripps? He’s a cad, isn’t he?”
“He seemed a very nice man,” said Stephen.
“Well, look here! the less you have to do with men like him the better. What is the price of the bat?”
“I don’t know; it’s one Mr Cripps had himself when he was a boy. He says it’s a beauty! I say, it looks as good as new, Oliver.”