"Sartin! sartin!" said Ducklow.
"To be sure!" said Mrs. Ducklow.
"We designed 'em for his benefit, a surprise, when the right time come," said both together.
"Hem! well!" (It was evident that the Beswick was clearing her decks for action.) "When the right time come! yes! That right time wasn't somethin' indefinite, in the fur futur', of course! Yer losin' the bonds didn't hurry up yer benevolence the least grain, I s'pose! Hem! let in them boys, Sophrony!"
Sophronia opened the door, and in walked Master Dick Atkins, (son of the brush-burner,) followed, not without reluctance and concern, by Master Taddy.
"Thaddeus! what you here for?" demanded the adopted parents.
"Because I said so," remarked Miss Beswick, arbitrarily. "Step along, boys, step along. Hold up yer head, Taddy, for ye a'n't goin' to be hurt while I'm around. Take yer fists out o' yer eyes, and stop blubberin'. Mr. Ducklow, that boy knows somethin' about Reuben's cowpon bonds."
"Thaddeus!" ejaculated both Ducklows at once, "did you touch them bonds?"
"Didn't know what they was!" whimpered Taddy.
"Did you take them?" And the female Ducklow grasped his shoulder.