Youcan’tdohalfthethingsyourselfthatchildreninbooksdo，makingmodelsorsoon。Iwonderwhy？
ALICE。
Ifyoutakeadate’sstoneoutandputinanalmondandeatthemtogether，itisprime。Ifoundthisout。
SUB—EDITOR。
Ifyouputyourwethandintoboilingleaditwillnothurtyouifyoudrawitoutquicklyenough。Ihavenevertriedthis。
DORA。
ThePurringClass（INSTRUCTIVEARTICLE）
IfIeverkeepaschooleverythingshallbequitedifferent。
Nobodyshalllearnanythingtheydon’twantto。Andsometimesinsteadofhavingmastersandmistresseswewillhavecats，andwewilldressupincatskinsandlearnpurring。’Now，mydears，’theoldcatwillsay，one，two，threeallpurrtogether，’andweshallpurrlikeanything。
Shewon’tteachustomew，butweshallknowhowwithoutteaching。
Childrendoknowsomethingswithoutbeingtaught。
ALICE。
Poetry（TRANSLATEDINTOFRENCHBYDORA）
Quandj’etaisjeuneetj’etaisfouJ’achetaiunviolonpourdix—huitsousEttouslesairsquejejouaiEtaitoverthehillsandfaraway。
ANOTHERPIECEOFIT
MerciejolievachequifaitBonlaitpourmondejeunerTouslesmatinstouslessoirsMonpainjemange，tonlaitjeboire。
RecreationsItisamistaketothinkthatcatsareplayful。Ioftentrytogetacattoplaywithme，andsheneverseemstocareaboutthegame，nomatterhowlittleithurts。
H。O。
Makingpotsandpanswithclayisfun，butdonottellthegrown—ups。Itisbettertosurprisethem;andthenyoumustsayatoncehoweasilyitwashesoff—mucheasierthanink。
DICKY。
SamRedfern，ortheBushranger’sBurialBYDICKY
’Well，Annie，Ihavebadnewsforyou，’saidMrRidgway，asheenteredthecomfortabledining—roomofhiscabinintheBush。’SamRedferntheBushrangerisaboutthispartoftheBushjustnow。I
hopehewillnotattackuswithhisgang。’
’Ihopenot，’respondedAnnie，agentlemaidenofsomesixteensummers。
justthencameaknockatthedoorofthehut，andagruffvoiceaskedthemtoopenthedoor。
’ItisSamRedferntheBushranger，father，’saidthegirl。
’Thesame，’respondedthevoice，andthenextmomentthehalldoorwassmashedin，andSamRedfernsprangin，followedbyhisgang。
CHAPTERII
Annie’sFatherwasatonceoverpowered，andAnnieherselflayboundwithcordsonthedrawing—roomsofa。SamRedfernsetaguardroundthelonelyhut，andallhumanaidwasdespairedof。Butyouneverknow。FarawayintheBushadifferentscenewasbeingenacted。
’MustbeInjuns，’saidatallmantohimselfashepushedhiswaythroughthebrushwood。ItwasJimCarlton，thecelebrateddetective。’Iknowthem，’headded;’theyareApaches。’justthentenIndiansinfullwar—paintappeared。Carltonraisedhisrifleandfired，andslingingtheirscalpsonhisarmhehastenedtowardsthehumbleloghutwhereresidedhisaffiancedbride，AnnieRidgway，sometimesknownastheFloweroftheBush。
CHAPTERIII
Themoonwaslowonthehorizon，andSamRedfernwasseatedatadrinkingboutwithsomeofhisbooncompanions。
Theyhadrifledthecellarsofthehut，andtherichwinesflowedlikewaterinthegoldengobletsofMrRidgway。
ButAnniehadmadefriendswithoneofthegang，anoble，good—heartedmanwhohadjoinedSamRedfernbymistake，andshehadtoldhimtogoandgetthepoliceasquicklyaspossible。
’Ha！ha！’criedRedfern，’nowIamenjoyingmyself！’Helittleknewthathisdoomwasnearuponhim。
JustthenAnniegaveapiercingscream，andSamRedferngotup，seizinghisrevolver。’Whoareyou？’hecried，asamanentered。
’IamJimCarlton，thecelebrateddetective，’saidthenewarrival。
SamRedfern’srevolverdroppedfromhisnervelessfingers，butthenextmomenthehadsprunguponthedetectivewiththewell—knownactivityofthemountainsheep，andAnnieshrieked，forshehadgrowntolovetheroughBushranger。
（Tobecontinuedattheendofthepaperifthereisroom。）
ScholasticAnewslateishorridtillitiswashedinmilk。Ilikethegreenspotsonthemtodrawpatternsround。Iknowagoodwaytomakeaslate—pencilsqueak，butIwon’tputitinbecauseIdon’twanttomakeitcommon。SUB—EDITOR。
Peppermintisagreathelpwitharithmetic。TheboywhowassecondintheOxfordLocalalwaysdidit。Hegavemetwo。Theexaminersaidtohim，’Areyoueatingpeppermints？’Andhesaid，’No，Sir。’
Hetoldmeafterwardsitwasquitetrue，becausehewasonlysuckingone。I’mgladIwasn’tasked。Ishouldneverhavethoughtofthat，andIcouldhavehadtosay’Yes。’
OSWALD。
TheWreckofthe’Malabar’
BYNOEL（Authorof’ADreamofAncientAncestors。’）Heisn’treally—butheputitintomakeitseemmorereal。
Hark！whatisthatnoiseofrollingWavesandthunderintheair？
’Tisthedeath—knellofthesailorsAndofficersandpassengersofthegoodshipMalabar。
ItwasafairandlovelynoonWhenthegoodshipputoutofportAndpeoplesaid’ahlittlewethinkHowsoonshewillbetheelements’sport。’
ShewasindeedalovelysightUponthebillowswithsailsspread。
Butthecaptainfoldedhisgloomyarms，Ah—ifshehadbeenalife—boatinstead！
SeethecaptainsternyetgloomyFlingshissonuponarock，HopingthattherehisdarlingboyMayescapethewreck。
AlasinvaintheloudwindsroaredAndnobodywassaved。
ThatwasthewreckoftheMalabar，Thenletustollforthebrave。
NOEL。
GardeningNotesItisuselesstoplantcherry—stonesinthehopeofeatingthefruit，becausetheydon’t！
Alicewon’tlendhergardeningtoolsagain，becausethelasttimeNoelleftthemoutintherain，andIdon’tlikeit。Hesaidhedidn’t。
SeedsandBulbsTheseareusefultoplayatshopwith，untilyouareready。Notatdinner—parties，fortheywillnotgrowunlessuncooked。Potatoesarenotgrownwithseed，butwithchopped—uppotatoes。Appletreesaregrownfromtwigs，whichislesswasteful。
Oaktreescomefromacorns。Everyoneknowsthis。WhenNoelsayshecouldgrowonefromapeachstonewrappedupinoakleaves，heshowsthatheknowsnothingaboutgardeningbutmarigolds，andwhenIpassedbyhisgardenIthoughttheyseemedjustlikeweedsnowtheflowershavebeenpicked。
Aboyoncedaredmetoeatabulb。
Dogsareveryindustriousandfondofgardening。Pincherisalwaysplantingbones，buttheynevergrowup。Therecouldn’tbeabonetree。Ithinkthisiswhatmakeshimbarksounhappilyatnight。
Hehasnevertriedplantingdog—biscuit，butheisfonderofbones，andperhapshewantstobequitesureaboutthemfirst。
SamRedfern，ortheBushranger’sBurialBYDICKY
CHAPTERIVANDLAST
ThiswouldhavebeenajollygoodstoryiftheyhadletmefinishitatthebeginningofthepaperasIwantedto。ButnowIhaveforgottenhowImeantittoend，andIhavelostmybookaboutRedIndians，andallmyBoysofEnglandhavebeensneaked。Thegirlssay’Goodriddance！’soIexpecttheydidit。TheywantmejusttoputinwhichAnniemarried，butIshan’t，sotheywillneverknow。
Wehavenowputeverythingwecanthinkofintothepaper。Ittakesalotofthinkingabout。Idon’tknowhowgrown—upsmanagetowritealltheydo。Itmustmaketheirheadsache，especiallylessonbooks。
Albert—next—dooronlywroteonechapteroftheserialstory，buthecouldhavedonesomemoreifhehadwantedto。Hecouldnotwriteoutanyofthethingsbecausehecannotspell。Hesayshecan，butittakeshimsuchalongtimehemightjustaswellnotbeable。
Thereareoneortwothingsmore。Iamsickofit，butDorasaysshewillwritethemin。
Legalanswerwanted。Aquantityofexcellentstringisofferedifyouknowwhethertherereallyisalawpassedaboutnotbuyinggunpowderunderthirteen。
DICKY。
Thepriceofthispaperisoneshillingeach，andsixpenceextraforthepictureoftheMalabargoingdownwithallhands。Ifwesellonehundredcopieswewillwriteanotherpaper。
Andsowewouldhavedone，butweneverdid。Albert—next—door’sunclegaveustwoshillings，thatwasall。Youcan’trestorefallenfortuneswithtwoshillings！
CHAPTER9
THEG。B。
Beingeditorsisnotthebestwaytowealth。Weallfeelthisnow，andhighwaymenarenotrespectedanymoreliketheyusedtobe。
Iamsurewehadtriedourbesttorestoreourfallenfortunes。Wefelttheirfallverymuch，becauseweknewtheBastableshadbeenrichonce。DoraandOswaldcanrememberwhenFatherwasalwaysbringingnicethingshomefromLondon，andthereusedtobeturkeysandgeeseandwineandcigarscomebythecarrieratChristmas—time，andboxesofcandiedfruitandFrenchplumsinornamentalboxeswithsilkandvelvetandgildingonthem。Theywerecalledprunes，buttheprunesyoubuyatthegrocer’sarequitedifferent。ButnowthereisseldomanythingnicebroughtfromLondon，andtheturkeyandtheprunepeoplehaveforgottenFather’saddress。
’Howcanwerestorethosebeastlyfallenfortunes？’saidOswald。
’We’vetrieddiggingandwritingandprincessesandbeingeditors。’
’Andbeingbandits，’saidH。O。
’Whendidyoutrythat？’askedDoraquickly。’YouknowItoldyouitwaswrong。’
’Itwasn’twrongthewaywedidit，’saidAlice，quickerstill，beforeOswaldcouldsay，’Whoaskedyoutotellusanythingaboutit？’whichwouldhavebeenrude，andheisgladhedidn’t。’WeonlycaughtAlbert—next—door。’
’Oh，Albert—next—door！’saidDoracontemptuously，andIfeltmorecomfortable;forevenafterIdidn’tsay，’Whoaskedyou，andcetera，’IwasafraidDorawasgoingtocomethegoodeldersisteroverus。Shedoesthatajollysighttoooften。
Dickylookedupfromthepaperhewasreadingandsaid，’Thissoundslikely，’andhereadout—
l100securespartnershipinlucrativebusinessforsaleofusefulpatent。l10weekly。Nopersonalattendancenecessary。Jobbins，300，OldStreetRoad。
’Iwishwecouldsecurethatpartnership，’saidOswald。Heistwelve，andaverythoughtfulboyforhisage。
Alicelookedupfromherpainting。Shewastryingtopaintafairyqueen’sfrockwithgreenbice，anditwouldn’trub。Thereissomethingfunnyaboutgreenbice。Itneverwillruboff;nomatterhowexpensiveyourpaintboxis—andevenboilingwaterisverylittleuse。
Shesaid，’Botherthebice！And，Oswald，it’snousethinkingaboutthat。Wherearewetogetahundredpounds？’
’Tenpoundsaweekisfivepoundstous，’Oswaldwenton—hehaddonethesuminhisheadwhileAlicewastalking—’becausepartnershipmeanshalves。Itwouldbel5。’
Noelsatsuckinghispencil—hehadbeenwritingpoetryasusual。
Isawthefirsttwolines—
IwonderwhyGreenBiceIsneververynice。
Suddenlyhesaid，’Iwishafairywouldcomedownthechimneyanddropajewelonthetable—ajewelworthjustahundredpounds。’
’Shemightaswellgiveyouthehundredpoundswhileshewasaboutit，’saidDora。
’Orwhileshewasaboutitshemightaswellgiveusfivepoundsaweek，’saidAlice。’Orfifty，’saidI。’Orfivehundred，’saidDicky。
IsawH。O。openhismouth，andIknewhewasgoingtosay，’Orfivethousand，’soIsaid：
’Well，shewon’tgiveusfivepence，butifyou’donlydoasIamalwayssaying，andrescueawealthyoldgentlemanfromdeadlyperilhewouldgiveusapotofmoney，andwecouldhavethepartnershipandfivepoundsaweek。Fivepoundsaweekwouldbuyagreatmanythings。’
ThenDickysaid，’Whyshouldn’tweborrowit？’Sowesaid，’Whofrom？’andthenhereadthisoutofthepaper—
MONEYPRIVATELYWITHOUTFEEsTHEBONDSTREETBANK
Manager，Z。Rosenbaum。
Advancescashfroml20tol10，000onladies’orgentlemen’snoteofhandalone，withoutsecurity。Nofees。Noinquiries。Absoluteprivacyguaranteed。
’Whatdoesitallmean？’askedH。O。
’Itmeansthatthereisakindgentlemanwhohasalotofmoney，andhedoesn’tknowenoughpoorpeopletohelp，soheputsitinthepaperthathewillhelpthem，bylendingthemhismoney—
that’sit，isn’tit，Dicky？’
DoraexplainedthisandDickysaid，’Yes。’AndH。O。saidhewasaGenerousBenefactor，likeinMissEdgeworth。ThenNoelwantedtoknowwhatanoteofhandwas，andDickyknewthat，becausehehadreaditinabook，anditwasjustalettersayingyouwillpaythemoneywhenyoucan，andsignedwithyourname。
’Noinquiries！’saidAlice。’Oh—Dicky—doyouthinkhewould？’
’Yes，Ithinkso，’saidDicky。’IwonderFatherdoesn’tgotothiskindgentleman。I’veseenhisnamebeforeonacircularinFather’sstudy。’
’Perhapshehas。’saidDora。
Buttherestofusweresurehehadn’t，because，ofcourse，ifhehad，therewouldhavebeenmoremoneytobuynicethings。justthenPincherjumpedupandknockedoverthepainting—water。Heisaverycarelessdog。Iwonderwhypainting—waterisalwayssuchanuglycolour？Doraranforadustertowipeitup，andH。O。
droppeddropsofthewateronhishandsandsaidhehadgottheplague。Soweplayedattheplagueforabit，andIwasanArabphysicianwithabath—towelturban，andcuredtheplaguewithmagicacid—drops。Afterthatitwastimefordinner，andafterdinnerwetalkeditalloverandsettledthatwewouldgoandseetheGenerousBenefactortheverynextday。ButwethoughtperhapstheG。B。—itisshortforGenerousBenefactor—wouldnotlikeitifthereweresomanyofus。Ihaveoftennoticedthatitistheworstofourbeingsix—peoplethinksixagreatmany，whenit’schildren。Thatsentencelookswrongsomehow。Imeantheydon’tmindsixpairsofboots，orsixpoundsofapples，orsixoranges，especiallyinequations，buttheyseemtothinkyououghtnottohavefivebrothersandsisters。OfcourseDickywastogo，becauseitwashisidea。DorahadtogotoBlackheathtoseeanoldlady，afriendofFather’s，soshecouldn’tgo。Alicesaidsheoughttogo，becauseitsaid，’Ladiesandgentlemen，’andperhapstheG。B。
wouldn’tletushavethemoneyunlesstherewerebothkindsofus。
H。O。saidAlicewasn’talady;andshesaidhewasn’tgoing，anyway。Thenhecalledheradisagreeablecat，andshebegantocry。
ButOswaldalwaystriestomakeupquarrels，sohesaid—
’You’relittlesillies，bothofyou！’
AndDorasaid，’Don’tcry，Alice;heonlymeantyouweren’tagrown—uplady。’
ThenH。O。said，’WhatelsedidyouthinkImeant，Disagreeable？’
SoDickysaid，’Don’tbedisagreeableyourself，H。O。Letheraloneandsayyou’resorry，orI’lljollywellmakeyou！’
SoH。O。saidhewassorry。ThenAlicekissedhimandsaidshewassorrytoo;andafterthatH。O。gaveherahug，andsaid，’NowI’mreallyandtrulysorry，’Soitwasallright。
NoelwentthelasttimeanyofuswenttoLondon，sohewasoutofit，andDorasaidshewouldtakehimtoBlackheathifwe’dtakeH。
O。Soasthere’dbeenalittledisagreeablenesswethoughtitwasbettertotakehim，andwedid。Atfirstwethoughtwe’dtearouroldestthingsabitmore，andputsomepatchesofdifferentcoloursonthem，toshowtheG。B。howmuchwewantedmoney。ButDorasaidthatwouldbeasortofcheating，pretendingwewerepoorerthanweare。AndDoraisrightsometimes，thoughsheisoureldersister。
Thenwethoughtwe’dbetterwearourbestthings，sothattheG。B。
mightseeweweren’tsoverypoorthathecouldn’ttrustustopayhismoneybackwhenwehadit。ButDorasaidthatwouldbewrongtoo。Soitcametoourbeingquitehonest，asDorasaid，andgoingjustaswewere，withoutevenwashingourfacesandhands;butwhenIlookedatH。O。inthetrainIwishedwehadnotbeenquitesoparticularlyhonest。
Everyonewhoreadsthisknowswhatitisliketogointhetrain，soIshallnottellaboutit—thoughitwasratherfun，especiallythepartwheretheguardcamefortheticketsatWaterloo，andH。
O。wasundertheseatandpretendedtobeadogwithoutaticket。
WewenttoCharingCross，andwejustwentroundtoWhitehalltoseethesoldiersandthenbyStJames’sforthesamereason—andwhenwe’dlookedintheshopsabitwegottoBrookStreet，BondStreet。Itwasabrassplateonadoornexttoashop—averygrandplace，wheretheysoldbonnetsandhats—allverybrightandsmart，andnoticketsonthemtotellyoutheprice。WerangabellandaboyopenedthedoorandweaskedforMrRosenbaum。Theboywasnotpolite;hedidnotaskusin。SothenDickygavehimhisvisitingcard;itwasoneofFather’sreally，butthenameisthesame，MrRichardBastable，andweotherswroteournamesunderneath。Ihappenedtohaveapieceofpinkchalkinmypocketandwewrotethemwiththat。
Thentheboyshutthedoorinourfacesandwewaitedonthestep。
Butpresentlyhecamedownandaskedourbusiness。SoDickysaid—
’Moneyadvanced，youngshaver！anddon’tbealldayaboutit！’
Andthenhemadeuswaitagain，tillIwasquitestiffinmylegs，butAlicelikeditbecauseoflookingatthehatsandbonnets，andatlastthedooropened，andtheboysaid—
’MrRosenbaumwillseeyou，’sowewipedourfeetonthemat，whichsaidso，andwewentupstairswithsoftcarpetsandintoaroom。
Itwasabeautifulroom。Iwishedthenwehadputonourbestthings，oratleastwashedalittle。Butitwastoolatenow。
Theroomhadvelvetcurtainsandasoft，softcarpet，anditwasfullofthemostsplendidthings。Blackandgoldcabinets，andchina，andstatues，andpictures。Therewasapictureofacabbageandapheasantandadeadharethatwasjustlikelife，andIwouldhavegivenworldstohaveitformyown。ThefurwassonaturalI
shouldneverhavebeentiredoflookingatit;butAlicelikedtheoneofthegirlwiththebrokenjugbest。Thenbesidesthepicturestherewereclocksandcandlesticksandvases，andgiltlooking—glasses，andboxesofcigarsandscentandthingslitteredalloverthechairsandtables。Itwasawonderfulplace，andinthemiddleofallthesplendourwasalittleoldgentlemanwithaverylongblackcoatandaverylongwhitebeardandahookeynose—likeafalcon。Andheputonapairofgoldspectaclesandlookedatusasifheknewexactlyhowmuchourclotheswereworth。
Andthen，whileweelderoneswerethinkinghowtobegin，forwehadallsaid’Goodmorning’aswecamein，ofcourse，H。O。beganbeforewecouldstophim。Hesaid：
’AreyoutheG。B。？’
’Thewhat？’saidthelittleoldgentleman。
’TheG。B。，’saidH。O。，andIwinkedathimtoshutup，buthedidn’tseeme，andtheG。B。did。Hewavedhishandatmetoshutup，soIhadto，andH。O。wenton—’ItstandsforGenerousBenefactor。’
Theoldgentlemanfrowned。Thenhesaid，’YourFathersentyouhere，Isuppose？’
’Nohedidn’t，’saidDicky。’Whydidyouthinkso？’
Theoldgentlemanheldoutthecard，andIexplainedthatwetookthatbecauseFather’snamehappenstobethesameasDicky’s。
’Doesn’theknowyou’vecome？’
’No，’saidAlice，’weshan’ttellhimtillwe’vegotthepartnership，becausehisownbusinessworrieshimagooddealandwedon’twanttobotherhimwithourstillit’ssettled，andthenweshallgivehimhalfourshare。’
Theoldgentlemantookoffhisspectaclesandrumpledhishairwithhishands，thenhesaid，’Thenwhatdidyoucomefor？’
’Wesawyouradvertisement，’Dickysaid，’andwewantahundredpoundsonournoteofhand，andmysistercamesothatthereshouldbebothkindsofus;andwewantittobuyapartnershipwithinthelucrativebusinessforsaleofusefulpatent。Nopersonalattendancenecessary。’
’Idon’tthinkIquitefollowyou，’saidtheG。B。’ButonethingIshouldlikesettledbeforeenteringmorefullyintothematter：
whydidyoucallmeGenerousBenefactor？’
’Well，yousee，’saidAlice，smilingathimtoshowshewasn’tfrightened，thoughIknowreallyshewas，awfully，’wethoughtitwassoverykindofyoutotrytofindoutthepoorpeoplewhowantmoneyandtohelpthemandlendthemyourmoney。’
’Hum！’saidtheG。B。’Sitdown。’
Heclearedtheclocksandvasesandcandlesticksoffsomeofthechairs，andwesatdown。Thechairswerevelvety，withgiltlegs。
Itwaslikeaking’spalace。
’Now，’hesaid，’yououghttobeatschool，insteadofthinkingaboutmoney。Whyaren’tyou？’
WetoldhimthatweshouldgotoschoolagainwhenFathercouldmanageit，butmeantimewewantedtodosomethingtorestorethefallenfortunesoftheHouseofBastable。Andwesaidwethoughtthelucrativepatentwouldbeaverygoodthing。Heaskedalotofquestions，andwetoldhimeverythingwedidn’tthinkFatherwouldmindourtelling，andatlasthesaid—
’Youwishtoborrowmoney。Whenwillyourepayit？’
’Assoonaswe’vegotit，ofcourse，’Dickysaid。
ThentheG。B。saidtoOswald，’Youseemtheeldest，’butI
explainedtohimthatitwasDicky’sidea，somybeingeldestdidn’tmatter。ThenhesaidtoDicky—’Youareaminor，I
presume？’
Dickysaidhewasn’tyet，buthehadthoughtofbeingaminingengineersomeday，andgoingtoKlondike。
’Minor，notminer，’saidtheG。B。’Imeanyou’renotofage？’
’Ishallbeintenyears，though，’saidDicky。
’Thenyoumightrepudiatetheloan，’saidtheG。B。，andDickysaid’What？’
Ofcourseheoughttohavesaid’Ibegyourpardon。Ididn’tquitecatchwhatyousaid’—thatiswhatOswaldwouldhavesaid。Itismorepolitethan’What。’
’Repudiatetheloan，’theG。B—repeated。’Imeanyoumightsayyouwouldnotpaymebackthemoney，andthelawcouldnotcompelyoutodoso。’
’Oh，well，ifyouthinkwe’resuchsneaks，’saidDicky，andhegotupoffhischair。ButtheG。B。said，’Sitdown，sitdown;Iwasonlyjoking。’
Thenhetalkedsomemore，andatlasthesaid—’Idon’tadviseyoutoenterintothatpartnership。It’saswindle。Manyadvertisementsare。AndIhavenotahundredpoundsbymeto—daytolendyou。ButIwilllendyouapound，andyoucanspenditasyoulike。Andwhenyouaretwenty—oneyoushallpaymeback。’
’Ishallpayyoubacklongbeforethat，’saidDicky。’Thanks，awfully！Andwhataboutthenoteofhand？’
’Oh，’saidtheG。B。，’I’lltrusttoyourhonour。Betweengentlemen，youknow—andladies’—hemadeabeautifulbowtoAlice—’awordisasgoodasabond。’
Thenhetookoutasovereign，andhelditinhishandwhilehetalkedtous。Hegaveusalotofgoodadviceaboutnotgoingintobusinesstooyoung，andaboutdoingourlessons—justswattingabit，onourownhook，soasnottobeputinalowformwhenwewentbacktoschool。Andallthetimehewasstrokingthesovereignandlookingatitasifhethoughtitverybeautiful。
Andsoitwas，foritwasanewone。ThenatlasthehelditouttoDicky，andwhenDickyputouthishandforittheG。B。suddenlyputthesovereignbackinhispocket。
’No，’hesaid，’Iwon’tgiveyouthesovereign。I’llgiveyoufifteenshillings，andthisnicebottleofscent。It’sworthfarmorethanthefiveshillingsI’mchargingyouforit。And，whenyoucan，youshallpaymebackthepound，andsixtypercentinterest—sixtypercent，sixtypercent。’
’What’sthat？’saidH。O。
TheG。B。saidhe’dtellusthatwhenwepaidbackthesovereign，butsixtypercentwasnothingtobeafraidof。HegaveDickythemoney。Andtheboywasmadetocallacab，andtheG。B。putusinandshookhandswithusall，andaskedAlicetogivehimakiss，soshedid，andH。O。woulddoittoo，thoughhisfacewasdirtierthanever。TheG。B。paidthecabmanandtoldhimwhatstationtogoto，andsowewenthome。
ThateveningFatherhadaletterbytheseven—o’clockpost。Andwhenhehadreadithecameupintothenursery。Hedidnotlookquitesounhappyasusual，buthelookedgrave。
’You’vebeentoMrRosenbaum’s，’hesaid。
Sowetoldhimallaboutit。Ittookalongtime，andFathersatinthearmchair。Itwasjolly。Hedoesn’toftencomeandtalktousnow。Hehastospendallhistimethinkingabouthisbusiness。
Andwhenwe’dtoldhimallaboutithesaid—
’Youhaven’tdoneanyharmthistime，children;rathergoodthanharm，indeed。MrRosenbaumhaswrittenmeaverykindletter。’
’Isheafriendofyours，Father？’Oswaldasked。
’Heisanacquaintance，’saidmyfather，frowningalittle，’wehavedonesomebusinesstogether。Andthisletter—’hestoppedandthensaid：’No;youdidn’tdoanyharmto—day;butIwantyouforthefuturenottodoanythingsoseriousastotrytobuyapartnershipwithoutconsultingme，that’sall。Idon’twanttointerferewithyourplaysandpleasures;butyouwillconsultmeaboutbusinessmatters，won’tyou？’
Ofcoursewesaidweshouldbedelighted，butthenAlice，whowassittingonhisknee，said，’Wedidn’tliketobotheryou。’
Fathersaid，’Ihaven’tmuchtimetobewithyou，formybusinesstakesmostofmytime。Itisananxiousbusiness—butIcan’tbeartothinkofyourbeingleftallalonelikethis。’
Helookedsosadweallsaidwelikedbeingalone。Andthenhelookedsadderthanever。
ThenAlicesaid，’Wedon’tmeanthatexactly，Father。Itisratherlonelysometimes，sinceMotherdied。’Thenwewereallquietalittlewhile。Fatherstayedwithustillwewenttobed，andwhenhesaidgoodnighthelookedquitecheerful。Sowetoldhimso，andhesaid—’Well，thefactis，thatlettertookaweightoffmymind。’Ican’tthinkwhathemeant—butIamsuretheG。B。wouldbepleasedifhecouldknowhehadtakenaweightoffsomebody’smind。Heisthatsortofman，Ithink。
WegavethescenttoDora。Itisnotquitesuchgoodscentaswethoughtitwouldbe，butwehadfifteenshillings—andtheywereallgood，soistheG。B。
Anduntilthosefifteenshillingswerespentwefeltalmostasjollyasthoughourfortuneshadbeenproperlyrestored。Youdonotnoticeyourgeneralfortunesomuch，aslongasyouhavemoneyinyourpocket。Thisiswhysomanychildrenwithregularpocket—moneyhaveneverfeltittheirdutytoseekfortreasure。
So，perhaps，ournothavingpocket—moneywasablessingindisguise。Butthedisguisewasquiteimpenetrable，likethevillains’inthebooks;anditseemedstillmoresowhenthefifteenshillingswereallspent。ThenatlasttheothersagreedtoletOswaldtryhiswayofseekingfortreasure，buttheywerenotatallkeenaboutit，andmanyaboylessfirmthanOswaldwouldhavechuckedthewholething。ButOswaldknewthataheromustrelyonhimselfalone。Sohestucktoit，andpresentlytheotherssawtheirduty，andbackedhimup。
CHAPTER10
LORDTOTTENHAM
Oswaldisaboyoffirmandunswervingcharacter，andhehadneverwaveredfromhisfirstidea。Hefeltquitecertainthatthebookswereright，andthatthebestwaytorestorefallenfortuneswastorescueanoldgentlemanindistress。Thenhebringsyouupashisownson：butifyoupreferredtogoonbeingyourownfather’ssonIexpecttheoldgentlemanwouldmakeituptoyousomeotherway。
Inthebookstheleastthingdoesit—youputuptherailwaycarriagewindow—oryoupickuphispursewhenhedropsit—oryousayahymnwhenhesuddenlyasksyouto，andthenyourfortuneismade。
Theothers，asIsaid，wereveryslackaboutit，anddidnotseemtocaremuchabouttryingtherescue。Theysaidtherewasn’tanydeadlyperil，andweshouldhavetomakeonebeforewecouldrescuetheoldgentlemanfromit，butOswalddidn’tseethatthatmattered。However，hethoughthewouldtrysomeoftheeasierwaysfirst，byhimself。
Sohewaitedaboutthestation，pullinguprailwaycarriagewindowsforoldgentlemenwholookedlikely—butnothinghappened，andatlasttheporterssaidhewasanuisance。Sothatwasnogo。Nooneeveraskedhimtosayahymn，thoughhehadlearnedaniceshortone，beginning’Neweverymorning’—andwhenanoldgentlemandiddropatwo—shillingpiecejustbyEllis’sthehairdresser’s，andOswaldpickeditup，andwasjustthinkingwhatheshouldsaywhenhereturnedit，theoldgentlemancaughthimbythecollarandcalledhimayoungthief。ItwouldhavebeenveryunpleasantforOswaldifhehadn’thappenedtobeaverybraveboy，andknewthepolicemanonthatbeatverywellindeed。Sothepolicemanbackedhimup，andtheoldgentlemansaidhewassorry，andofferedOswaldsixpence。Oswaldrefuseditwithpolitedisdain，andnothingmorehappenedatall。
WhenOswaldhadtriedbyhimselfandithadnotcomeoff，hesaidtotheothers，’We’rewastingourtime，nottryingtorescuetheoldgentlemanindeadlyperil。Come—buckup！Dolet’sdosomething！’
Itwasdinner—time，andPincherwasgoingroundgettingthebitsofftheplates。Therewereplentybecauseitwascold—muttonday。
AndAlicesaid—
’It’sonlyfairtotryOswald’sway—hehastriedallthethingstheothersthoughtof。Whycouldn’twerescueLordTottenham？’
LordTottenhamistheoldgentlemanwhowalksovertheHeatheverydayinapapercollaratthreeo’clock—andwhenhegetshalfway，ifthereisnooneabout，hechangeshiscollarandthrowsthedirtyoneintothefurze—bushes。
Dickysaid，’LordTottenham’sallright—butwhere’sthedeadlyperil？’
Andwecouldn’tthinkofany。TherearenohighwaymenonBlackheathnow，Iamsorrytosay。AndthoughOswaldsaidhalfofuscouldbehighwaymenandtheotherhalfrescueparty，Dorakeptonsayingitwouldbewrongtobeahighwayman—andsowehadtogivethatup。
ThenAlicesaid，’WhataboutPincher？’
Andweallsawatoncethatitcouldbedone。
Pincherisverywellbred，andhedoesknowoneortwothings，thoughwenevercouldteachhimtobeg。Butifyoutellhimtoholdon—hewilldoit，evenifyouonlysay’Seizehim！’inawhisper。
Sowearrangeditall。Dorasaidshewouldn’tplay;shesaidshethoughtitwaswrong，andsheknewitwassilly—soweleftherout，andshewentandsatinthedining—roomwithagoody—book，soastobeabletosayshedidn’thaveanythingtodowithit，ifwegotintoarowoverit。
AliceandH。O。weretohideinthefurze—bushesjustbywhereLordTottenhamchangeshiscollar，andtheyweretowhisper，’Seizehim！’toPincher;andthenwhenPincherhadseizedLordTottenhamweweretogoandrescuehimfromhisdeadlyperil。Andhewouldsay，’HowcanIrewardyou，mynobleyoungpreservers？’anditwouldbeallright。
SowewentuptotheHeath。Wewereafraidofbeinglate。OswaldtoldtheotherswhatProcrastinationwas—sotheygottothefurze—bushesalittleaftertwoo’clock，anditwasrathercold。
AliceandH。O。andPincherhid，butPincherdidnotlikeitanymorethantheydid，andaswethreewalkedupanddownweheardhimwhining。AndAlicekeptsaying，’Iamsocold！Isn’thecomingyet？’AndH。O。wantedtocomeoutandjumpabouttowarmhimself。
ButwetoldhimhemustlearntobeaSpartanboy，andthatheoughttobeverythankfulhehadn’tgotabeastlyfoxeatinghisinsideallthetime。H。O。isourlittlebrother，andwearenotgoingtoletitbeourfaultifhegrowsupamilksop。Besides，itwasnotreallycold。Itwashisknees—hewearssocks。Sotheystayedwheretheywere。Andatlast，wheneventheotherthreewhowerewalkingaboutwerebeginningtofeelratherchilly，wesawLordTottenham’sbigblackcloakcomingalong，flappinginthewindlikeagreatbird。SowesaidtoAlice—
’Hist！heapproaches。You’llknowwhentosetPincheronbyhearingLordTottenhamtalkingtohimself—healwaysdoeswhileheistakingoffhiscollar。’
Thenwethreewalkedslowlyawaywhistlingtoshowwewerenotthinkingofanything。Ourlipswererathercold，butwemanagedtodoit。
LordTottenhamcamestridingalong，talkingtohimself。PeoplecallhimthemadProtectionist。Idon’tknowwhatitmeans—butIdon’tthinkpeopleoughttocallaLordsuchnames。
Ashepassedushesaid，’Ruinofthecountry，sir！Fatalerror，fatalerror！’AndthenwelookedbackandsawhewasgettingquitenearwherePincherwas，andAliceandH。O。Wewalkedon—sothatheshouldn’tthinkwewerelooking—andinaminuteweheardPincher’sbark，andthennothingforabit;andthenwelookedround，andsureenoughgoodoldPincherhadgotLordTottenhambythetrouserlegandwasholdingonlikebilly—ho，sowestartedtorun。
LordTottenhamhadgothiscollarhalfoff—itwasstickingoutsidewaysunderhisear—andhewasshouting，’Help，help，murder！’
exactlyasifsomeonehadexplainedtohimbeforehandwhathewastodo。Pincherwasgrowlingandsnarlingandholdingon。WhenwegottohimIstoppedandsaid—
’Dicky，wemustrescuethisgoodoldman。’LordTottenhamroaredinhisfury，’Goodoldmanbe—’somethingorothered。’Callthedogoff。’
SoOswaldsaid。’Itisadangeroustask—butwhowouldhesitatetodoanactoftruebravery？’
AndallthewhilePincherwasworryingandsnarling，andLordTottenhamshoutingtoustogetthedogaway。HewasdancingaboutintheroadwithPincherhangingonlikegrimdeath;andhiscollarflappingabout，whereitwasundone。
ThenNoelsaid，’Haste，ereyetitbetoolate。’SoIsaidtoLordTottenham—
’Standstill，agedsir，andIwillendeavourtoalleviateyourdistress。’
Hestoodstill，andIstoopeddownandcaughtholdofPincherandwhispered，’Dropit，sir;dropit！’
SothenPincherdroppedit，andLordTottenhamfastenedhiscollaragain—heneverdoeschangeitifthere’sanyonelooking—andhesaid—
I’mmuchobliged，I’msure。Nastyviciousbrute！Here’ssomethingtodrinkmyhealth。’
ButDickyexplainedthatweareteetotallers，anddonotdrinkpeople’shealths。SoLordTottenhamsaid，’Well，I’mmuchobligedanyway。AndnowIcometolookatyou—ofcourse，you’renotyoungruffians，butgentlemen’ssons，eh？Still，youwon’tbeabovetakingatipfromanoldboy—Iwasn’twhenIwasyourage，’
andhepulledouthalfasovereign。
Itwasverysilly;butnowwe’ddoneitIfeltitwouldbebeastlymeantotaketheoldboy’schinkafterputtinghiminsuchafunk。
Hedidn’tsayanythingaboutbringingusupashisownsons—soI
didn’tknowwhattodo。IletPinchergo，andwasjustgoingtosayhewasverywelcome，andwe’drathernothavethemoney，whichseemedthebestwayoutofit，whenthatbeastlydogspoiledthewholeshow。DirectlyIlethimgohebegantojumpaboutatusandbarkforjoy，andtrytolickourfaces。Hewassoproudofwhathe’ddone。LordTottenhamopenedhiseyesandhejustsaid，’Thedogseemstoknowyou。’
AndthenOswaldsawitwasallup，andhesaid，’Goodmorning，’andtriedtogetaway。ButLordTottenhamsaid—
’Notsofast！’AndhecaughtNoelbythecollar。Noelgaveahowl，andAliceranoutfromthebushes。NoElisherfavourite。
I’msureIdon’tknowwhy。LordTottenhamlookedather，andhesaid—
Sotherearemoreofyou！’AndthenH。O。cameout。
’Doyoucompletetheparty？’LordTottenhamaskedhim。AndH。O。
saidtherewereonlyfiveofusthistime。
LordTottenhamturnedsharpoffandbegantowalkaway，holdingNoelbythecollar。Wecaughtupwithhim，andaskedhimwherehewasgoing，andhesaid，’TothePoliceStation。’SothenIsaidquitepolitely，’Well，don’ttakeNoel;he’snotstrong，andheeasilygetsupset。Besides，itwasn’thisdoing。Ifyouwanttotakeanyonetakeme—itwasmyveryownidea。’
Dickybehavedverywell。Hesaid，’IfyoutakeOswaldI’llgotoo，butdon’ttakeNoel;he’ssuchadelicatelittlechap。’
LordTottenhamstopped，andhesaid，’Youshouldhavethoughtofthatbefore。’NoElwashowlingallthetime，andhisfacewasverywhite，andAlicesaid—
’Oh，doletNoelgo，dear，good，kindLordTottenham;he’llfaintifyoudon’t，Iknowhewill，hedoessometimes。Oh，Iwishwe’dneverdoneit！Dorasaiditwaswrong。’
’Doradisplayedconsiderablecommonsense，’saidLordTottenham，andheletNoelgo。AndAliceputherarmroundNoelandtriedtocheerhimup，buthewasalltrembly，andaswhiteaspaper。ThenLordTottenhamsaid—
’Willyougivemeyourwordofhonournottotrytoescape？’
Sowesaidwewould。
’Thenfollowme，’hesaid，andledthewaytoabench。Weallfollowed，andPinchertoo，withhistailbetweenhislegs—heknewsomethingwaswrong。ThenLordTottenhamsatdown，andhemadeOswaldandDickyandH。O。standinfrontofhim，butheletAliceandNoElsitdown。Andhesaid—
’Yousetyourdogonme，andyoutriedtomakemebelieveyouweresavingmefromit。Andyouwouldhavetakenmyhalf—sovereign。
Suchconductismost—No—youshalltellmewhatitis，sir，andspeakthetruth。’
SoIhadtosayitwasmostungentlemanly，butIsaidIhadn’tbeengoingtotakethehalf—sovereign。
’Thenwhatdidyoudoitfor？’heasked。’Thetruth，mind。’
SoIsaid，’Iseenowitwasverysilly，andDorasaiditwaswrong，butitdidn’tseemsotillwedidit。Wewantedtorestorethefallenfortunesofourhouse，andinthebooksifyourescueanoldgentlemanfromdeadlyperil，hebringsyouupashisownson—
orifyouprefertobeyourfather’sson，hestartsyouinbusiness，sothatyouendinwealthyaffluence;andtherewasn’tanydeadlyperil，sowemadePincherintoone—andso—’IwassoashamedIcouldn’tgoon，foritdidseemanawfullymeanthing。
LordTottenhamsaid—
’Averynicewaytomakeyourfortune—bydeceitandtrickery。I
haveahorrorofdogs。IfI’dbeenaweakmantheshockmighthavekilledme。Whatdoyouthinkofyourselves，eh？’
WewereallcryingexceptOswald，andtheotherssayhewas;andLordTottenhamwenton—’Well，well，Iseeyou’resorry。Letthisbealessontoyou;andwe’llsaynomoreaboutit。I’manoldmannow，butIwasyoungonce。’
ThenAliceslidalongthebenchclosetohim，andputherhandonhisarm：herfingerswerepinkthroughtheholesinherwoollygloves，andsaid，’Ithinkyou’reverygoodtoforgiveus，andwearereallyvery，verysorry。Butwewantedtobelikethechildreninthebooks—onlyweneverhavethechancestheyhave。
Everythingtheydoturnsoutallright。Butwearesorry，very，very。AndIknowOswaldwasn’tgoingtotakethehalf—sovereign。
DirectlyyousaidthataboutatipfromanoldboyIbegantofeelbadinside，andIwhisperedtoH。O。thatIwishedwehadn’t。’
ThenLordTottenhamstoodup，andhelookedliketheDeathofNelson，forheiscleanshavedanditisagoodface，andhesaid—
’Alwaysremembernevertodoadishonourablething，formoneyorforanythingelseintheworld。’
Andwepromisedwewouldremember。Thenhetookoffhishat，andwetookoffours，andhewentaway，andwewenthome。Ineverfeltsocheapinallmylife！Dorasaid，’Itoldyouso，’butwedidn’tmindeventhatsomuch，thoughitwasindeedhardtobear。ItwaswhatLordTottenhamhadsaidaboutungentlemanly。Wedidn’tgoontotheHeathforaweekafterthat;butatlastweallwent，andwewaitedforhimbythebench。WhenhecamealongAlicesaid，’Please，LordTottenham，wehavenotbeenontheHeathforaweek，tobeapunishmentbecauseyouletusoff。Andwehavebroughtyouapresenteachifyouwilltakethemtoshowyouarewillingtomakeitup。’
Hesatdownonthebench，andwegavehimourpresents。Oswaldgavehimasixpennycompass—heboughtitwithmyownmoneyonpurposetogivehim。Oswaldalwaysbuysusefulpresents。TheneedlewouldnotmoveafterI’dhaditadayortwo，butLordTottenhamusedtobeanadmiral，sohewillbeabletomakethatgoallright。Alicehadmadehimashaving—case，witharoseworkedonit。AndH。O。gavehimhisknife—thesameoneheoncecutallthebuttonsoffhisbestsuitwith。Dickygavehimhisprize，NavalHeroes，becauseitwasthebestthinghehad，andNoelgavehimapieceofpoetryhehadmadehimself—
WhensinandshamebowdownthebrowThenpeoplefeeljustlikewedonow。
WearesosorrywithgriefandpainWeneverwillbesoungentlemanlyagain。
LordTottenhamseemedverypleased。Hethankedus，andtalkedtousforabit，andwhenhesaidgood—byehesaid—
’All’sfairweathernow，mates，’andshookhands。
Andwheneverwemeethimhenodstous，andifthegirlsarewithushetakesoffhishat，sohecan’treallybegoingonthinkingusungentlemanlynow。
CHAPTER11
CASTILIANAMOROSO
OnedaywhenwesuddenlyfoundthatwehadhalfacrownwedecidedthatwereallyoughttotryDicky’swayofrestoringourfallenfortuneswhileyetthedeedwasinourpower。Becauseitmighteasilyhavehappenedtousnevertohavehalfacrownagain。Sowedecidedtodallynolongerwithbeingjournalistsandbanditsandthingslikethem，buttosendforsampleandinstructionshowtoearntwopoundsaweekeachinoursparetime。Wehadseentheadvertisementinthepaper，andwehadalwayswantedtodoit，butwehadneverhadthemoneytosparebefore，somehow。Theadvertisementsays：’Anyladyorgentlemancaneasilyearntwopoundsaweekintheirsparetime。Sampleandinstructions，twoshillings。Packedfreefromobservation。’Agooddealofthehalf—crownwasDora’s。Itcamefromhergodmother;butshesaidshewouldnotmindlettingDickyhaveitifhewouldpayherbackbeforeChristmas，andifweweresureitwasrighttotrytomakeourfortunethatway。Ofcoursethatwasquiteeasy，becauseoutoftwopoundsaweekinyoursparetimeyoucaneasilypayallyourdebts，andhavealmostasmuchleftasyoubeganwith;andastotherightwetoldhertodryup。
Dickyhadalwaysthoughtthatthiswasreallythebestwaytorestoreourfallenfortunes，andweweregladthatnowhehadachanceoftryingbecauseofcoursewewantedthetwopoundsaweekeach，andbesides，wewererathertiredofDicky’salwayssaying，whenourwaysdidn’tturnoutwell，’Whydon’tyoutrythesampleandinstructionsaboutoursparetime？’
Whenwefoundoutaboutourhalf—crownwegotthepaper。NoElwasplayingadmiralsinit，buthehadmadethecockedhatwithouttearingthepaper，andwefoundtheadvertisement，anditsaidjustthesameasever。Sowegotatwo—shillingpostalorderandastamp，andwhatwasleftofthemoneyitwasagreedwewouldspendinginger—beertodrinksuccesstotrade。
WegotsomenicepaperoutofFather’sstudy，andDickywrotetheletter，andweputinthemoneyandputonthestamp，andmadeH。
O。postit。Thenwedranktheginger—beer，andthenwewaitedforthesampleandinstructions。Itseemedalongtimecoming，andthepostmangotquitetiredofusrunningoutandstoppinghiminthestreettoaskifithadcome。
Butonthethirdmorningitcame。Itwasquitealargeparcel，anditwaspacked，astheadvertisementsaiditwouldbe，’freefromobservation。’Thatmeansitwasinabox;andinsidetheboxwassomestiffbrownycardboard，crinkledlikethegalvanizedirononthetopsofchicken—houses，andinsidethatwasalotofpaper，someofitprintedandsomescrappy，andintheverymiddleofitallabottle，notverylarge，andblack，andsealedonthetopofthecorkwithyellowsealing—wax。
Welookedatitasitlayonthenurserytable，andwhilealltheothersgrabbedatthepaperstoseewhattheprintingsaid，Oswaldwenttolookforthecorkscrew，soastoseewhatwasinsidethebottle。Hefoundthecorkscrewinthedresserdrawer—italwaysgetsthere，thoughitissupposedtobeinthesideboarddrawerinthedining—room—andwhenhegotbacktheothershadreadmostoftheprintedpapers。
’Idon’tthinkit’smuchgood，andIdon’tthinkit’squitenicetosellwine，’Dorasaid’andbesides，it’snoteasytosuddenlybegintosellthingswhenyouaren’tusedtoit。’
’Idon’tknow，’saidAlice;’IbelieveIcould。’Theyalllookedratherdowninthemouth，though，andOswaldaskedhowyouweretomakeyourtwopoundsaweek。
’Why，you’vegottogetpeopletotastethatstuffinthebottle。
It’ssherry—CastilianAmorosoitsnameis—andthenyougetthemtobuyit，andthenyouwritetothepeopleandtellthemtheotherpeoplewantthewine，andthenforeverydozenyousellyougettwoshillingsfromthewinepeople，soifyouselltwentydozenaweekyougetyourtwopounds。Idon’tthinkweshallsellasmuchasthat，’saidDicky。
’Wemightnotthefirstweek，’Alicesaid，’butwhenpeoplefoundouthowniceitwas，theywouldwantmoreandmore。Andifweonlygottenshillingsaweekitwouldbesomethingtobeginwith，wouldn’tit？’
Oswaldsaidheshouldjollywellthinkitwould，andthenDickytookthecorkoutwiththecorkscrew。Thecorkbrokeagooddeal，andsomeofthebitswentintothebottle。Doragotthemedicineglassthathastheteaspoonsandtablespoonsmarkedonit，andweagreedtohaveateaspoonfuleach，toseewhatitwaslike。
’Noonemusthavemorethanthat，’Dorasaid，’howeverniceitis。’
Dorabehavedratherasifitwereherbottle。Isupposeitwas，becauseshehadlentthemoneyforit。
ThenshemeasuredOuttheteaspoonful，andshehadfirstgo，becauseofbeingtheeldest。Weaskedatoncewhatitwaslike，butDoracouldnotspeakjustthen。
Thenshesaid，’It’slikethetonicNoelhadinthespring;butperhapssherryoughttobelikethat。’
ThenitwasOswald’sturn。Hethoughtitwasveryburny;buthesaidnothing。Hewantedtoseefirstwhattheotherswouldsay。
Dickysaidhiswassimplybeastly，andAlicesaidNoelcouldtastenextifheliked。
Noelsaiditwasthegoldenwineofthegods，buthehadtoputhishandkerchiefuptohismouthallthesame，andIsawthefacehemade。
ThenH。O。hadhis，andhespatitoutinthefire，whichwasveryrudeandnasty，andwetoldhimso。
ThenitwasAlice’sturn。Shesaid，’Onlyhalfatea—spoonfulforme，Dora。Wemustn’tuseitallup。’Andshetasteditandsaidnothing。
ThenDickysaid：’Lookhere，Ichuckthis。I’mnotgoingtohawkroundsuchbeastlystuff。Anyonewholikescanhavethebottle。
Quis？’
AndAlicegotout’Ego’beforetherestofus。Thenshesaid，’I
knowwhat’sthematterwithit。Itwantssugar。’
Andatonceweallsawthatthatwasalltherewasthematterwiththestuff。Sowegottwolumpsofsugarandcrusheditonthefloorwithoneofthebigwoodenbrickstillitwaspowdery，andmixeditwithsomeofthewineuptothetablespoonmark，anditwasquitedifferent，andnotnearlysonasty。
’Youseeit’sallrightwhenyougetusedtoit，’Dickysaid。I
thinkhewassorryhehadsaid’Quis？’insuchahurry。
’Ofcourse，’Alicesaid，’it’sratherdusty。Wemustcrushthesugarcarefullyincleanpaperbeforeweputitinthebottle。’
Dorasaidshewasafraiditwouldbecheatingtomakeonebottlenicerthanwhatpeoplewouldgetwhentheyorderedadozenbottles，butAlicesaidDoraalwaysmadeafussabouteverything，andreallyitwouldbequitehonest。
’Yousee，’shesaid，’Ishalljusttellthem，quitetruthfully，whatwehavedonetoit，andwhentheirdozenscometheycandoitforthemselves。’
Sothenwecrushedeightmorelumps，verycleanlyandcarefullybetweennewspapers，andshookitupwellinthebottle，andcorkeditupwithascrewofpaper，brownandnotnews，forfearofthepoisonousprintinginkgettingwetanddrippingdownintothewineandkillingpeople。WemadePincherhaveataste，andhesneezedforeversolong，andafterthatheusedtogounderthesofawheneverweshowedhimthebottle。
ThenweaskedAlicewhoshewouldtryandsellitto。Shesaid：’I
shallaskeverybodywhocomestothehouse。Andwhilewearedoingthat，wecanbethinkingofoutsidepeopletotakeitto。Wemustbecareful：there’snotmuchmorethanhalfofitleft，evencountingthesugar。’
WedidnotwishtotellEliza—Idon’tknowwhy。Andsheopenedthedoorveryquicklythatday，sothattheTaxesandamanwhocametoourhousebymistakefornextdoorgotawaybeforeAlicehadachancetotrythemwiththeCastilianAmoroso。ButaboutfiveElizaslippedoutforhalfanhourtoseeafriendwhowasmakingherahatforSunday，andwhileshewasgonetherewasaknock。Alicewent，andwelookedoverthebanisters。Whensheopenedthedoor，shesaidatonce，’Willyouwalkin，please？’
Thepersonatthedoorsaid，’IcalledtoseeyourPa，miss。Isheathome？’
Alicesaidagain，’Willyouwalkin，please？’
Thentheperson—itsoundedlikeaman—said，’Heisin，then？’
ButAliceonlykeptonsaying，’Willyouwalkin，please？’soatlastthemandid，rubbinghisbootsveryloudlyonthemat。
ThenAliceshutthefrontdoor，andwesawthatitwasthebutcher，withanenvelopeinhishand。Hewasnotdressedinblue，likewhenheiscuttingupthesheepandthingsintheshop，andheworeknickerbockers。Alicesayshecameonabicycle。Sheledthewayintothedining—room，wheretheCastilianAmorosobottleandthemedicineglasswerestandIngonthetableallready。
Theothersstayedonthestairs，butOswaldcreptdownandlookedthroughthedoor—crack。
’Pleasesitdown，’saidAlicequitecalmly，thoughshetoldmeafterwardsIhadnoideahowsillyshefelt。Andthebutchersatdown。ThenAlicestoodquitestillandsaidnothing，butshefiddledwiththemedicineglassandputthescrewofbrownpaperstraightintheCastilianbottle。
’WillyoutellyourPaI’dlikeawordwithhim？’thebutchersaid，whenhegottiredofsayingnothing。
’He’llbeinverysoon，Ithink，’Alicesaid。
Andthenshestoodstillagainandsaidnothing。Itwasbeginningtolookveryidioticofher，andH。O。laughed。Iwentbackandcuffedhimforitquitequietly，andIdon’tthinkthebutcherheard。
ButAlicedid，anditrousedherfromherstupor。Shespokesuddenly，veryfastindeed—sofastthatIknewshehadmadeupwhatshewasgoingtosaybefore。Shehadgotmostofitoutofthecircular。
Shesaid，’IwanttocallyourattentiontoasampleofsherrywineIhavehere。ItiscalledCastiliansomethingorother，andatthepriceitisunequalledforflavourandbouquet。’
Thebutchersaid，’Well—Inever！’
AndAlicewenton，’Wouldyouliketotasteit？’
’Thankyouverymuch，I’msure，miss，’saidthebutcher。
Alicepouredsomeout。
Thebutchertastedaverylittle。Helickedhislips，andwethoughthewasgoingtosayhowgooditwas。Buthedidnot。Heputdownthemedicineglasswithnearlyallthestuffleftinit（weputitbackinthebottleafterwardstosavewaste）andsaid，’Excuseme，miss，butisn’titalittlesweet？—forsherryI
mean？’
’Therealisn’t，’saidAlice。’Ifyouorderadozenitwillcomequitedifferenttothat—welikeitbestwithsugar。Iwishyouwouldordersome。’Thebutcheraskedwhy。
Alicedidnotspeakforaminute，andthenshesaid—
’Idon’tmindtellingyou：youareinbusinessyourself，aren’tyou？Wearetryingtogetpeopletobuyit，becauseweshallhavetwoshillingsforeverydozenwecanmakeanyonebuy。It’scalledapurrsomething。’
’Apercentage。Yes，Isee，’saidthebutcher，lookingattheholeinthecarpet。
’Youseetherearereasons，Alicewenton，’whywewanttomakeourfortunesasquicklyaswecan。’
’Quiteso，’saidthebutcher，andhelookedattheplacewherethepaperiscomingoffthewall。
’Andthisseemsagoodway，’Alicewenton。’Wepaidtwoshillingsforthesampleandinstructions，anditsaysyoucanmaketwopoundsaweekeasilyinyourleisuretime。’
’I’msureIhopeyoumay，miss，’saidthebutcher。AndAlicesaidagainwouldhebuysome？
’Sherryismyfavouritewine，’hesaid。Aliceaskedhimtohavesomemoretodrink。