"
"A corner cupboard!" I gasped. "You have the corner cupboard?"
Mr. Goodfellow nodded. "I took it home unbeknowns to the old man.
Many a time he'd spoken to me about repairin' it, the upper hinge
bein' cracked, as you may remember. But when it came to handin' it
over I could never get him. So that afternoon, the coast bein' clear
and him sitting drunk in the Plume o' Feathers, as again you will
remember--"
But here Miss Belcher shot out a hand and gripped my collar to steady
me as I reeled. I dare say that hunger and lack of sleep had much to
do with my giddiness; at any rate, the grassy slope had begun all of
a sudden to heave and whirl at my feet.
"Drat the boy! _He's_ beginning now!"
"Take me home," I implored her, stammering. "Please, Miss Belcher!"
"Now, I'll lay three to one," said Miss Belcher, holding me off and
regarding me, "that no one has thought of giving this child an honest
breakfast. And"--she turned on Mr. Jack Rogers--"you call yourself a
justice of the peace!"
CHAPTER XIV.
HOW I BROKE OUT THE BED ENSIGN.
We were seated in council in the little parlour of Minden Cottage--
Miss Belcher, Miss Plinlimmon, Mr. Jack Rogers, Mr. Goodfellow, and
I. Mr.
Pages:
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133