ssus."

"Come an' help me out, this minute!" exclaimed the old lady, stamping
her foot.

"Lor', missus, you'll whip me. You said you would."

"So I will, I vum," retorted the irate old lady, rather
undiplomatically. "As true as I live, I'll whip you till you can't
stan'."

As she spoke, she brandished her umbrella in a menacing manner.

"Den, missus, I guess you'd better stay where you is."

"Oh, you imp. See ef I don't have you put in jail. Here, you, Sam
Thompson, come and help me out. Ef you don't, I'll tell your mother, an'
she'll give you the wust lickin' you ever had. I'm surprised at you."

"You won't tell on me, will you?" said Sam, irresolutely.

"I'll see about it," said the old lady, in a politic tone.

She felt her powerlessness, and that concession must precede victory.

"Then, give me the umbrella," said Sam, who evidently distrusted her.

"You'll run off with it," said Mrs. Payson suspiciously.

"No, I won't."

"Well, there 'tis."

"Come here, Pomp, and help me," said Sam.

Pomp held aloof.

"She'll whip me," he said, shaking his head. "She's an old debble."

"Oh, you--you sarpint!" ejaculated the old lady, almost speechless with
indignation.

"You can run away as soon as she gets out," suggested Sam.

Pomp advanced slowly and warily, rolling his eyes in indecision.

"Jest catch hold of my hands, both on ye," said Mrs. Payson, "an' I'll
give a jump."

These directions were followed, and the old lady rose to the surface,
when, in an evil hour, intent upon avenging herself upon Pomp, she made
a clutch for his collar. In doing so she lost her footing and fell back
into the pit from which she had just emerged. Her spectacles dropped
off and, falling beneath her, were broken.

She rose, half-provoked and half-ashamed of her futile attempt. It was
natural that neither of these circumstances should effect an improvement
in her temper.

"You did it a purpose," she said, shaking her fist at Pomp, who stood
about a rod off, grinning at her discomfiture. "There, I've gone an'
broke my specs, that I bought two years ago, come fall, of a pedler.
I'll make you pay for 'em."

"Lor', missus, I ain't got no money," said Pomp. "Nebber had none."

Unfortunately for the old lady, it was altogether probable that Pomp
spoke the truth this time.

"Three and sixpence gone!" groaned Mrs. Payson. "Fust my bunnit, an'
then my specs. I'm the most unfort'nit' crittur. Why don't you help
me, Sam Thomp