no second invitation. He jumped into the carriage, and was
more leisurely followed by Frank and his mother.

It was probably the first time that Pomp had ever been in a covered
carriage, and consequently the novelty of his situation put him in high
spirits.

He was anxious to drive, and Frank, to gratify him, placed the reins
in his hands. His eyes sparkling with delight, and his expanded mouth
showing a full set of ivories, Pomp shook the reins in glee, shouting
out, "Hi, go along there, you ol' debble!"

"Pomp, you mustn't use that word," said Mrs. Frost reprovingly.

"What word, missus?" demanded Pomp innocently.

"The last word you used," she answered.

"Don't 'member what word you mean, missus," said Pomp. "Hi, you debble!"

"That's the word?"

"Not say 'debble'?" said Pomp wonderingly. "Why not, missus?"

"It isn't a good word."

"Mammy says 'debble.' She calls me little debble when I run away, and
don't tote in de wood."

"I shall tell her not to use it. It isn't a good word for anybody to
use."

"Hope you'll tell her so, missus," said Pomp, grinning and showing his
teeth. "Wheneber she calls me little debble she pulls off her shoe and
hits me. Hurts like de debble. Mebbe she won't hit me if you tell her
not to say 'debble.'"

Mrs. Frost could hardly forbear laughing. She managed, however, to
preserve a serious countenance while she said, "You must take care to
behave well, and then she won't have to punish you."

It is somewhat doubtful whether Pomp heard this last remark. He espied a
pig walking by the side of the road, and was seized with a desire to run
over it. Giving the reins a sudden twitch, he brought the carriage round
so that it was very near upsetting in a gully.

Frank snatched the reins in time to prevent this catastrophe.

"What did you do that for, Pomp?" he said quickly.

"Wanted to scare de pig," exclaimed Pomp, laughing. "Wanted to hear him
squeal."

"And so you nearly tipped us over."

"Didn't mean to do dat, Mass' Frank. 'Pears like I didn't think."

Mrs. Frost was too much alarmed by this narrow escape to consent to
Pomp's driving again, and for the moment felt as if she should like to
usurp his mother's privilege of spanking him. But the little imp looked
so unconscious of having done anything wrong that her vexation soon
passed away.

In half an hour Pomp was on his way back, laden with a basketful of
provisions for his sick mother and himself.

CHAPTER XI.