.

"I think," said Bellew, as he lay, and puffed at his pipe again, "I
think I'll call you Porges, it's shorter, easier, and I think,
altogether apt; I'll be Big Porges, and you shall be Small Porges,--what
do you say?"

"Yes, it's lots better than Georgy Porgy," nodded the boy. And so Small
Porges he became, thenceforth. "But," said he, after a thoughtful pause,
"I think, if you don't mind, I'd rather call you----Uncle Porges. You
see, Dick Bennet--the black-smith's boy, has three uncles an' I've only
got a single aunt,--so, if you don't mind--"

"Uncle Porges it shall be, now and for ever, Amen!" murmured Bellew.

"An' when d'you s'pose we'd better start?" enquired Small Porges,
beginning to re-tie his bundle.

"Start where, nephew?"

"To find the fortune."

"Hum!" said Bellew.

"If we could manage to find some,--even if it was only a very little, it
would cheer her up so."

"To be sure it would," said Bellew, and, sitting up, he pitched loaf,
cheese, and clasp-knife back into the knap-sack, fastened it, slung it
upon his shoulders, and rising, took up his stick.

"Come on, my Porges," said he, "and, whatever you do--keep your 'weather
eye' on your uncle."

"Where do you s'pose we'd better look first?" enquired Small Porges,
eagerly.

"Why, first, I think we'd better find your Auntie Anthea."

"But,--" began Porges, his face falling.

"But me no buts, my Porges," smiled Bellew, laying his hand upon his
new-found nephew's shoulder, "but me no buts, boy, and, as I said
before,--just keep your eye on your uncle."

CHAPTER V

_How Bellew came to Arcadia_

So, they set out together, Big Porges and Small Porges, walking side by
side over sun-kissed field and meadow, slowly and thoughtfully, to be
sure, for Bellew disliked hurry; often pausing to listen to the music of
running waters, or to stare away across the purple valley, for the sun
was getting low. And, ever as they went, they talked to one another
whole-heartedly as good friends should.

And, from the boy's eager lips, Bellew heard much of "Auntie Anthea,"
and learned, little by little, something of the brave fight she had
made, lonely and unaided, and burdened with ancient debt, to make the
farm of Dapplemere pay. Likewise Small Porges spoke learnedly of the
condition of the markets, and of the distressing fall in prices in
regard to hay, and wheat.

"Old Adam,--he's our man, you know, he says that farming isn't what it
was in his youn