have known other boys
think and talk in a similar way.

I went to the fence, and stood leaning over it, feeling more out of
humour than ever, and I hit viciously at a fly or two which settled upon
me.

Pomp was watching me all the time in a half puzzled way, and at last he
broke out with--

"Mass' George."

"Don't bother!"

Pomp drew back, took out the knife I had given him, picked up a piece of
wood and began to cut it, while I stood kicking at the fence, and
watching Morgan and old Vanity, as I mentally called him, busy at work
cutting down the former's deadly enemies, the weeds.

"Say, Mass' George."

"Don't bother, I tell you," I cried viciously; and there was another
pause, during which Pomp made a low whistling noise, which was not such
a very bad imitation of the bobolink.

But Pomp could not be quiet long, and he broke out again with--

"Mass' George."

I turned fiercely round to see that his black face was full of
animation, and eyes and lips bright with mischievous glee, all of which
annoyed me the more, for what business had he to be happy when I was so
disappointed, out of humour, and miserable?

"Be off! Why don't you go to work, sir?"

"Won't Mass' George come in de wood?"

"No. Be off!"

"Pomp come and have a 'wim 'long o' Mass' George?"

"No, you won't. Be off; I don't want you."

The boy looked at me aghast, and his thick lower lip worked.

"Mass' George get tire poor old Pomp?"

"Yes. Be off!"

"Mass' George send poor old Pomp 'way?"

"Yes. Don't bother. Can't you see I don't want you?"

"Wugh!" Pomp threw himself down on his face, and rested his forehead on
his crossed arms.

"Don't do that," I said. "Get up, and be off, or I shall kick you."

The boy sprang up with his eyes flashing, but they were full of tears,
and this gave me satisfaction, for I was in that absurd state of mind
when one likes to make others feel as uncomfortable as oneself.

"Mass' George want poor ole Pomp to go away?"

"Yes," I cried; "and don't be so idiotic, you miserable little nigger,
calling yourself `poor ole Pomp!'"

"Mass' George break poor ole Pomp heart."

"I'll break poor ole Pomp's head if he bothers me any more," I cried,
sulkily, as I once more leaned over the fence and began kicking off some
of the dry mud which still adhered, though the leafage above it was
clear and green.

I heard Pomp draw in his breath hard, and he gave his bare foot a stamp
on the ground.

"Yo