ey all leaned
over the gate one sunny afternoon,--an afternoon on which even Lizzie's
sunny temper had almost given way, for both boys were in an especially
teasing mood, and had brought tears very near her blue eyes more than
once. "Don't they look heavy?" he went on. "My! He's got carrots and
ripe apples in one. All ours are as hard as wood."

"Going to take them up to the house, Tom?"

"Not to yours, Master Ned," Tom answered, setting down his baskets and
resting on a low wall. "This one is for you; but this one, with the
apples, is for Mrs. Veale."

George looked at the baskets. "It is very hot, and you look tired right
out," he said. "Suppose you leave Mrs. Veale's basket here while you
take ours."

Tom Crippy agreed at once, and gladly made his way up to the house with
his lightened load, Ned shouting after him, "I say, Tom, you may as well
spare us an apple when you come back!"

"Wouldn't it be fun to hide his basket?" Ned went on; but, having
offered to take care of it, both boys dismissed the idea as _mean_.

"Now for the apple," they said, when he returned.

In vain Tom protested, "I never promised it. It isn't mine to give! not
even father's! Mrs. Veale has bought and paid for these apples."

George would have let him go after a bit; but Ned was somewhat greedy,
and hankered after the apple, as well as after what he called a bit of
_fun_.

"Well, it won't be more than a mouthful apiece," said Tom, at last.
"Who'll have first bite?" and he took a ripe, red apple from the basket.

"I," cried Ned at once.

"Well!" said Tom, "I should have thought you would have let the little
lady!"

He looked at George, who at once blinded Ned's eyes. Widely, eagerly, he
opened his mouth, to close his teeth upon--a carrot.

People who tease can rarely stand being teased themselves. Frantic with
rage, Ned struck out right and left, then dashing the basket over,
trampled and smashed the delicious apples with his feet.

Well, the apples had to be paid for, and the boys had to be punished;
even mother couldn't overlook such an afternoon's work as _this_.

The boys' pocket-money would be stopped till the two shillings were made
up. Threepence a week each, and a month seemed long to look forward to.
Gloomily they leaned over the gate in the evening. Patter, patter,
nearer and nearer came little feet. "Lizababuff has opened her
money-box, and here is sixpence for George and sixpence for Ned."

How they hugged the s