Teddy gave me such a tap that I bounded over the
street in no time. But the curb stone tripped me up first, and in
hopping over that I took an unfortunate slide, and rolled into the open
door of a china shop. Before I could stop myself I had knocked down two
jugs, run over a pile of plates, and fallen into the middle of an array
of wineglasses, just newly unpacked from a great crate close by.

"I am used to misfortunes now, and am of a very buoyant disposition, but
never shall I forget the crash and smash of that early calamity. Teddy
stood aghast for one brief instant, and then turned to run away, even
forgetting _me_ in the catastrophe. But that short moment had been
enough to satisfy the horrified china merchant as to the author of the
damage, and making a rapid spring across the road, he seized Teddy by
the collar, and sternly hauled him into the shop. The poor boy was
bewildered by the sudden accident, and half deafened by the shrill
scolding of Mrs. Delf, who, having heard the crash, had rushed into the
fray, and was now picking up the pieces.

"'Two of the best Parian jugs!--I thought the police seized all the
hoops as was seen,--nine willow cheeseplates,--and oh my! what a sight
of glasses! You've done it now, and no mistake, you little vagabond!'

"Her husband, however, seeing that Teddy was evidently a gentleman's
son, after a few threats of fetching the police, decided upon
accompanying him home, with a bill of the damages. Teddy begged and
implored to be let off with many tears, but the man was determined, and
taking me in one hand, he laid the other on Teddy's shoulder, and
marched off in the direction of Willow Lodge, with the bill in his
pocket. I must really draw a veil over the dreadful picture of the scene
there, as my feelings will not allow me to do justice to the anger of
Teddy's father, and the horror of his mother, at the money they had to
pay for _that_ accident. Let it suffice that poor Teddy had a whipping
that cured his roving propensities for some time, and I was confiscated,
and placed in ignominious imprisonment in the stable.

"Some months must have elapsed in the meanwhile, for when I was first
shut up it was the end of the late summer, and when I saw daylight again
it was spring-time, for the lilacs and laburnums were in full flower.
How glad I was to rub off a little of the rust I had acquired from lying
so long in that damp place, and how delighted was Teddy once more to get
hold o