ily consisted of the landlord of the Cockchafer],
"and on'y this here shillin' to do it with--"

Stephen was _very_ green. He almost cried at the sight of this
destitute, tottering, honest old man, and before the latter could get
farther in his lament another shilling was in his palsied old hand, and
the grey old forelock was enduring another tug.

It was well for Stephen that Mr Cripps junior turned up at this
juncture, or the entire five shillings might have made its way into the
old man's pouch.

Mr Cripps junior had the rod. He had had a rare job, he said, to get
it, for his friend had only yesterday had an offer of 3 pounds 15
shillings, and was all but taking it. However, here it was, and for
only 3 pounds 10 shillings tell Mr Loman; such a bargain as he wouldn't
often make in his life, and he could get him the fly-book for a
sovereign if he liked. And Mr Cripps would charge him nothing for his
trouble.

After this Mr Cripps junior and the boy got quite friendly. The former
was greatly interested in hearing about Saint Dominic's, especially when
he understood Stephen was a new boy. Cripps could remember the day when
_he_ was a new boy, and had to fight three boys in three hours the first
afternoon. He was awfully fond of cricket when he was a boy. Was
Stephen?

"Oh, yes," said Stephen; "I like it more than anything."

"Ah, you should have seen the way we played. Bless me! I'd a bat, my
boy, that could tip the balls clean over the school-house. You've got a
bat, of course, or else--"

"No, I haven't," said Stephen. "I shall get one as soon as I can."

"Well, that _is_ lucky! Look here, young gentleman," continued Cripps
confidentially; "I've taken a fancy to you. It's best to be plain and
speak out. I've taken a fancy to you, and you shall have that bat.
It's just your size, and the finest bit of willow you ever set eyes on.
I'll wager you'll make top score every time you use it. You shall have
it. Never mind about the stumpy--"

"Stumpy!" ejaculated Stephen; "I don't want stumps, only a bat."

"What I meant to say was, never mind about the price. You can give me
what you like for it. I wish I could make you a present of it. My eye,
it's a prime bat! Spliced! Yes. Treble-cane, as I'm a poor man. I'll
send it up to you, see if I don't, and you can pay when you like."

And so he chattered on, in a way which quite charmed Stephen, and made
him rejoice in his new friend, and still m