nearer, Johnnie being just in time to hear
his cousin's reply.

"I--I forgot my cigar-case."

Johnnie's expression became one of biting skepticism. "What you talkin'
about, George? Didn't you promise Uncle George you'd never smoke till
you're of age, and Uncle George said he'd give you a thousand dollars on
your twenty-first birthday? What 'd you say about your 'cigar-case'?"

George felt that he was in a tight place, and the lovely eyes of Miss
Pratt turned upon him questioningly. He could not flush, for he was
already so pink after his exploits with unnecessary nutriment that more
pinkness was impossible. He saw that the only safety for him lay in
boisterous prevarication. "A thousand dollars!" he laughed loudly. "I
thought that was real money when I was ten years old! It didn't stand in
MY way very long, I guess! Good ole George wanted his smoke, and he went
after it! You know how I am, Johnnie, when I go after anything. I been
smokin' cigars I dunno how long!" Glancing about him, his eye became
reassured; it was obvious that even Johnnie had accepted this airy
statement as the truth, and to clinch plausibility he added: "When I
smoke, I smoke! I smoke cigars straight along--light one right on the
stub of the other. I only wish I had some with me, because I miss 'em
after a meal. I'd give a good deal for something to smoke right now! I
don't mean cigarettes; I don't want any paper--I want something that's
all tobacco!"

William's pale, sad face showed a hint of color. With a pang he
remembered the package of My Little Sweetheart All-Tobacco Cuban
Cigarettes (the Package of Twenty for Ten Cents) which still reposed,
untouched, in the breast pocket of his coat. His eyes smarted a little
as he recalled the thoughts and hopes that had accompanied the purchase;
but he thought, "What would Sydney Carton do?"

William brought forth the package of My Little Sweetheart All-Tobacco
Cuban Cigarettes and placed it in the large hand of George Crooper. And
this was a noble act, for William believed that George really wished to
smoke. "Here," he said, "take these; they're all tobacco. I'm goin' to
quit smokin', anyway." And, thinking of the name, he added, gently, with
a significance lost upon all his hearers, "I'm sure you ought to have
'em instead of me."

Then he went away and sat alone upon the fence.

"Light one, light one!" cried Miss Pratt. "Ev'ybody mus' be happy, an'
dray, big, 'normous man tan't be happy 'less he