to forget the words which had
been spoken. And whenever the question came back to me, the question
which the speaker had repeated so often, 'What are you?' I answered it
by saying to myself, 'I am a poor artist, having a holiday in Runswick
Bay, and I am not going to trouble my head with gloomy thoughts.'

Polly had prepared an excellent dinner in honour of the day, and I did
full justice to it. Then I determined to walk to Staithes, and to spend
the rest of the day in seeing the country. I had always been accustomed,
to paint on Sunday, but only one of the artists seemed to be at work,
and Duncan and Polly had been so much shocked by seeing him, that I did
not venture to do the same. I enjoyed the walk along the cliffs, and
came back in good spirits, having completely shaken off, as I imagined,
the remembrance of the speaker's words.

[Illustration]

Chapter V

THE RUNSWICK SPORTS

'I've got a big favour to ask of you, sir,' said Duncan the next day.
'You'll not think I'm taking a liberty, will you?'

'Certainly not, Duncan,' I said. 'What do you want?'

'Well, it's just here, sir--me and my mates, we get up some sports every
year on the green. We have 'em in August, sir, just when the visitors
are here. They all turn out to see them, and there's lots of them is
very good in subscribing to the prizes. You see, sir, there is a many
young fellows here, young chaps who must have something to keep them out
of mischief; when they're not fishing, they're bound to be after the
beer, if they haven't something to turn their minds and keep them going
a bit. And these sports, why, they like 'em, sir; and a man must keep
sober if he's to win a prize--you understand, sir?'

'Yes, Duncan, I understand,' I said; 'it's first-rate for these young
lads, and for the old lads too, for the matter of that. I suppose you
want a subscription for your prizes?' I added, as I handed him half a
sovereign.

'Thank ye kindly, sir, I won't refuse it, and it's very good of you to
help us so largely; but that isn't what I came to ask of you. I hardly
like to bother you, sir,' he said doubtfully.

'Never mind the bother, Duncan; let's hear what you want.'

'Well, it's just here, sir. Could you, do you think, make for us some
sort of a programme to hang up by the post office there, for visitors to
see? You draw them pictures so quick, sir, and--'

'I see, Duncan; you want the programme to be illustrated. I'm your man;
I'll