I'm sure you ain't, my lad, if you'll 'scuse me calling you so.
Morning, sir, morning."

The butcher backed out, smiling triumphantly, but only to put his head
in again--

"Beg pardon, sir, only to say that if he'd asked me polite like, I'd ha'
done it directly; but he didn't, and I'll stand upon my medder like a
man."

"Humph!" said the doctor, as soon as they were alone; "and so you were
not afraid of the bullocks, Dexter?"

"There wasn't anything to be afraid of," said the boy. "I'm ever so
much more afraid of you."

"Afraid?"

"Yes, when you look cross, sir, only then."

"Well, you must not make me look cross, Dexter; and now get on with your
copying. When you've done that you may go in the garden if you'll keep
out of mischief."

"And when may I go fishing?"

"When you like."

"Down the meadows!"

"Why not fish down the garden; there's a capital place."

"All right," said Dexter. "I'll go there. But I want a rod and line."

"There is an old rod in the hall, and you can buy a line. No, Helen is
going out, and she will buy you one."

Dexter's eyes glistened at the idea of going fishing, and he set to work
most industriously at the copying, which in due time he handed over to
the Doctor, who expressed himself as highly satisfied: though if he
really was, he was easily pleased.

Helen had received her instructions, and she soon afterwards returned
with the fishing-line, and a fair supply of extra hooks, and odds and
ends, which the doctor, as an old angler, had suggested.

"These--all for me!" cried the boy joyfully.

The doctor nodded.

"Recollect: no mischief, and don't tumble in."

"All right, sir," cried the boy, who was gloating over the new silk
line, with its cork float glistening in blue and white paint brought
well up with varnish.

"Do you know how to fish!"

"Yes, I know all about it, sir."

"How's that? You never went fishing at the workhouse."

"No, sir; but old Dimsted in the House used to tell us boys all about
it, and how he used to catch jack and eels, and roach and perch, in the
river."

"Very well, then," said the doctor. "Now you can go."

Dexter went off in high glee, recalling divers instructions given by the
venerable old pauper who had been a fishing idler all his life, the
river always having more attractions for him than work. His son
followed in his steps, and he again had a son with the imitative
faculty, and spending every hour he could find at the