With what shops did they get into debt?
This was asking too much, Ernest said he didn't know!
"Oh, Ernest, Ernest," exclaimed his mother, who was in the room, "do not
so soon a second time presume upon the forbearance of the
tenderest-hearted father in the world. Give time for one stab to heal
before you wound him with another."
This was all very fine, but what was Ernest to do? How could he get the
school shop-keepers into trouble by owning that they let some of the boys
go on tick with them? There was Mrs Cross, a good old soul, who used to
sell hot rolls and butter for breakfast, or eggs and toast, or it might
be the quarter of a fowl with bread sauce and mashed potatoes for which
she would charge 6d. If she made a farthing out of the sixpence it was
as much as she did. When the boys would come trooping into her shop
after "the hounds" how often had not Ernest heard her say to her servant
girls, "Now then, you wanches, git some cheers." All the boys were fond
of her, and was he, Ernest, to tell tales about her? It was horrible.
"Now look here, Ernest," said his father with his blackest scowl, "I am
going to put a stop to this nonsense once for all.
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