“and i be to write to you, sir, then, if harry gets into trouble?”

“yes; but we must keep him out of trouble, even home-made ones, which don’t leave good marks, you know,” said tom.

“and thaay be nine out o’ ten o’ aal as comes to a man, sir,” said david, “as i’ve a told harry scores o’ times.”

“that seems to be your text, david,” said tom, laughing.

“ah, and ’tis a good un too, sir. ’tis a sight better to have the lord’s troubles while you be about it, for thaay as hasn’t makes wus for theirselves out o’ nothin’.”