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"No," I replied, "I don't think they got the pears Let's go and see"

We trudged off, I forvery stiff, and as if all the

exciteone out of the adventure; and in aabout under the pear-trees, and kicking against fallen fruit

"Here she is," said Shock suddenly "Big bag Stodge full"

I ran to hi

bag when I uttered a faint cry of horror, for so soft seemed to

have dropped upon my back, and a voice fro here?"

At the same moment I knew that it was one of the cats that had leaped

upon

"We have been after so the pears, sir," I said

"Were they?" cried the old ht the up to the door"

Shock seized and shouldered the bag, and we followed the old gentleh I spoke two or three times he made no reply,

and I felt too e house lantern alight in the kitchen, as if the old

gentlearden with hi he did was to open the lantern,

take out the candle in his fingers, and hold it up so as to look at each