CHAPTER V.

THE CHERRIES.

HAT a pity it is that boys should go on wishing for what they know they must not have! Harry and

Hugh had been told that they

were not to touch Uncle Tom's cherries, and they ought to have thought no more about them, but that very same day Hugh said to his brother

'Where are the others?' He meant his cousins.

Oh, they are going to the hayfield,' said Harry. 'Walter told me to ask you to come on.'

'I have been to the hayfield once to-day,' said Hugh. 'I say, Harry, let us go into the

garden-you and I. We don't want the others.'

I've eaten lots of gooseberries already,' said Harry. 'I am quite sick of them. I don't care for gooseberries any more.'

Walter ran out of the house, where he had been for his hat, shouting, 'Come on, Hugh! Come on, Harry! The rest are going down the lane.'

But Hugh drew Harry behind some laurels, and made him stoop down, so that Walter should not see him. Next, Guy ran out after Walter, and the two stood together, near enough for the hidden boys to hear what they said.

'Where are Hugh and Harry?' asked 'Father sent me back to look for

Guy.

them.'

'I don't know,' said Walter. 'I called them, but did not get any answer. Never mind, Guy. Come on without them. It is much pleasanter alone. I don't like either of them much; for Harry killed my poor little slow-worm.'

'You should not say that, Walter, dear,' said Guy. you to love everybody.' As Guy spoke he put his arm round his little brother's neck, and Walter raised his face to kiss Guy.

'It is not right. God wishes

'I wish I was good like you, Guy, dear,' he said. 'And it makes me so angry that papa should think you hunted the fowls when it was Hugh and Harry. And I am sure they broke mamma's china cup.'

so.'

'Hush, hush, Walter! You must not say

'Well, don't you think they did, Guy? Come, tell truth.'

Guy laughed, but said nothing.

'You do think so. I know you do, and I am so glad,' said Walter. 'And I wish they would go home again. Don't you, Guy?'

'Well, yes,' said Guy. 'I shan't be sorry when they go.' And Guy and Walter moved away, shouting again, 'Hugh! Harry! where are you?'

'Shan't you be sorry when we go?' said Hugh, imitating his cousin, as soon as he

was out of hearing. 'I tell you what, I hate that Guy, with his fine good speeches. I know he thinks you broke the cup, and he'll tell Aunt Sophy of it some day. See if he doesn't.'

'Why did you make me hide?' asked Harry. 'I want to go to the hayfield.'

'Because I know of a lark. I think it is very mean of Uncle Tom to try and keep all those cherries for himself; and I don't see why you and I should not have some.'

'Oh, Hugh,' said Harry; 'but we may be found out?'

You see Harry's only fear was that they should be found out. He was not afraid of doing a wicked thing. Taking Uncle Tom's cherries slyly was the same as stealing; but when a boy or girl is in the habit of saying what is not true, or telling lies, it does not take long to make that boy or girl a thief. There is only a step between the two.

'We shan't be found out,' said Hugh;

'who is to know who took them, if we say we know nothing about it? Look sharp. Let's be there and back before those fellows can get to the hayfield.'

Harry ran at once with his brother without saying anything more, and as soon as they reached the cherry-tree, they both began picking and eating the cherries as fast as they could stuff them into their mouths, ripe and unripe ones all alike. They could not have tasted what they were like, I am sure; but they were so afraid of being seen, and in such a hurry to get back before Guy and Walter, that they had no time to enjoy their wicked theft.

Guy and Walter were all the while calling aloud everywhere-'Hugh! Harry! where are you?'

They had gone to the stable-yard to look for them, when Hugh and Harry came out of the garden, and before Guy and Walter returned, the two naughty boys had run across the field which was near the garden, and into the lane leading to the hayfield.