No sooner was it done than Molly marched off with the pies in triumph. The Pater regarded the pork-pie and the meat with a curious gaze. "This is for you and Joe, I suppose. I should like to know for how many more." I was one of the worst to conceal things, when taken-to like this, and he got it all out of me in no time. And then he put his hand on my shoulder and ordered me to say _who_ the things were for. Which I had to do. Well, there was a row. He wanted to know what I meant by being wicked enough to give food to Lease. I said it was for the children. I'm afraid I almost cried, for I did not like him to be angry with me, but I know I promised not to eat any dinner at home for three days if he would let me take the meat. Molly's comments, echoing through the house, betrayed to Mrs. Todhetley what had happened, and she came down the road with a shawl over her head. She told the Squire the truth then: that she had sanctioned it. She said she feared the Leases were quite in extremity, and begged him to let the meat go. "Be off for this once, you young thief," stamped the Squire, "but don't let me catch you at anything of this sort again." So the meat went to the Leases, and two loaves that Mrs. Todhetley whispered me to order for them at Ford's. When I reached home with the empty basket, they were going in to dinner. I took a book and stayed in the parlour. In a minute or two the Squire sent to ask what I was doing that for. "It's all right, Thomas. I don't want any dinner to-day." Old Thomas went away and returned again, saying the master ordered me to go in. But I wouldn't do anything of the sort. If he forgot the bargain, I did not. Out came the Squire, his face red, napkin in hand, and laid hold of me by the shoulders. "You obstinate young Turk! How dare you defy me? Come along." "But it is not to defy you, sir. It was a bargain, you know; I promised." "What was a bargain?" "That I should not have any dinner for three days. Indeed I meant it." The Squire's answer was to propel me into the dining-room. "Move down, Joe," he said, "I'll have him by me to-day. I'll see whether he is to starve himself out of bravado." "Why, what's up?" asked Tod, as he went to a lower seat. "What have you been doing, Johnny?" "Never mind," said the Squire, putting enough mutton on my plate for two. "You eat that, Mr. Johnny?" It went on so throughout dinner. Mrs. Todhetley gave me a big share of apple pudding; and, when the macaroni came on, the Squire heaped my plate. And I know it was all done to show he was not really angry with me for having taken the things to the Leases. Mr. Cole, the surgeon, came in after dinner, and was told of my wickedness. Lena ran up to me and said might she send her new sixpence to the poor little children who had no bread to eat. "What's that Lease about, that he does not go to work?" asked the Squire, in loud tones. "Letting folks hear that his young ones are starving!"