This made Mrs. Pamflett laugh, and she kissed him, and praised him for his cleverness. She wished him to remain with her the whole of the day; but he said he must get back to London, and after screwing two or three more shillings out of her, he bade her good-bye. She stood at the gates watching him till he was out of sight, sucking the knob of his new walking-stick, and flourishing it with an air. He was in the mood for enjoyment, and he was not at all in the hurry he expressed to get back to the metropolis. Meeting a small urchin in a lane, he bailed him up. "What's your name, you scoundrel?" he said, setting the boy before him. "Roger," said the trembling lad, whose age might have been six, and was certainly not more. Jeremiah gave him a violent shaking. "Say 'sir'; say 'Roger, sir.'" "Roger, sir." "Say it louder. If you cry, I'll chop you into little bits." "Roger, sir." "What are you doing here?" "Nothing, sir." "How dare you do nothing? Bow to me." The frightened little chap bowed, whipping off his cap at Jeremiah's command. "Bow three times. Lower--lower--lower!" The little chap obeyed, bowing almost to the stones. "Now say, 'I beg your pardon, _sir_; and I'll never do so again.'" "I beg your pardon, _sir_; and I'll never do so agin." Jeremiah slapped his face, and walked away, whistling. It was a good commencement. He was really enjoying himself. When he reached the village another excitement greeted him. There was a "Punch and Judy" being shown, and a large crowd, chiefly composed of children, were gathered around the entertainment. Among the on-lookers were Phoebe and Tom Barley. Jeremiah elbowed his way into the centre of the crowd, and presently a girl cried "Oh!" and looked round, rubbing her arm. She was a plain-looking girl, and somebody had given her a sharp pinch. Jeremiah Pamflett looked away, with a successful effort at unconsciousness. Edging a little further on he stationed himself behind another plain girl, who also the next minute cried "Oh!" and looked round, without discovering her tormentor. This was one of Jeremiah's favourite pastimes, mixing in a crowd of children and pinching the ugly girls. Both Phoebe and Tom Barley were too deeply absorbed in the show to notice these mean diversions, and Jeremiah moved about, enjoying himself to his heart's content, till he found himself standing just behind Phoebe, having pushed between her and Tom. Eyeing her over, to select a nice place for his fingers, he was on the point of operating, when a slight turn on Phoebe's part gave him a view of her face. "She's too pretty to pinch," thought he; "I'll kiss her." Judging his opportunity and the favourable moment, he slyly planted a kiss upon her neck. The young girl started, and blushed all over. "Tom!" she screamed.