But to go back to the boys. Mr. Warlingham did not forget them; and by noon that day they had their half-crown all safe and sound; so as soon as they had had their dinners, they hastened to the place they had cleared in the morning, which was an open space at the top of a round hillock at the edge of the common: a famous place too it was for a bonfire, for this spot being the highest ground about, and quite free from trees, the fire, when lighted, could be seen to a great distance. “Oh! what a famous blaze we shall have to-night!” said Dick Middleton rubbing his hands, and skipping about with great glee. “What a way off they will see our fire! I dare say they will see it at Derby and Lichfield, and wonder what it is!” said Charley Salt. “Ah, but then they will be so busy with their own that they won’t think of our’s,” said Billy Blake. “I don’t know that,” replied Charley, “their’s will be quite a poor concern to our’s I’m sure. I dare say nobody will give them half-a-crown to buy faggots with.” “I hope it won’t rain,” said Johnny Drew, “but that’s a heavy cloud coming up: ‘Rain, rain go away, and come again another day.’” “Rain? no, man, it won’t rain to-day,” said Tom Dunn. “My father’s rheumatics are as good as a weather glass, and he says he knows by his legs it won’t rain to-day. I asked him afore I came out. But, I say, Kennedy, I wonder who’ll sell us any faggots?” “I should like to see the man who’ll refuse us, now we’ve got money to pay for them. Why look there! there’s old Crabbe with ever so many faggots in his donkey cart: let’s ask him: he isn’t so surly now as he used to be. Come, do you try, Harry Martin; _you_ never get into trouble with him.” Harry Martin had no objection; so as soon as they got along side of the old man, the boys all gathered round him; and then Harry asked if “he was willing to sell them those sticks?” “Sell them!” cried the old man quite sharply, “no, I’ll see you all hanged first.” “Well, I hope there’s no offence,” said Harry, colouring at such an unexpected rebuff. “Yes, there’s very great offence. Didn’t I tell you all that if you were good lads, I’d _give_ you some faggots. And after that, how dare you ask me to _sell_ you some?” And the old man shook his fist at the boys, while a smile came over his grim weather-beaten face. “Come,” he continued, “I was just going to leave them for you at Dinah Marjoram’s gate. You can carry them up the hill yourselves.” I need not say how pleased the boys were, or how much they thanked the old man for keeping his promise, which, to say truth, they had quite forgotten. Two or three did not speak, but they felt the more; they felt ashamed of themselves, and grieved over their bad conduct, and misbehaviour. How sad it is that people will not save themselves these bitter after-regrets, by reflecting on the consequences of misbehaviour _before_ they misbehave!