"That's it," snivelled, old Mr Cripps, who had entered during this last speech; "that's it, Benny, my boy, honest Partisans, that's what we is, who knows what it are to be in want of a shillin' to buy a clo' or two for the little childer." What particular little "childer" Mr Cripps senior and his son were specially interested in no one knew, for neither of them was blessed with any. However, it was one of old Mr Cripps's heart-moving phrases, and no one was rude enough to ask questions. Stephen did not, on the present occasion, feel moved to respond to the old man's lament, and Cripps junior, with more adroitness than filial affection, hustled the old gentleman out of the door. "Never mind him," said he to Stephen. "He's a silly old man, and always pretends he's starvin'. If you believe me, he's a thousand pounds stowed away somewheres. I on'y wish," added he, with a sigh, "he'd give me a taste of it, for its 'ard, up-'ill work makin' ends meet, particular when a man's deceived by parties. No matter. I'll pull through; you see!" Stephen once more did not feel called upon to pursue this line of conversation, and therefore changed the subject. "Oh, Mr Cripps, how much is that bat?" "Bat! Bless me if I hadn't nearly forgot all about it. Ain't it a beauty, now?" "Yes, pretty well," said Stephen, whose friends had one and all abused the bat, and who was himself a little disappointed in his expectations. "Pretty well! I like that. You must be a funny cricketer, young gentleman, to call that bat only pretty well. I suppose you want me to take _that_ back, too?" and here Mr Cripps looked very fierce. "Oh, no," said Stephen, hurriedly. "I only want to know what I am to pay for it." "Oh, come now, we needn't mind about that. That'll keep, you know. As if I wanted the money. Ha, ha!" Even a green boy like Stephen could not fail to wonder why, if Mr Cripps was as hard up as he had just described himself, he should now be so anxious to represent himself as not in want of money. "Please, I want to know the price." "As if I was a-going to name prices to a young gentleman like you! Please yourself about it. I shall not be disappointed if you gives me only eighteenpence, and if _you_ thinks twelve bob is handsome, well, let it be. _I_ can struggle on somehow." This was uncomfortable for Stephen, who, too green, fortunately, to comprehend the drift of Mr Cripps's gentle hints, again asked that he would name a price. This time Mr Cripps answered more precisely. "Well, that there bat is worth a guinea, if you want to know, but I'll say a sovereign for cash down." Stephen whistled a long-drawn whistle of dismay. "A sovereign! I can't pay all that! I thought it would be about seven shillings!" "Did you? You may think what you like, but that's my price, and you are lucky to get it at that." "I shall have to send it back. I can't afford so much," said Stephen, despondingly.