"No, I won't," he said, throwing down the cane. "You've been up to your larks, you have, and I tell you what it is, I won't have larks." "I haven't," I cried. "You have, sir, so don't deny it. What am I to say to my Mary when she comes up, if she finds you going wrong? I won't have larks, so there's an end of it, d'ye hear? There, you needn't look sulky, and you won't go and lodge somewhere else. You'll stay here and I won't have no larks. I know what it means; I've seen boys begin with stopping out o' nights, and I know what sort o' chickens they turn out. Stopping out late o' nights an' larks means going to the bad; and you ain't going to the bad if I know it." "I couldn't help it, Bill; I've been along with Mr Hallett." "Then I'll punch Mr Hallett's head," he cried in a rage, as he stamped up and down the room, till some one rapped at the ceiling of the floor below. "No, I won't. I'll pay him a visit in full uniform with my bracelet on, that's what I'll do with him." "Don't be so foolish, Bill," I cried, as in imagination I saw Mr Revitts stalking along amongst the frames at the office, as if about to take Mr Hallett into custody. "Foolish?" he cried. "And look here, once for all, don't you Bill me. As for that Hallett, he's a bad 'un, that's what he is, and I'll let him know--carrying on larks with a youngster like you." "Mr Hallett's a gentleman," I said indignantly. "Oh, is he?" said Revitts excitedly; "then I'd rather be a pore police-constable. Why, I never so much as took you inside a public to have half-a-pint o' beer, I was so particular over your morals; and your precious gentleman takes you to dozens, and keeps you out till two forty-five. Why, you make the whole room smell o' beer." "I don't, Bill," I cried; "it's that hay. Look here, it's sticking to my clothes." "Then, what ha' yer been sleeping under haystacks for, when here was your own bed waiting for you? That's the way. That's the first step to being a rogue and a vagabond. Do you know, young fellow, as I could have taken you and locked you up, and had you afore the magistrates next morning, if I'd found you lying under haystacks?" "What a dear old stupid you are, Bill," I cried, half angry, half amused; for he had talked so fast and been in such a rage, that I could not get a chance to explain. "Am I?" he cried, just as if I had added fresh fuel to the flame. "If I am--I'm honest, so now then. That's more than your Mr Hallett can say. But I haven't done with him yet." "Why don't you be quiet, Bill?" I said. "Quiet, when you get out on larks?" "You won't let me speak." "Let you speak! No, I won't. Here have I been worried to death about you, thinking all the chaps had got on, and that the van was upset, and all the time it was your games." "We went strolling about the forest, Bill," I said, as I removed my stockings and bathed my sore feet, "and had to walk ever so much of the way home, and that's what made me so late."