"Why don't you speak?" he cried angrily. "You haven't been to sleep,
have you?"
"I was going to confess it, uncle, if you had given me time," I said.
"I never did such a thing before; but I couldn't keep awake, and fell
asleep for over two hours."
"Oh, Cob! Cob!"
"I couldn't help it, uncle," I cried passionately. "I did try so hard.
I walked and ran about. I stood up, and danced and jumped, and went in
the yard, but it was all of no use, and at last I dropped down on the
stairs with Piter, and before I knew it I was fast."
"Was the dog asleep too?"
"He went to sleep before I did," I said bitterly.
"Humph!"
"Don't be angry with me, Uncle Bob," I cried. "I did try so hard."
"Did you take anything last night after I left you?"
"No, uncle. You know I was very sleepy when you called me."
"Nothing at all?"
"Only a drop of water out of the bottle."
"Go and fetch what is left," he said. "Or no, I'll come. But Piter;
what did he have?"
"I don't know, only that he seemed to pick up something just as we were
walking along the yard. That's all."
"There's some fresh mischief afoot, Cob," cried Uncle Bob, "and--ah,
here it is! Well, my man, what is it?"
This was to Gentles, whose smooth fat face was full of wrinkles, and his
eyes half-closed.
He took off his cap--a soft fur cap, and wrung it gently as if it were
full of water. Then he began shaking it out, and brushing it with his
cuff, and looked from one to the other, giving me a salute by jerking up
one elbow.
"Well, why don't you speak, man; what is it?" cried Uncle Bob. "Is
anything wrong?"
"No, mester, there aren't nought wrong, as you may say, though happen
you may think it is. Wheel-bands hev been touched again."