Page:Stanwood Pier--Harding of St Timothys.djvu/90

68 of the Pie House dropped his eyes in distress. Then he glanced up with furtive appeal.

"I ain't doing no harm to those young fellows, honest I ain't, doctor," he said.

"You gave the rector your word, Shoop," Doctor Vincent replied, "that there should be no more of this sort of thing. The school promised to help you. The rector's given you employment, and he promised to do more for you as long as you behaved yourself. You gave him your word. You not only went back on your word—you've done it at a time when you should have had nothing but gratitude to Doctor Davenport. After Mrs. Davenport had come up here herself and visited your sick wife and done things for her! I tell you, Shoop, I have nothing but contempt for such a fellow as you!"

There was a flush on Snoop's weak face, but now he looked at the doctor without faltering.

"You're too hard on me, doctor; honest, you are," he said earnestly. "I had n't a notion of selling stuff to the young fellows no