cheek to call my attention; " 'cause he hadn't got no brothers and sisters."

"It was very sad to have no sisters, wasn't it?" I said.

"Well, I don't know," Bruno said thoughtfully; " 'cause he hadn't no lessons to do. So he didn't mind."

Sylvie went on. "So, as he was walking along the road, he heard behind him such a curious sort of noise——a sort of a Thump! Thump! Thump! 'Whatever is that?' said Bruno. 'Oh, I know! ' said Bruno. 'Why, it's only my Watch a-ticking!' "

"Were it his Watch a-ticking?" Bruno asked me, with eyes that fairly sparkled with mischievous delight.

"No doubt of it!" I replied. And Bruno laughed exultingly.

"Then Bruno thought a little harder. And he said 'No! It ca'n't be my Watch a-ticking; because I haven't got a Watch!'"

Bruno peered up anxiously into my face, to see how I took it. I hung my head, and put a thumb into my mouth, to the evident delight of the little fellow.