CHAPTER V. 



With Monday morning began the earning of the pig. Miss Fosbrook's first business after prayers was to deal out the week's allowance-- sixpence to each of the four elders, threepence apiece to the three younger ones. 

"May there be no fines," she said. 

"I'll not have the hundredth part of a fine!" shouted Henry, tossing his money into the air. 

Little David's set lips expressed the same purpose. 

"Please let me have a whole sixpence," said Susan. "If I haven't any change, I sha'n't spend it." 

"You, Sukey! you'd better have the four farthings," laughed Sam. "You'll be the first to want them." 

Susan laughed; and Miss Fosbrook, partly as an example to the plaintive Elizabeth, said, "You are so good-humoured, Susie, that I can't find it in my heart to demand a fine--or--your hair; and there," pointing to the stout red fingers, "did you ever behold such a black little row?" 

"Oh dear!" cried Susan, in her good-humoured hearty voice, "how tiresome, when they were SO clean this morning, and I've only just been feeding the chicken, and up in the hay-loft for the eggs, and pulling the radishes!" 

"Well, go and wash and brush, and to-morrow remember the pig," said Miss Fosbrook, unable to help comparing the radishes and the fingers for redness and for earthiness. 

It was a more difficult matter when, as Elizabeth put her silver coin into her purse, John must needs repeat the stupid old joke, "There goes stingy Bet!" and Bessie put on her woeful appealing face. 
What was Henry's response to that?
I'll not have the hundredth part of a fine!"