"Tom, you didn't have to undo your shirt collar where I sewed it, to pump on your head, did you? Unbutton your jacket!"

     The trouble vanished out of Tom's face. He opened his jacket. His shirt collar was securely sewed.

     "Bother! Well, go 'long with you. I'd made sure you'd played hookey and been a-swimming. But I forgive ye, Tom. I reckon you're a kind of a singed cat, as the saying is--better'n you look. This time."

     She was half sorry her sagacity had miscarried, and half glad that Tom had stumbled into obedient conduct for once.

     But Sidney said:

     "Well, now, if I didn't think you sewed his collar with white thread, but it's black."

     "Why, I did sew it with white! Tom!"

     But Tom did not wait for the rest. As he went out at the door he said:

     "Siddy, I'll lick you for that."

     In a safe place Tom examined two large needles which were thrust into the lapels of his jacket, and had thread bound about them--one needle carried white thread and the other black. He said: