"I put him in the river," said Mr. Polly. "That toned down his

alcolaceous frenzy! I gave him a bit of a doing altogether."

Hain't he 'urt you?"

Not a bit of it!"

Then what's all that blood beside your ear?"

Mr. Polly felt. "Quite a cut! Funny how one overlooks things! Heated

moments! He must have done that when he jabbed about with those

bottles. Hullo, Kiddy! You venturing downstairs again?"

Ain't he killed you?" asked the little girl.

Well!"

I wish I'd seen more of the fighting."

Didn't you?"

All I saw was you running round the house and Uncle Jim after you."

There was a little pause. "I was leading him on," said Mr. Polly.

"Someone's shouting at the ferry," she said.

302

The History of Mr Polly