Howhadhecometogetintodebt？Didtheotherboysdoso？Ernestreluctantlyadmittedthattheydid。
Withwhatshopsdidtheygetintodebt？
Thiswasaskingtoomuch，Ernestsaidhedidn’tknow！
“Oh，Ernest，Ernest。”exclaimedhismother，whowasintheroom，“donotsosoonasecondtimepresumeupontheforbearanceofthetenderest-heartedfatherintheworld。Givetimeforonestabtohealbeforeyouwoundhimwithanother。”
Thiswasallveryfine，butwhatwasErnesttodo？Howcouldhegettheschoolshopkeepersintotroublebyowningthattheyletsomeoftheboysgoontickwiththem？TherewasMrsCross，agoodoldsoul，whousedtosellhotrollsandbutterforbreakfast，oreggsandtoast，oritmightbethequarterofafowlwithbreadsauceandmashedpotatoesforwhichshewouldcharge6d。Ifshemadeafarthingoutofthesixpenceitwasasmuchasshedid。Whentheboyswouldcometroopingintohershopafter“thehounds“howoftenhadnotErnestheardhersaytoherservantgirls，“Nowthen，youwanches，gitsomecheers。”Alltheboyswerefondofher，andwashe，Ernest，totelltalesabouther？Itwashorrible。