E-text prepared by David Clarke, Geetu Melwani,
and the Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team
(/)
MORE WILLIAM
BY
RICHMAL CROMPTON
ILLUSTRATED BY
THOMAS HENRY
LONDON
GEORGE NEWNES, LIMITED
SOUTHAMPTON ST., STRAND, W.C.
1924
"Wot you dressed up like that for?" said theapparition, with a touch of scorn in his voice. (See Chapter IX. The Revenge.)Contents
I. A Busy Day
II. Rice-Mould
III. William's Burglar
IV. The Knight at Arms
V. William's Hobby
VI. The Rivals
VII. The Ghost
VIII. The May King
IX. The Revenge
X. The Helper
XI. William and the Smuggler
XII. The Reform of William
XIII. William and the Ancient Souls
XIV. William's Christmas Eve
I
A Busy Day
William awoke and rubbed his eyes. It was Christmas Day—the day towhich he had looked forward with mingled feelings for twelve months.It was a jolly day, of course—presents and turkey and crackers andstaying up late. On the other hand, there were generally too manyrelations about, too much was often expected of one, the curious tastedisplayed by people who gave one presents often marred one's pleasure.
He looked round his bedroom expectantly. On the wall, just oppositehis bed, was a large illuminated card hanging by a string from anail—"A Busy Day is a Happy Day." That had not been there the daybefore. Brightly-coloured roses and forget-me-nots and honeysuckletwined round all the words. William hastily thought over the threeaunts staying in the house, and put it down to Aunt Lucy. He looked atit with a doubtful frown. He distrusted the sentiment.
A copy of "Portraits of our Kings and Queens" he put aside as beneathcontempt. "Things a Boy Can Do" was more promising. Much morepromising. After inspecting a penknife, a pocket-compass, and apencil-box (which shared the fate of "Portraits of our Kings andQueens"), William returned to "Things a Boy Can Do." As he turned thepages, his face lit up.