"'Come back at nine,' the gentleman said; and all its pore arm turned stiff, an' white, an' swollen. What you wanter move that lamp for, you fool? Why did you open the door? Did you 'ear 'im 'oller? Oh, Christ! did you 'ear 'im 'oller? We'll lose 'im, 'Erb: my Gawd! we'll lose 'im. Did you 'ear what the gentleman said? 'Come back at nine to-morrow mornin',' 'e said. What'd 'e want to turn us out for, the swine? What you want to go 'owm for? My baby's there, you ape: over there, with the nurse an' the gentleman. Think I'd go 'owm wiv the likes o' you an' leave 'im? What you wanter move that lamp for? Did you see it runnin' all over 'im, an' 'im 'ollerin', an' cuttin' 'is feet in the glass of the chimbly?
"Did you—did you? Go away, I tell you. I wown't move, I tell you. The gentleman said, 'Come back at nine.' What you wanter worry me for? What you wanter stop for? I want my baby—I—I—you makeshift, you, I 'ate you."
And the young man twisted his cap between his fingers, and drew a little closer to her, and said, "Come along 'ome."
"Yus, go along 'ome," supplemented the stupid man. "You can't stop out 'ere all night. And what's the good o' worryin'? People's got to pay for bein' married an' that in this world. It might be worse, you know, young Emma——"
"Ah!" interpolated the younger man. "It might be worse, you know, ole Emma!"
"What is it, after all," pursued his stout companion, "what is it, after all, to bury a baby? I remember well when we was nailin' up our Number Three——"
The stout man's reminiscences ended suddenly. It was the fist of the younger man which ended them. "Chew that, ye one-eyed wind-bag," observed its owner.
Then, drawing Emma gently from the wall, he placed his arm about her, and whispered something in a voice which aspired clumsily to be hopeful. Now that the girl was facing me, I could see that she did not carry a child, as I had at first supposed. It was merely an end of shawl which she carried—a rude sort of nest or pocket, pressed close to her bosom, as if in waiting for some tender burden.
"Come along 'ome, ole girl," the young man urged. "What's the use o' dawdlin'?"
"Go away!" replied the woman. "Leave a girl in peace, can't you? I'm waitin' for my baby. I'm waitin' for nine o'clock, like the gentleman said.... I wonder if 'e's sleepin'? I wonder if they've 'urt 'im? ... I wonder if he's dead?"