"How did it happen?" inquired the Doctor.
"Well," said Mrs. Budd, "I don't exactly know the ins and outs of it; but 'e see the 'am in Mr. Biggs's shop and Mr. Biggs was spinning shillings with another gentleman, what was a Guardian same as 'isself, and Mr. Biggs's back was turned and Mine 'e see the 'am and took it."
"The devil!" exclaimed Doctor Brink.
"Yes," assented Mrs. Budd. "And 'im ben allus so respectable. And mind you, Doctor—I will say this for 'im: I don't believe it would 'ave 'appened only for the little gel bein' so porely. I told 'im what you said about givin' 'er nourishing food, and 'e seems, as you might say, to 'ave got it on the brain. The job what 'e went after yesterday morning, 'e never got it after all; and in the evening 'e took this 'am."
"Ha!" exclaimed the doctor.
"I'm sure we all agree with you," said Mrs. Budd. "'Im to 'ave bin a uniformed porter for all these years and now to turn thief."
"The Ingrate," observed my friend. "How is it that he has ceased to wear the uniform of a porter?"
"Well, sir, you see, sir," explained his patient, "the company's trade been so bad they was forced to reduce. Mine, 'e on'y went with the last 'underd, and if he'd been a younger man they would 'a kep' him on. They give 'im a splendid reference; and now—if it wasn't for the children, Doctor, I could do away with meself, to think 'e should so disgrace 'isself. It was a big 'am, sir; they say 'e will get three months. But if any gentleman, same as you, sir, was to say a word for 'im, perhaps they would make it lighter. It won't do away with the disgrace, sir; but perhaps it would come easier for Budd. Though I'm sure 'e don't deserve no pity."
"I should think not," assented Doctor Brink. "After being a uniformed porter for all those years. And a big ham, too."
"And the best quality, also," said Mrs. Budd.