"Fetch him out."
"Shan't!"
"Now look here, missie—"
"I shan't," repeated Tilda. "Oh, Mr. Bossom, you won't let them!
They're strong, I know . . . but he's got a knife that he took when
Mr. Mortimer's back was turned, and if they try to drag 'im back
to that Orph'nige—"
"Stuff and nonsense!" Mr. Hucks interrupted. "Who talked about handin' him back? Not me."
"Then you won't?"
"I'm not sayin' that, neither. Fetch the boy along into my Counting House, You and me must have a talk about this—in fact, I want a word with everybody consarned."
Tilda considered for a moment, and then announced a compromise.
"Tell you what," she said, "I don't mind comin' along with you first— not if you let 'Dolph come too."
"I shan't let him murder me, if that's in your mind."