“I didn’t accuse him, ma’am—I said as he was at the bottom of it,” said Pina, who seemed to be unable to change her phraseology. “I said he was at the bottom of it, and I stand to it as he was!”
“Oh, Anna, Anna, time flies! If Lenny is not with Alick, where is he? Oh, where is he? He must be found at once—at once! I cannot live or breathe till he is found! She must be made to tell how she lost him!” cried Drusilla, losing all her self-command and starting up in great excitement,—“He must be sought for, Anna! he must be sought for at once!”
“Of course he must; but the search must be commenced with this girl who was the last person with him. Pina, you say you don’t know who took the child from you?”
“No, ma’am, I don’t—but know his father was at the bottom of it—I know it, and I’ll stand to it!”
“Why do you think so?”
“Oh, Anna, Anna, you lose time with all this talk!”
“No, I don’t; we must find out from her where and how we are to begin to search. Now, Pina, why do you think Lord Killcrichtoun was concerned in this matter?”
“Lor’, ma’am, because it stands to reason as he was. Lenny is his own son, which also they are very fond of each other—Lenny of he, and him of Lenny! And so it was nateral he should want to have him. I’m not saying as it was right or anything like right, but it was so!”
“Oh, Anna, Anna, time flying, and no facts learned yet—only conjectures! Let me talk to her myself. Pina, where were you when you missed little Lenny?” inquired Drusilla, distractedly.
“Oh, ma’am! oh, missus, don’t take on so—don’t, and I will tell you! He was down on the Strand, a-looking in at a toy-shop—oh, dear! oh, me! oh, poor little Lenny!”