“Well, mayn’t I have a little night work as well as you?”
“Oh! you’ve come to that, have you?” replied he. “Well, as you’re waiting for something else, I suppose you could not help us with one of these bags?”
“Yes, I can,” replied I, forgetting all my resolutions; “put it on my back, if it’s not too heavy.”
“No, no; you’re stout enough to carry it. I say, Jack, can you tell us, does old Nanny fence again, or has she given it up?”
“I believe she does not,” replied I.
“Well,” said he, “just put the question to her to-morrow morning, for she used to be a good ’un; now follow us.”
I walked after them with my load until we came to a by-street; at the shutters of a shop they rapped three times on the iron bar outside which fixed them up; the door was opened, and we put the bags down in the passage, walked out again without a word, and the door was immediately closed.
“Well, Jack,” said the waterman, “I suppose we must tip handsome for the first time: here’s ten shillings for you, and we’ll let you know when we want you to be on the look-out for us.”
Ten shillings! and five before—fifteen shillings! I felt as I were a rich man; all scruples of conscience were, for the time, driven away.
I hurried home rattling the silver in my pocket, and opening the door softly, I crept to bed. Did I say my prayers that night? No!!