“Do as you like with your own money, my dear,” said the bumboat-woman.
“Then, Nancy, I’ll give you a sovereign to buy yourself a new bonnet with,” said Joey, taking one out of his pocket and putting into her hand.
Nancy looked at the sovereign, and then at Joey. “Bless the boy!” said she, at last, kissing him on the forehead; “he has a kind heart; may the world use him better than it has me! Here, take your sovereign, child; any bonnet’s good enough for one like me.” So saying, Nancy turned hastily away, and ran downstairs.
Chapter Twenty Four.
In which Mrs Chopper reads her Ledger.
“Ah, poor girl,” said Mrs Chopper, with a sigh, as Nancy disappeared. “You are a good boy, Peter; I like to see boys not too fond of money, and if she had taken it (and I wish she had, poor thing) I would have made it up to you.”
“Is the man she calls Bill her husband?” inquired Joey.
“Oh, I know nothing about other people’s husbands,” replied Mrs Chopper, hastily. “Now then, let us go and order the clothes, and then you’ll be able to go to church on Sunday; I will do without you.”