“So do I.”
“Or I wouldn’t mind if it was only a clothes-prop.”
“But we have neither, Esau.”
“Well, don’t I know we haven’t? What’s the good o’ being so aggravating, and keeping on saying we ain’t—we ain’t? Lots o’ beautiful trees behind us to cut clothes-props to last all Camberwell for life, and there’s lots over there in front, but they don’t bring us one. It’s always the way. There’s lots o’ money in the Bank o’ England, but we couldn’t get it to come out here.”
“Don’t be unreasonable,” I said, and I gave quite a start as a stone from above came rattling down.
“Who’s unreasonable?” grumbled Esau; “I ain’t: only a bit wild at having to go across that precious bit o’ solid slide. What do you think my mother would say if she saw me coming here and going to start over that place? Why, it would kill her.”
“It does look dangerous,” I said, sadly.
“Look! Why, it is. It’s horrid.”
“But they’ve got over safely.”
“That don’t mean I shall. Oh dear, oh dear! This comes o’ picking up strange friends, and letting ’em lead us into difficulties. And not so much as a walking-stick to help us.”