"Your own name?"
"Charley Green. It was all very well as long as my father lived; but when he was no more, my mother-in-law began her ill-usage of me. I bore it as long as I could, and then I ran away. If you can take me, sir, I hope you will."
"Go along with you. You won't suit me at all. I wonder at your impudence in coming."
"No harm done, sir. I will try my fortune elsewhere."
Todd began sharpening a razor, as the boy went to the door again.
"Shall I take him?" he said to himself. "I do want some one for the short time I shall be here. Humph! An orphan—strange in London. No one to care for him. The very thing for me. No prying friends—nowhere to run, the moment he is sent of an errand, with open mouth, proclaiming this and that has happened in the shop. I will have him."
He darted to the door.
"Hoi!—hoi!"
Johanna turned round, and came back in a minute. Todd had caught at the bait at last. She got close to the door.
"Upon consideration," said Todd, "I will speak to you again. But just run and see what the time is by St. Dunstan's Church."