“Nussy bad ooman,” he blurted out after a long silence, looking up at Jupp and putting his hand on his knee confidingly.
“Indeed, sir?” said the other cautiously, leading him on.
“Ess, man,” continued the mite. “See want take way my kitty.”
“You don’t mean that, sir!” exclaimed Jupp with well-feigned horror at such unprincipled behaviour on the part of the accused nurse.
“Ess, man, see did,” replied the little chap, nodding his small curly head with great importance; but the next instant his little roguish blue eyes twinkled with suppressed intelligence, and his red rosebud of a mouth expanded into a happy smile as he added, with much satisfaction in his tones, “but I dot kitty all wite now!”
“Have you really, sir?” said Jupp, pretending to be much surprised at the information, the little chap evidently expecting him to be so.
“Ess, man,” cried the mite with a triumphant shout; “I’se dot po’ ’ittle kitty here!”
“Never, sir!” ejaculated Jupp with trembling eagerness, as if his life depended on the solution of the doubt.
The little chap became completely overcome with merriment at having so successfully concealed his treasured secret, as he thought, that the porter had not even guessed it.
“Kitty’s in dundle!” he exclaimed gleefully, hugging his handkerchief parcel tighter to his little stomach as he spoke. “I dot kitty here, all wite!”