“When you haven’t got your Mammy an’ me you’ll be sorry you’m a naughty boy, Tommy.”
This was a subject of conversation which Tommy always discouraged.
“When you an’ Mammy do be dead,” he replied, “I shall get married quick, I shall. I shall marry Ruthie to wanst, else I shan’t have no one to look after me, I shan’t.”
Then the tousled head began to droop wearily, for it had been a day of sorrow. “Can’t talk to ee any more to-night, Daddy. I be too tired to talk to ee any more to-night. Put I to bed, Daddy.”
Mrs. Tregennis was upstairs laying the cloth for supper, so with clumsy hands Tregennis undressed the boy and tucked him tightly in his cot.
“Say ‘good-night’ to my Mammy for me, ’n, good-night, Daddy.”
The sleepy head burrowed into the pillow, while the long lashes drooped over the tired blue eyes.
Although Tommy still felt defiant he could not go to sleep in such an unfinished way. He heard a step on the creaking stair, and “Mammy,” he shouted, “good-night, Mammy.”
Mrs. Tregennis came into the room.