Bobby went straight up and planted himself in front of her.
“Please, ma’am, will you oblige me with a copper?”
The poor old lady grew pale. Without a word she tremblingly, yet quickly, pulled out her purse, took therefrom a shilling, and offered it to the boy.
“Oh! marm,” said Bobby, who was alarmed and conscience-smitten at the result of his scheme, “I didn’t mean for to frighten you. Indeed I didn’t, an’ I won’t ’ave your money at no price.”
Saying which he turned abruptly round and walked away.
“Boy, boy, boy!” called the old lady in a voice so entreating, though tremulous, that Bobby felt constrained to return.
“You’re a most remarkable boy,” she said, putting the shilling back into her purse.
“I’m sorry to say, marm, that you’re not the on’y indiwidooal as ’olds that opinion.”
“What do you mean by your conduct, boy?”
“I mean, marm, that I’m wery ’ard up. Uncommon ’ard up; that I’ve tried to git vork an’ can’t git it, so that I’m redooced to beggary. But, I ain’t a ’ighway robber, marm, by no means, an’ don’t want to frighten you hout o’ your money if you ain’t willin’ to give it.”