“What,” said Billy, jerking his head towards Jack, “ain’t he goin’ to ’is ’sam, then?”
“Yes, he’s going to his examination this morning.”
“And I are a-goin’ to give him a proper shine afore he goes,” replied the boy, almost fiercely.
“Of course you are, Billy,” said Jack. “I believe I should come to grief altogether if I went without having my boots polished.”
“In corse you would,” said the delighted Billy, commencing operations forthwith.
“I say, governor,” said he, looking up, halfway through his task, “I give the animal a topper last night.”
“What animal?” inquired Jack.
“That there ’Orksbury, so I did. Him and ’is pal comes along and twigs me a-sottin’ on my box. ‘That’s the kid. Mashing,’ says ’Orksbury. Mashing he up to me, and says he, ‘Would you like a shillin’, my boy?’ says he. ‘You’re ’avin’ a lark with me,’ says I. ‘No, I ain’t,’ says ’e, ’oldin’ it out. ‘What do yer want?’ says I. ‘You know Smith?’ says ’Orksbury. ‘That ain’t no concarn of yourn,’ says I. ‘You ain’t got no concarn with my governor,’ says I. ‘Oh, then you don’t want the shillin’?’ says he. ‘No, I don’t,’ says I, seein’ they was up to games. ‘What do you mean by it?’ says Mashing, a-pullin’ my ear. (Bless you, ’e don’t know the way to pull a cove’s ear; my old gal can do it proper.) ‘No one is going to do anything to Smith,’ says ’e. ‘We only want you to give him this,’ says he, pullin’ out a bit of paper. ‘Don’t give it ’im,’ says ’Orksbury; ‘he’s a young thief,’ says ’e, ‘and ’e’ll only spoil it all.’ ‘I will so,’ says I, ‘and I’ll spoil you too,’ says I, aimin’ a brush at his ’ed. They gives me a wipin’ for it, but there, they can’t ’arf do it. And they says if I want my shillin’ I can go and get it from that cantin’ son of a thief—meanin’ you, governor—what kep’ me. Bless you, they did jaw, them two, but I give that ’Orksbury a topper, which I owed ’im one afore.”
This spirited address on the part of our young friend I need hardly say interested us all deeply. We all resented the outrage which had been offered to him, and admired the spirit with which he had stood to his colours during the interview.
This little episode served to smooth the way for Mr Smith’s interview with Jack. It gave him time to compose himself, and get over the emotion which the first sight of his lost son since last night’s discovery naturally roused.