“Who are you?” he cried. “I don’t know you. More brandy—where’s the bottle? ‘Here’s a health to all good lasses; pledge it merrily, fill your glasses.’ Shuffle the cards well; now then, nothing wenture nothing win. Spades are trumps.”
“Oh, my boy, my boy,” cried the agonised mother, “can nothing be done for you? Has a doctor been sent for?” she cried suddenly, turning to the old woman.
“Doctor!” was the reply. “No, ma’am; who’s to pay for a doctor? The young gent’s been and popped all his things for the play and the drink; and I haven’t myself so much as a brass farden to get a mouthful o’ meat with.”
“Oh, will any one run for a doctor?” implored the miserable mother. “Here, my good woman,” taking out a shilling, “give this to somebody to fetch a doctor; quick—oh, don’t lose a moment.”
“Ay, ay, I’ll see about it,” mumbled the old woman; “that’ll fetch a doctor quick enough, you may be sure.”
She made her way slowly and painfully down the creaking stairs, and after a while returned.
“Doctor’ll be here soon, ma’am, I’ll warrant,” she said.
Lady Oldfield sat on the box by the bed, watching her son’s wild stare and gesticulations in silent misery.
“I’m glad you’ve came, ma’am,” continued the old woman; “I’ve had weary work with the young gentleman. I found him outside the door of the ‘Green Dragon’ without his coat, and shaking like an aspen. I couldn’t help looking at him, poor soul. I asked him why he didn’t go home; he said he hadn’t got no home. I asked him where his friends lived; he said he hadn’t got no friends. I asked him where he lodged; he said he didn’t know. I was a-going to ask him summat else, but afore I could speak he tumbles down on the ground. We’d hard work to lift him up; some was for calling police, others wanted to make short work with him. But I said, says I, ‘You just let him alone, I’ll look arter him;’ and so I did. I just heaved him up, and got him to a door-step, and then I fetched him a quartern o’ gin, and he got a little better; and then I helped him here. I’d hard work to get him to climb up, but I managed it at last. So here he’s been ever since, and that’s a week come Friday.”
“God bless you for your kindness,” cried Lady Oldfield. “You shall have no cause to repent it.”