The old man must ha' been living with Henery Walker for over eighteen months when one night he passed away in 'is sleep. Henery knew that his 'art was wrong, because he 'ad just paid Dr. Green 'is bill for saying that 'e couldn't do anything for 'im, but it was a surprise to 'im all the same. He blew his nose 'ard and Mrs. Walker kept rubbing 'er eyes with her apron while they talked in whispers and wondered 'ow much money they 'ad come in for?
In less than ten minutes the news was all over Clay-bury, and arf the people in the place hanging round in front of the 'ouse waiting to hear 'ow much the Walkers 'ad come in for. Henery Walker pulled the blind on one side for a moment and shook his 'ead at them to go away. Some of them did go back a yard or two, and then they stood staring at Bob Pretty, wot come up as bold as brass and knocked at the door.
“Wot's this I 'ear?” he ses, when Henery Walker opened it. “You don't mean to tell me that the pore old gentleman has really gone? I told 'im wot would happen if 'e came to lodge with you.”
“You be off,” ses Henery Walker; “he hasn't left you anything.”
“I know that,” ses Bob Pretty, shaking his 'ead. “You're welcome to it, Henery, if there is anything. I never bore any malice to you for taking of 'im away from us. I could see you'd took a fancy to 'im from the fust. The way you pretended 'e was your great-uncle showed me that.”
“Wot are you talking about?” ses Henery Walker. “He was my great-uncle!”
“Have it your own way, Henery,” ses Bob Pretty; “on'y, if you asked me, I should say that he was my wife's grandfather.”
“Your—wife's—grandfather?” ses Henery Walker, in a choking voice.
He stood staring at 'im, stupid-like, for a minute or two, but he couldn't get out another word. In a flash 'e saw 'ow he'd been done, and how Bob Pretty 'ad been deceiving 'im all along, and the idea that he 'ad arf ruined himself keeping Mrs. Pretty's grandfather for 'em pretty near sent 'im out of his mind.
“But how is it 'is name was Josiah Walker, same as Henery's great-uncle?” ses Bill Chambers, who 'ad been crowding round with the others. “Tell me that!”