? I said, screwing up my eyes. he nodded.
y was Mrs Cream.
I suppose its like t in try. I to ask name. in tratress, t y o talk of tleman and lady t ly married, once oget son, he
coac ties was.
I supposed it a great el, ts before, and in ditcoo late, o turn back, e for Mr Rivers. t mean a kind lady Miss Maud al if anyone salk Mr Rivers round to taking me on, she should. And now—!
o tremble. Really, Mr ay o be so tearful, and at any otime, in any ot for no ears, and to my bruised and desperate eyes they were like so many pick-locks and keys.
Co o seem calm. You cant go back to Briar.
I cant, miss, ! Mr ay would skin me alive!
And I dare say your aunty dont you. s Mr Rivers youre after. ill crying.
ten to me, I said—barely speaking at all, barely o me. I can take you to ake you to first, you must of here.
If it quite true t I kne quite a lie, eitty certain t, once I reac I oo. Cared at me, and , miss, just whenever you please?
I s keeps me s t nurse? See ty nurses ; and to use em. No my face. Am I mad?
he looked, and blinked. ell—
Of course I aint. But ics so crafty, tors and nurses cant see them.
Again me—just as, a moment before, I time. my s. I dre under my skirt.
I— Im not sure, he said.
Not sure? Not sure of o go back to your auntys and live to go and be man to Mr Rivers, in London—London, mind! Remember ts a boy can ride on for a sricky c.
Nurse Spiller. Saken out a ch.
Pigs? I said quickly. Or eleps? to be? For Gods sake, which?
he worked his lips. v
Eleps, er a terrible silence
Good boy. Good boy. ten. ?
he swallowed. Five shillings and sixpence, he said.
All rig you must do. You must go to any to you must ask to my eyes. I t I felt t cloudy er rising again, t flapping curtain. I nearly screamed in frigain dreer s it. If t sell it, you must steal one. No look like t! e s t saf