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"Now, sir, if you go for to interrupt me like that I'll 'ave to charge a bob for this here valk; I couldn't stand it for sixpence." "Come, Slidder, don't be greedy." "Vell, sir, if you got as many kicks as I do, and as few ha'pence, p'r'aps you'd be greedy too." "Perhaps I should, my boy," said I, in a gentle tone. "But come, I will give you an extra sixpence if we get along well.
He had evidently got himself up for the occasion, for his shoeblack uniform had been well brushed, his hands and face severely washed, and his hair plastered well down with soap-and-water. "Come in, Slidder that's your name, isn't it?" said the doctor. "It is, sir Robin Slidder, at your sarvice," replied the urchin, giving me a familiar nod. "'Ope your leg ain't so cranky as it wos, sir.
On reaching Mrs Willis's little dwelling, I found young Slidder officiating at the tea-table. I could not resist watching him a moment through a crack in the door before entering. "Now then," said he, "'ere you are! Set to work, old Sneezer, with a will!"
The footman, anxious apparently about his calves, seized an umbrella and made a wild assault on the dog, and I was confusedly conscious of Slidder exclaiming, "Why, if that ain't my young lady!" as I sprang up the steps to the rescue. "Down, Dumps, you rascal; down!" I exclaimed, seizing him by the brass collar with which I had invested him.
"Now, Dumps, come here and let's be friends. Who do you think is coming to stay with us to stay altogether? You'll never guess. Your old friend and first master, little Slidder, no less. Think of that!" Dumps wagged his tail vigorously; whether at the news, or because of pleasure at my brushing the hair off his soft brown eyes, and looking into them, I cannot tell.
"It was a young gentleman who rescued most of the doctor's family from a fire last night. His name, I believe, is Mellon " "Wot! Doctor John Mellon?" exclaimed Slidder, with widening eyes. "Whether he's John or doctor I cannot tell.
Opening it he beheld a tall footman, with a parcel in his hand. "Does a Mrs Willis live here?" he asked. "No," replied Slidder; "a Mrs Willis don't live here, but the Mrs Willis the on'y one vurth speakin' of does." "Ah!" replied the man, with a smile for he was an amiable footman "and I suppose you are young Slidder?" "I am Mister Slidder, sir!
"Punch," said he, "come here, good dog!" My doggie looked first at one, then at the other. The two indicators in front rose and fell, while the one behind wagged and drooped in a state of obvious uncertainty. "Won't you sell 'im back?" said Slidder, returning. "I'll work it out in messages or anythink else." "But what of the bobbies?" I asked. "Ah! true, I forgot the bobbies.
I meant to let fall the curtain at this point but something which I cannot explain induces me to keep it up a few minutes longer, in order to tell you that the little McTougalls grew up to be splendid men and women; that dear old granny is still alive and well, insomuch that she bids fair to become a serene centenarian; that my sweet Edie is now "fair, fat, and forty;" that I am grey and hearty; that Dumps is greyer, and so fat, as well as stiff, that he wags his ridiculous tail with the utmost difficulty; that Brassey and the Slogger have gone into partnership in the green-grocery line round the corner; and that Robin Slidder is no longer a boy, but has become a man and a butler.
I could only see the withered old hand held tremblingly out for the smoking cup of tea, which the boy handed to her with a benignant smile, and I could hear the soft voice say "Thank you, Robin dear boy so like!" "I tell you what it is, granny," returned Slidder, with a frown, "I'll give you up an' 'and you over to the p'leece if you go on comparin' me to other people in that way.