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When Zachariah came to himself he was in a large, long, whitewashed room, with twenty beds or more in it. A woman in a greyish check dress was standing near him. "Where am I?" he said. "Where are yer?" she said; "why, in the workus infirmary, to be sure, with me a-looking after yer. Where would yer be?" Zachariah relapsed and was still. The next time he opened his eyes the woman had left him.
"That's the way grandfather taught me how to fish," continued the boy, as he took the hook from the captive's mouth, "I say, what's your name!" "Dexter Grayson," was the answer, for the boy felt keenly already that the names Obed Coleby were ones of which he could not be proud. "Ever been in the workus!" "Yes." "Ever see grandfather there!"
"I came out of the workus workhouse," he added, as he remembered one of Helen's teachings. "Why don't you get your rod some day, and a basket of something to eat, and come right up the river with me, fishing? There's whackers up there." "I should like to," said Dexter thoughtfully, for the idea of the fishing seemed to drive away the troubles from which he suffered. "Well, come then.
Bundle, an old grievance rushing to her mind, "I had thought myself of making so bold as to speak to you about that there Tommy Masden as you give half-crowns to, as tells you one big lie on the top of another, and his father drinks every penny he earns, and his mother at the back-door all along for scraps, and throwed the Christmas soup to the pig, and said they wasn't come to the workus yet; and a coat as good as new of yours, sir, hanging out of the door of the pawnshop, and giving me such a turn I thought my legs would never have carried me home, till I found you'd given it to that Tommy, who won't do a hand's turn for sixpence, but begs at every house in the parish every week as comes round, and tells everybody, as he tells yourself, sir, that he never gets nothing from nobody."
What's he to you? Has he broke his leg, same as I did mine, when I wouldn't go away into the workus, and you used to come and see me and talk to me till it got better?" "Broken his leg? No!" "Ho! Thought he had perhaps, because you like doctoring chaps as has broke their legs, as well I know. What is he to you, then, Master Waller?" "He's my friend, Bunny," cried the boy passionately.
Now look here, Captain, you don't look very prosperous with that vessel of yours, and will probably have the sack from owners for mishandling her when you get ashore, and I don't want to embitter your remaining years in the workus, so I'll pull you in for fifty quid." "£20, old bottle nose." "Come now, Captain, thirty. I'm not here for sport. I've got to make my living."
But you can't 'ave us goin' and being grateful on our bended knees to the sort of person as according to your account of it gave me my first 'usband 'oo was a blackguard if ever there was one, and my last child wot 'ad rickets and so 'andsomely arranged me to go breakin' my leg one night coming back from a party and sliding on the stairs, and in losin' my little bit o' charin' and as near the workus as ever yer see no it ain't common sense."
"We're not very far from the workus," he said, looking down the road they had just retraversed. "We might call there as we pass, and leave a message for them to send and take her in." "Let us go at once," said Mrs. Beale in a tone of relief. Edith, whose face was pale, looked pityingly once more at the girl and her little child as they drove off.
An' Grumpy he goes ragin' about the house sayin' he'll have nothin' to do wi' the poor little thing who's not so little naither, bein' a ten-year-old if she's an hour, an' a purty sweet face to boot an' that he'll send her to the workus' or pris'n, or anywhere; but in his house she's not to stop another day.
This repetition of the word pauper so enraged me that for the moment I felt tempted to let him go down, but the next moment I shuddered at the thought and cried: "It is my business. I was to keep everyone from going near." "Don't take any notice of the workus boy, Court. Go on down, if you dare." "I dare," he said, laughing. "I tell you it isn't safe," I cried.
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