No alcohol on any consideration, no
matter if he goes on his knees to you. Let him have milk and beef-tea as
often as you can, and never leave him for an instant."
Our landlord of The Chequers was very funny about the jim-jams, and
funnier still about my suddenly taking to swell company; but I let him
talk on, and he certainly kept unusually quiet, though no more
inveterate gossip ever lived.
At a very late hour I was strolling homeward, long after the last
reeling coster had swayed and howled towards his slum, when two women
stopped me Then a man came from the shadow of the wall, and I thought I
had fallen across some strange night-birds; but one of the women spoke,
and I knew she was a lady. "You have my boy in that horrid place. Tell
me, is he well? I must see him; I'll tear the doors down with my nails."
Then the man said, "I drove the keb, sir. I knows Mr. Robert, and I
thought I'd better tell his mother." I eagerly said, "Madam, you shall
see him, but, pray, not to-night. The shock might kill him.
Pages:
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55