She went and got the lump of lead and fetched it back, and brought along a hank of yarn which she wanted me to help her with.

I held up my two hands and she put the hank over them, and went on talking about her and her husband's matters.

But she broke off to say: "Keep your eye on the rats.

You better have the lead in your lap, handy." So she dropped the lump into my lap just at that moment, and I clapped my legs together on it and she went on talking.

But only about a minute.
Then she took off the hank and looked me straight in the face, and very pleasant, and says: "Come, now, what's your real name ?" "Wh--what, mum ?" "What's your real name?
Is it Bill, or Tom, or Bob ?--or what is it ?" I reckon I shook like a leaf, and I didn't know hardly what to do.