.

but he's got a knife that he took when Mr.Mortimer's back was turned, and if they try to drag 'im back to that Orph'nige--" "Stuff and nonsense!" Mr.Hucks interrupted.

"Who talked about handin' him back?
Not me." "Then you won't ?" "I'm not sayin' that, neither.

Fetch the boy along into my Counting House, You and me must have a talk about this--in fact, I want a word with everybody consarned." Tilda considered for a moment, and then announced a compromise.
"Tell you what," she said, "I don't mind comin' along with you first-- not if you let 'Dolph come too." "I shan't let him murder _me_, if that's in your mind." Mr.Hucks grinned.
"You can call the others in if he tries," Tilda answered seriously.
"But he won't, not if you be'ave.

An' then," she went on, "you can arsk me anything you like, an' I'll answer as truthful as I can." "Can't I see the boy first ?" asked Mr.Hucks, hugely tickled.
"No, you can't!" "You're hard on me," he sighed.