"A woman was nearly murdering you." "That was my old gal--'tain't no concern of yourn." Evidently there was little use expecting gratitude out of this queer specimen of mortality; and Jack didn't try.
"You stay quiet and go to sleep, and I'll give you some breakfast in the morning," he said to his graceless little bed-fellow.
"You ain't a-going to take me to the station, then ?" demanded the latter.
"No." "Or the workus ?" "No." "Or old shiny-togs ?" "Who ?" "Shiny-togs--you know--the bloke with the choker." "I don't know who you mean." "Go on!--you know 'im--'im as jaws in the church with 'is nightgown on." "Oh, the clergyman," said Jack, hardly able to repress a smile.

"No.
I'll take you back to your home." "To my old gal ?" "Yes, to your mother." "You ain't a 'avin' a lark with me, then ?" "No," said Jack, pitifully.
With this assurance the small boy was apparently satisfied, for he pursued the conversation no longer, and shortly afterwards I fell off to sleep again.
When next I woke it was broad daylight, and Jack Smith was standing by my bed.
"Fred, I say, he's bolted!" he exclaimed, in an agitated voice, as I sat up and rubbed my eyes.
"Who--the kid ?" I asked.
"Yes." "He's a nice amiable young specimen," replied I.

"When did he go ?" "I don't know.

When I woke up he was gone." "Well, it's a good riddance," said I, who really did not see why Jack should be so afflicted about such a graceless young ragamuffin.

"Do you know Mrs Nash has given us both warning over this business ?" "I don't care.