"I'm a sharp 'un, that's what I are!" "I think you were worse than a flat to steal my money, and my friend's." The boy looked perplexed.

"Ga on!" said he.
"What's your name ?" asked Jack, changing the subject.
"Billy," replied the boy.
"Billy what ?" "Ga on! What do you mean by `what'?
Ain't Billy enough ?" "Where do you live ?" "Live?
where I can; that's where I live!" "Then you don't live with your mother in that court any longer ?" "The old gal--she ain't no concern of yourn!" said the youth, firing up.
"I know that," said Jack, evidently at a loss, as I had been, how to pursue the conversation with this queer boy.

"I say, Billy," he added, "where are you going to sleep to-night ?" "Ain't a-goin' to sleep nowheres!" was the prompt reply.
"Would you like to come and sleep with me ?" "No fear!" was the complimentary reply.
"What are you going to do, then ?" "'Tain't no concern o' yourn; so it ain't." "Will you be here to-morrow ?" "In corse I shall!" "Well, I expect I'll want my boots done again to-morrow evening.

Here's a penny for this time." The boy took the penny and held it in the palm of his hand.
"Isn't it enough ?" asked Jack.
"You're 'avin' a lark with me," said the boy.

"This 'ere brown--" "What's wrong?
It's a good one, isn't it ?" "Oh, ain't you funny?
I don't want yer brown!" and to my amazement he tossed the coin back.
Jack solemnly picked it up and put it back into his pocket.