Page:A Child of the Jago - Arthur Morrison.djvu/191

 that, with mingled gratification and embarrassment, as was the Jago way in such circumstances. Because one could never tell whether Father Sturt would exchange a merely friendly sentence or two, or, with concealed knowledge, put some disastrous question about a watch, or a purse, or a breastpin, or what not.

"Very well, thanks. Father," answered Josh, and grinned amiably at the wall beyond the vicar's elbow.

"And what have you been doing just lately?"

"Oo—odd jobs, Father." Always the answer, all over the Jago.

"Not quite such odd jobs as usual, I hope. Josh, eh?" Father Sturt smiled, and twitched Josh playfully by the button-hole as one might treat a child. "I once heard of a very odd job in the Kingsland Road that got a fine young man six months' holiday. Eh, Josh?"

Josh Perrott wriggled and grinned