Page:A Child of the Jago - Arthur Morrison.djvu/297

 Mother Gapp would not even take the watch in her hands; her eyes were good enough at that distance. "Lor, Josh Perrott," she said, "wot 'a' ye bin up to now? Want to git me lagged now, do ye? Ain't satisfied with breakin' up the 'ouse an' ruinin' a pore widder that way, ain't ye? You git out, go on. I 'ad 'nough o' you!"

It was very extraordinary. Was there a general reclamation of fences? But there were men at work at the Feathers, putting down boards and restoring partitions; and two of them had been "gone over" ruinously on their way to work, and now they came and went with four policemen. Possibly Mother Gapp feared the observation of carpenters. Be it as it might, there was nothing for it now but Weech's.

Mr. Weech was charmed. "Dear me, it's a wonderful fine watch, Mr. Perrott—a wonderful fine watch. An' a beautiful