Page:A Child of the Jago - Arthur Morrison.djvu/33

 front room," he said. "Ain't the man give 'is wife a 'idin 'ut?"

"No."

"Nor yut the boy—'umpty-backed un?"

"No."

"Seems they're mighty pertickler. Fancy theirselves too good for their neighbours; I 'eard Pigeony Poll say that; on'y Poll said—"

"You mustn't never listen to Pigeony Poll, Dicky. Ain't you 'eard me say so? Go to sleep. 'Ere comes father."

There was, indeed, a step on the stairs, but it passed the landing and went on to the top floor. Dicky lay awake, but silent, gazing upward and back through the dirty window just over his head. It was very hot, and he fidgeted uncomfortably, fearing to turn or toss lest the baby should wake and cry. There came a change in the hue of the sky, and he watched the patch within his view, until the red seemed to