Page:A Child of the Jago - Arthur Morrison.djvu/344

 dragging a barrow-load of carrots and cabbages. Kiddo had not yet compassed the stall with the rain-proof awning. But it was almost in sight, for the barrow could scarce hold all that he could sell; and there was a joke abroad that he was to be married in Father Sturt's church; some facetiously suggesting that Mother Gapp would prove a good investment commercially, while others maintained the greater eligibility of old Poll Rann.

"'T cheer, Dicky!" said Kiddo, pulling up and wiping his cap-lining with a red cotton handkerchief. "Ol' man out to-day, ain't 'e?"

"Yus," Dicky answered. "'Spect 'im up to-night."

Kiddo nodded and wiped his face. "S'pose the mob 'll git up a break for 'im," he said; "but 'e'll 'ave a bit o' gilt from stir as well, won't 'e? So 'e'll be awright." And Kiddo stuffed his handkerchief into his trousers pocket, pulled