Page:A Child of the Jago - Arthur Morrison.djvu/91

, but say a penny this time—that's twopence you owe me, an' you better bring me somethink an' pay it off quick; so go along."

This was an unforeseen tag to the entertainment. For the first time in his life Dicky was in debt. It was a little disappointing to find the coffee and cake no gift after all, though, indeed, it now seemed foolish to have supposed they were; for in Dicky Perrott's world people did not give things away—that were the act of a fool. Thus Dicky, with his hands in his broken pockets, and thought in his small face, whereon still stood the muddy streaks of yesterday's tears, trudged out of Mr. Aaron Weech's shop-door, and along Meakin Street.

Now he was beginning the world seriously, and must face the fact. Truly, the world had been serious enough for him hitherto, but that he knew not. Now he was of an age when most boys were