Page:Doctor Syn - A Smuggler Tale of the Romney Marsh.djvu/170

 A YOUNG RECRUIT

ALK about an 'ealthy child, and there he is," said Mrs. Waggetts, entering the sanded parlour with Sexton Mipps. "And eat; nothing like eating to increase your fat, is there, Mister Mipps? But, there, I suppose you never had no fat on you to speak of, 'cos if ever a man was one of Pharaoh's lean kine, you was."

"It's hard work wot's kept me thin, Missus Waggetts," replied the sinister sexton; "hard work and scheming; and a little of both would do our young Jerry here no harm."

"As to work," replied Jerry, gulping down more food, "there ain't been no complaints against me, I believes, Missus Waggetts?"

"Certainly not, Jerry, my boy," replied that lady affably.

"That's good," said Jerk, and then turning to the sexton he added: "And as to scheming, Mister Sexton, how do you know I don't scheme? Some folks are so took up with their own schemes that p'raps they don't get time to notice wot others are a-doin'. I has lots of