Page:Gissing - Workers in the Dawn, vol. I, 1880.djvu/30

20 yerself, sir? Maybe there’s somebody, sir, as mightn’t like him to die in this way sir, an’ him owin'—”

“I will myself see to all that,” interrupted the clergyman, turning away from the harpy’s hideous face in loathing. " I wanted to tell you that I am going to take away his child with me. I will return in the morning.”

“Oh, very well, sir. I’m sure it’s good of you to take thought of the child. I’ve took a great deal o’ care of him, sir, an’ he’s been a good bit of expense to me one way an’ another. You see the gen’leman would drink, an’—”

The clergyman cut short the old hag’s protestations by once more ascending to the garret, having just taken the candle from her hand. He bent down to the boy, and said, in a low voice—

“Come with me, my poor child. Come quietly. You mustn’t wake your father, for he is very poorly.”

The child shook off the speaker’s hands, and took hold of the arm of the corpse as if to prevent himself from being removed by force. “Why should I go with you?” exclaimed the child, impulsively. “I’m going to stay with father. I am. I’ll wait till he wakes. I don’t know you at all, do I?”

Mr. Norman reflected for a moment, then spoke in a kind, low voice—