Page:Her Benny - Silas K Hocking (Warne, 1890).djvu/31

Rh Benny's eyes gleamed as he caught sight of something white between the gentleman's finger and thumb.

"Be jabbers ! it's a thrip'ny," was his mental soliloquy, as he eagerly clutched the coin; and bowing his thanks as politely as he knew how, he dashed up the gangway with the fleetness of the wind, muttering to himself, "Shouldn't wonder if't was a fo'penny, arter all." Standing under a lamp, he took the coin out of his mouth and looked at it.

"Oh, glory!" he ejaculated; "if't ain't haaf a bob. Murder and turf! this are a catch ! *' And he turned two somersaults on the stage by way of expressing his delight, unfortunately, however, planting his foot in his second revolution in the stomach of a young gentleman who was hurrying down to catch the boat.

The gentleman soon recovered his sudden loss of wind, though the dirty footprint on his immaculate coat was not so easily removed.

"Beg pardon," said Benny, in a fright, and hurried away just in time to escape a vigorous kick aimed at him by the infuriated young gentleman. "My stars and stockings!" he soliloquized, as he hurried up the bridge to join his sister.

"If he 'ad a-catched me, I'd a-got a walloping, an' no mistake. Hullo, Nell! what's a matter?" he said, as he saw great tears on the cheeks of his little crouching sister.

"I's so cold, Benny — oh, so very cold!" sobbed the little girl.

"Never mind, Nelly, I'll soon get yer warmed up. Look here, I's got haaf a bob, and a good warming into