Page:Paul Clifford Vol 1.djvu/59

Rh for nothing, it's loss of time! but play with those as be less than yoursel', and then you can go for to beat 'em, if they says you go for to cheat!"

Paul vanished; and the dame, laying her hand on Dummie's shoulder, said—

"There be nothing like a friend in need, Dummie; and somehow or other, I thinks as how you knows more of the horigin of that 'ere lad than any of us!"

"Me, dame!" exclaimed Dummie, with the broad gaze of astonishment.

"Ah, you! you knows as how the mother saw more of you just afore she died, than she did of 'ere one of us. Noar, now,—noar now! tell us all about 'un. Did she steal 'un, think ye?"

"Lauk, mother Margery! dost think I knows? vot put such a crotchet in your ead?"

"Well!" said the dame with a disappointed sigh, "I always thought as how you were more knowing about it than you owns. Dear, dear, I shall never forgit the night when Judith brought the poor cretur here,—you knows she had been some months in my house afore ever I see'd the