That's what you 'as to say."
"And you'll take the child off my hands for ever for five pounds?"
"Yes; and if you likes to go out again as wet-nurse, I'll take the second
off yer 'ands too, and at the same price."
"You wicked woman; oh, this is awful!"
"Come, come.... What do you mean by talking to me like that? And because I
offered to find someone who would adopt your child."
"You did nothing of the kind; ever since I've been in your house you have
been trying to get me to give you up my child to murder as you are
murdering those poor innocents in the cradles."
"It is a lie, but I don't want no hargument with yer; pay me what you owe
me and take yerself hoff. I want no more of yer, do you 'ear?"
Esther did not shrink before her as Mrs. Spires expected. Clasping her
baby more tightly, she said: "I've paid you what I owe you, you've had
more than your due. Mrs. Rivers gave you ten shillings for a doctor which
you didn't send for. Let me go."
"Yes, when yer pays me."
"What's all this row about?" said a tall, red-bearded man who had just
come in; "no one takes their babies out of this 'ere 'ouse before they
pays. Come now, come now, who are yer getting at? If yer thinks yer can
come here insulting of my wife yer mistaken; yer've come to the wrong
shop."
"I've paid all I owe," said Esther.
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