I want him to give
it up; but trade is bad in this neighbourhood, leastways, with us, and he
don't think we could do without it."
"It's very hard to keep it dark; some one's sure to crab it and bring the
police down on you."
Esther did not answer; the conversation paused, and William entered.
"Halloa! is that you, Sarah? We didn't know what had become of you all
this time." He noticed that she looked like one in trouble, and was very
poorly dressed. She noticed that his cheeks were thinner than they used to
be, and that his broad chest had sunk, and that there seemed to be
strangely little space between it and his back. Then in brief phrases,
interrupting each other frequently, the women told the story. William
said--
"I knew he was a bad lot. I never liked to see him inside my bar."
"I thought," said Esther, "that Sarah might remain here for a time."
"I can't have that fellow coming round my place."
"There's no fear of his coming after me. He don't want to see my ugly face
again. Well, let him try to find some one who will do for him all I have
done."
"Until she gets a situation," said Esther. "I think that'll be the best,
for you to stop here until you get a situation."
"And what about a character?"
"You needn't say much about what you've been doing this last twelve
months; if many questions are asked, you can say you've been stopping with
us.
Pages:
391
392
393
394
395
396
397
398
399
400
401
402
403
404
405
406
407
408
409
410
411
412
413
414
415