a country-bred man
myself, and ain't used to the town, or to such awful sights of squalor.
It almost made me weep, I do assure you. One room that I looked into
had a mother and two children in it, and I declare to you that the
little boy was going about stark naked, and his sister was only just a
slight degree better."

"P'raps they was goin' to bed," suggested Mrs Screwbury.

"No, nurse, they wasn't; they was playing about evidently in their usual
costume--for that evenin' at least. I would not have believed it if I
had not seen it. And the mother was so tattered and draggled and
dirty--which, also, was the room."

"Was that in the court where the Frogs live?" asked Jessie Summers.

"It was, and a dreadful court too--shocking!"

"By the way, Mr Balls," asked the cook, "is there any chance o' that
brat of a boy Bobby, as they call him, coming here? I can't think why
master has offered to take such a creeter into his service."

"No, cook, there is no chance. I forgot to tell you about that little
matter. The boy was here yesterday and he refused--absolutely declined
a splendid offer."

"I'm glad to hear it," returned the cook.

"Tell us about it, Mr Balls," said Jessie Summers with a reproachful
look at the other. "I'm quite fond of that boy--he's such a smart
fellow, and wouldn't be bad-looking if he'd only wash his face and comb
his hair."

"He's smart enough, no doubt, but impudence is his strong point,"
rejoined the butler with a laugh. The way he spoke to the master beats
everything.

"`I've sent for you, my boy,' said Sir Richard, in his usual dignified,
kindly way, `to offer you the situation of under-gardener in my
establishment.'"

"`Oh! that's wot you wants with me, is it?' said the boy, as bold as
brass; indeed I may say as bold as gun-metal, for his eyes an' teeth
glittered as he spoke, and he said it with the air of a dook. Master
didn't quite seem to like it, but I saw he laid restraint on himself and
said: `You have to thank my daughter for this offer--'

"`Thank you, Miss,' said the boy, turnin' to Miss Di with a low bow,
imitatin' Sir Richard's manner, I thought, as much as he could.

"`Of course,' continued the master, rather sharply, `I offer you this
situation out of mere charity--'

"`Oh! you do, do you?' said the extraordinary boy in the coolest manner,
`but wot if I objec' to receive charity? Ven I 'olds a 'orse I expecs
to be paid for so doin', same as you expecs to be