don't be looking
well, nor you neither. You was looking as pale as those wox figures at
Mrs Tuss's; and seure won was as like you as could be. Ach a fi! I
'ouldn't like to be going again into that little room with all the
murderers. And Howel was looking quite pale. But such beauty music, and
dresses, and all like life. I thought I should a-screeked out when that
man turned and looked at me, and wogged his head, and was nodding, is
seure as if he was alive, and he only wox!'

Mrs Jenkins had been in London about a week, when Howel began
carelessly the subject nearest his heart.

'I say, mother, fach, how does your money hold out? I daresay you are
rich as a Jew by this time.'

'Pretty well, Howel. I hope you do be well off now, and don't be living
so gay as you wos.'

'Well, mother, if I could just get a few thousands for a couple of weeks
I should be as rich as Croesus, and out of all those difficulties I told
you of in another month. Do you know of any one likely to have such a
sum to lend?'

'Thousands, Howel! why hundreds wasn't plenty with us, let alone
thousands. You do know that there don't be any wan so rich as you in our
parts.'

'So I am, mother, or rather shall be by-and-by. I have lived beyond my
income, but I am going to retrench, and if you could only lend me five
or six thousands pounds, it would set me right, and I could pay you
again in a month.'

'Five or six thousand! Why, Howel, I 'ouldn't know how to get it; and I
don't cheuse to be reuining myself, and bringing myself down again for
nobody.'

'Not even for me, mother? To save me from jail, perhaps! Ha! ha! I'm
sure you wouldn't like to see me in jail; and 'pon my honour I don't
know how I shall keep out of it unless you help me.'

'And where's the thousands and hundreds of thousands your father was
leaving you? Ten years ago come next Jeune he did die, my poor Griffey.'

'Now, mother, don't humbug me about that. You know you were glad enough.
Only let me have the money, unless you want me to leave the country,
never to come back.'

'Ach an wyr! How you be talking. You wos frightening me to death. I
'ouldn't mind lending you a few hundreds, but--'

'Hundreds won't do, mother. I must have five thousand six hundred before
this week is out, or else--It is impossible you could be cruel enough to
see your only son in distress, and not help him out of it.'

'I have been helping you all your life, Howel. I could lend you wan
thousand, an