ble nature of his confidence, to give the
door a thrust with his hand and knee, as if that would shut it any more
when it was shut already, 'it's hardly to be bore, Sir, that a common
lad like that should come a prowling here, and saying that his mother
nursed our House's young gentleman, and that he hopes our House will
give him a chance on that account. I am sure, Sir,' observed Mr Perch,
'that although Mrs Perch was at that time nursing as thriving a little
girl, Sir, as we've ever took the liberty of adding to our family,
I wouldn't have made so free as drop a hint of her being capable of
imparting nourishment, not if it was never so!'

Mr Carker grinned at him like a shark, but in an absent, thoughtful
manner.

'Whether,' submitted Mr Perch, after a short silence, and another cough,
'it mightn't be best for me to tell him, that if he was seen here any
more he would be given into custody; and to keep to it! With respect to
bodily fear,' said Mr Perch, 'I'm so timid, myself, by nature, Sir,
and my nerves is so unstrung by Mrs Perch's state, that I could take my
affidavit easy.'

'Let me see this fellow, Perch,' said Mr Carker. 'Bring him in!'

'Yes, Sir. Begging your pardon, Sir,' said Mr Perch, hesitating at the
door, 'he's rough, Sir, in appearance.'

'Never mind. If he's there, bring him in. I'll see Mr Gills directly.
Ask him to wait.'

Mr Perch bowed; and shutting the door, as precisely and carefully as if
he were not coming back for a week, went on his quest among the sparrows
in the court. While he was gone, Mr Carker assumed his favourite
attitude before the fire-place, and stood looking at the door;
presenting, with his under lip tucked into the smile that showed his
whole row of upper teeth, a singularly crouching apace.

The messenger was not long in returning, followed by a pair of
heavy boots that came bumping along the passage like boxes. With the
unceremonious words 'Come along with you!'--a very unusual form of
introduction from his lips--Mr Perch then ushered into the presence a
strong-built lad of fifteen, with a round red face, a round sleek head,
round black eyes, round limbs, and round body, who, to carry out the
general rotundity of his appearance, had a round hat in his hand,
without a particle of brim to it.

Obedient to a nod from Mr Carker, Perch had no sooner confronted the
visitor with that gentleman than he withdrew. The moment they were face
to face alone, Mr Carker, without a