ishoot wi' the
toothache. I've jined the Band of Hope, too, so I don't want none o'
your beer nor nothin' else, an' if you offers to lay hands on me, I'll
yell out like a she-spurtindeel, an' bring in the guv'nor, wot's fit to
wollop six o' you any day with his left hand."

This last part of Billy's speech was made with additional fire, in
consequence of Morley Jones taking a step towards him in anger.

"Well, boy," he said, sternly, "hypocrite or not, you've learned yer
lesson pretty pat, so you may do as you please. It's little that a chip
like you could do to get me convicted on anything you've seen or heard
as yet, an' if ye did succeed, it would only serve to give yourself a
lift on the way to the gallows. But it wasn't to trouble myself about
you and your wishes that I came here for (the wily rascal assumed an air
and tone of indifference at this point); if you had only waited to hear
what I'd got to say, before you began to spit fire, you might have saved
your breath. The fact is that my Nora is very ill--so ill that I fear
she stands a poor chance o' gittin' better. I'm goin' to send her away
on a long sea voyage. P'r'aps that may do her good; if not, it's all up
with her. She begged and prayed me so earnestly to come here and take
you down to see her before she goes, that I could not refuse her--
particularly as I happened to have business in London anyhow. If I'd
known how you would take it, I would have saved myself the trouble of
comin'. However, I'll bid you good-day now."

"Jones," said the boy earnestly, "that's a lie."

"Very good," retorted the man, putting on his hat carelessly, "I'll take
back that message with your compliments--eh?"

"No; but," said Billy, almost whimpering with anxiety, "is Nora _really_
ill?"

"I don't wish you to come if you don't want to," replied Jones; "you can
stop here till doomsday for me. But do you suppose I'd come here for
the mere amusement of hearing you give me the lie?"

"I'll go!" said Billy, with as much emphasis as he had previously
expressed on declining to go.

The matter was soon explained to the manager of the Grotto. Mr Jones
was so plausible, and gave such unexceptionable references, that it is
no disparagement to the penetration of the superintendent of that day to
say that he was deceived. The result was, as we have shown, that Billy
ere long found his way to Ramsgate.

When Mr Jones introduced him ceremoniously to Nora, he indulged in