Sawn Off Part 33

"No, my man, no," said Max, putting up his gla.s.s and gazing at the boy with great interest; "you have improved so wonderfully. Ah! you look better than you did in those old days."

"I should think I did, sir. Things is altered now. Master never talks about the shoemaking; he always calls it taboo."

"Does he really?"

"Yes, sir, and everything's different. Never feel hollow now--nothing never gnaws inside; and master says it's all because my 'gestion's better. He knows."

"Stop a moment, my man," said Max insinuatingly; "here's a shilling."

"Thankye, sir: shall I go now?"

"In a moment. So he's in his study, is he? Making patent boots and shoes?"

"Bless your 'art, no, sir; it's patent, but he don't make no boots and shoes now. He buys all the very best. Look at that," said the boy, holding out a foot.

As he spoke, d.i.c.k made his appearance behind them at the conservatory door, when, on seeing Max talking to the boy, he drew back.

"Ah, yes," said Max, "that's a handsome boot; and you've got a good foot, my lad."

"Them's the best boots in the trade, sir," said the boy proudly.

"He's going to pump him," muttered d.i.c.k. "Well, if he plays those games, I shall do the artful too."

"So you never feel hungry and hollow now, my man?" said Max.

"I should think not, sir. Master gave orders that I was always to have as much as I liked to eat. And I do," he added unctuously.

"He don't know much," muttered d.i.c.k; "but if he gets putting old Max on the scent, I'll smother him."

"So you eat and drink as much as you like, do you, my man?" continued Max.

"Don't I?" said the boy, laughing. "I should just think I do. Why, I've growed out of two suits of livery since we've been here."

"And how long's that?"

"Twelve months, sir; and these is getting too tight."

"You were not in quite such a fine house as this before were you?"

"Oh no, sir, nothing like; but we've been doing very well lately."

"You young villain!" muttered d.i.c.k; "if you get telling tales I'll never forgive you."

"So I suppose," said Max. "And so you are very happy and comfortable?"

"It's lovely, sir."

"Master and mistress very kind, I suppose?"

"They jest are, sir. Missus and miss seems like two angels, sir."

"And your master--does he ever give you the stirrup-leather now?" said Max, laughing.

"Give me the sterrup-leather!" said the boy, looking pugnacious; "no, he jest don't. I should like to ketch him at it. Sterrup-leather! why, he treats me just like a son."

"But of course you are not his son?" said Max, with a peculiar smile.

"There's impudence!" muttered d.i.c.k, from behind a great camellia. "Nice brotherly attack on me. Why, the young ruffian's going to say he is, just out of pride and vanity!"

"No, sir; I was a workusser."

"A what?"

"A workusser, and was sent out to one o' the whitewashy schools. That's where master got me. I'll go and see if he's ready."

"Wait a moment, my lad," said Max; "there's another shilling, for being such a good boy and stopping in your place."

"Stop, sir!" said John, grinning, as he bit the edge of the coin and then slipped it in his pocket--"I should think I do stop: master couldn't afford to part with me."

"If that boy tells all he knows, I'll about half kill him," muttered d.i.c.k, who, playing the eavesdropper, stood a fair chance of suffering the listener's fate.

"I suppose not; you're so useful to him in his business, I suppose?"

"Pooty well, sir."

Max tried another tack.

"Master look well, John?"

"Lovely, sir!" cried the boy. "He's a regular swell now."

"Is he, though?"

"Tip-top, sir; never puts on a shirt twice, and wears three pairs o'

boots every day--shiny leather ones."

"Does he, though?" said Max, drawing nearer to the boy. "And so he wouldn't like to part with you?"

"Oh no, sir. I goes to the City with him every day--on the broom sometimes."

"He keeps a brougham, then?"

"My master could keep anything he liked," said the boy proudly; and d.i.c.k took a two-shilling piece out of his trousers pocket and placed it handy in his vest. "He's going to have a yatched."

"A what?"

"A little ship of his own, to go sailing about in."

"Then he must be very rich?"