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“Ho, are you?” ses the old gentleman, not at all surprised. “Bob Pretty was telling me all about you. ”

“I ‘ope you didn’t listen to ‘im,” ses Henery Walker, all of a tremble. “Bob Pretty’d say anything except his prayers. ”

“He ses you’re arter my money,” ses the old gentleman, looking at ‘im.

“He’s a liar, then,” ses Henery Walker; “he’s arter it ‘imself. And it ain’t a respectable place for you to stay at. Anybody’ll tell you wot a rascal Bob Pretty is. Why, he’s a byword. ”

“Everybody is arter my money,” ses the old gentleman, looking round. “Everybody. ”

“I ‘ope you’ll know me better afore you’ve done with me, uncle,” ses Henery Walker, taking a seat alongside of Mm. “Will you ‘ave another mug o’ beer?”

“Gin and beer,” ses the old gentleman, cocking his eye up very fierce at Smith, the landlord; “and mind the gin don’t get out ag’in, same as it did in the last. ”

Smith asked ‘im wot he meant, but ‘is deafness come on ag’in. Henery Walker ‘ad an extra dose o’ gin put in, and arter he ‘ad tasted it the old gentleman seemed to get more amiable-like, and ‘im and Henery Walker sat by theirselves talking quite comfortable.

“Why not come and stay with me?” ses Henery Walker, at last. “You can do as you please and have the best of everything. ”

“Bob Pretty ses you’re arter my money,” ses the old gentleman, shaking his ‘ead. “I couldn’t trust you. ”

“He ses that to put you ag’in me,” ses Henery Walker, pleading-like.

“Well, wot do you want me to come and live with you for, then?” ses old Mr. Walker.

“Because you’re my great-uncle,” ses Henery Walker, “and my ‘ouse is the proper place for you. Blood is thicker than water. ”

“And you don’t want my money?” ses the old man, looking at ‘im very sharp.

“Certainly not,” ses Henery Walker.

“And ‘ow much ‘ave I got to pay a week?” ses old Mr. Walker. “That’s the question?”

“Pay?” ses Henery Walker, speaking afore he ‘ad time to think. “Pay? Why, I don’t want you to pay anything. ”

The old gentleman said as ‘ow he’d think it over, and Henery started to talk to ‘im about his father and an old aunt named Maria, but ‘e stopped ‘im sharp, and said he was sick and tired of the whole Walker family, and didn’t want to ‘ear their names ag’in as long as he lived. Henery Walker began to talk about Australey then, and asked ‘im ‘ow many sheep he’d got, and the words was ‘ardly out of ‘is mouth afore the old gentleman stood up and said he was arter his money ag’in.

Henery Walker at once gave ‘im some more gin and beer, and arter he ‘ad drunk it the old gentleman said that he’d go and live with ‘im for a little while to see ‘ow he liked it.

“But I sha’n’t pay anything,” he ses, very sharp; “mind that. ”

“I wouldn’t take it if you offered it to me,” ses Henery Walker. “You’ll come straight ‘ome with me to-night, won’t you?”

Afore old Mr. Walker could answer the door opened and in came Bob Pretty. He gave one look at Henery Walker and then he walked straight over to the old gentleman and put his ‘and on his shoulder.

“Why, I’ve been looking for you everywhere, Mr. Walker,” he ses. “I couldn’t think wot had ‘appened to you. ”

“You needn’t worry yourself, Bob,” ses Henery Walker; “he’s coming to live with me now. ”

“Don’t you believe it,” ses Bob Pretty, taking hold of old Mr. Walker by the arm; “he’s my lodger, and he’s coming with me. ”

He began to lead the old gentleman towards the door, but Henery Walker, wot was still sitting down, threw ‘is arms round his legs and held ‘im tight. Bob Pretty pulled one way and Henery Walker pulled the other, and both of ’em shouted to each other to leave go. The row they made was awful,
but old Mr. Walker made more noise than the two of ’em put together.