Part 14 (1/2)
”Now,” said Mr. Hucks as they pa.s.sed out of sight, ”you'll just step into the yard and answer a few questions. You too, sir,” he turned to Mr. Mortimer and led the way. ”Hullo!”--he let out a kick at G.o.dolphus snuffling at the yard gate, and G.o.dolphus, smitten on the ribs, fled yelping. ”Who the devil owns that cur?” demanded Mr. Hucks, pus.h.i.+ng the gate open.
”I do,” answered a voice just within, close at his elbow. ”An' I'll arsk you not to fergit it. Ought to be ashamed o' yerself, kickin' a pore dumb animal like that!”
”Eh?” Mr. Hucks pa.s.sed down into the darkness. ”Sam, fetch a lantern . . . So you 're the young lady I saw just now inside o' the van, and unless I'm mistaken, a nice job you're responsible for.”
Tilda nodded. 'Dolph's indiscretion had put her in a desperate fix; but something told her that her best chance with this man was to stand up to him and show fight.
”Is he drowned?” she asked.
”Drowned? Not a bit of it. Only a trifle wet, and a trifle scared-- thanks to that poor dumb animal of yours. A trifle hurt, too.”
”I'm sorry he wasn't drowned,” said Tilda.
”Well, you 're a nice Christian child, I must say. Start with kidnappin', and then down on your luck because you haven't wound up with murder! Where's the boy you stole?”
”In the caravan.”
”Fetch him out.”
”Shan't!”
”Now look here, missie--”
”I shan't,” repeated Tilda. ”Oh, Mr. Bossom, you won't let them!
They're strong, I know . . . but he's got a knife that he took when Mr. Mortimer's back was turned, and if they try to drag 'im back to that Orph'nige--”
”Stuff and nonsense!” Mr. Hucks interrupted. ”Who talked about handin'
him back? Not me.”
”Then you won't?”
”I'm not sayin' that, neither. Fetch the boy along into my Counting House, You and me must have a talk about this--in fact, I want a word with everybody consarned.”
Tilda considered for a moment, and then announced a compromise.
”Tell you what,” she said, ”I don't mind comin' along with you first-- not if you let 'Dolph come too.”
”I shan't let him murder _me_, if that's in your mind.”
Mr. Hucks grinned.
”You can call the others in if he tries,” Tilda answered seriously.
”But he won't, not if you be'ave. An' then,” she went on, ”you can arsk me anything you like, an' I'll answer as truthful as I can.”
”Can't I see the boy first?” asked Mr. Hucks, hugely tickled.
”No, you can't!”
”You're hard on me,” he sighed. The child amused him, and this suggestion of hers exactly jumped with his wishes. ”But no tricks, mind. You others can look after the boy--I make you responsible for him. And now this way, missie, if you'll do me the honour!”
Tilda called to 'Dolph, and the pair followed Mr. Hucks to the Counting House, where, as he turned up the lamp, he told the child to find herself a seat. She did not obey at once; she was watching the dog.