Part 9 (1/2)

”One of the directors,--don't you know?”

”How should I know?” retorted Bob; ”you don't suppose that the d'rectors is all my partikler friends, do you? There's only two or three of 'em as has the honer of my acquaintance.”

”Well,” resumed Loo with a laugh, ”you ought to consider Mr Able one of your particular friends at all events, for he has been here this evening making kind inquiries after father, and telling him that he has got you appointed to the works that you've been so long hankering--”

”What!” interrupted Bob in great excitement; ”you don't mean that, Loo?”

”Yes, I do.”

”To the great Clatterby Works, where the big hammer is?”

”Well, I suppose it is to these works,” said Loo.

”Ay, Bob, to the Clatterby Works, lad; so you're a made man if you only behave yourself and do your dooty,” said John Marrot in reply to his son's look of inquiry.

In the strength of his satisfaction the boy rose, and, taking Loo round the neck, kissed her pretty mouth heartily, after which he bestowed the same favour on his mother and little Gertie, and looked as if he meant to do it to baby too, but he thought better of it.

”Why, mother,” he said, resuming his seat at the bedside, ”these are the works where they've got the big hammers--so big, mother; oh! you've no notion how big they are, and heavy. Why, one of 'em is full five tons in weight--think o' that! equal to five carts of coals, mother, all rolled into one.”

”Nonsense!” said Mrs Marrot.

”But it's _true_,” said Bob, earnestly.

”Nonsense!” repeated Mrs Marrot; ”w'y, what would be the use of a hammer as no one could lift?”

”Steam lifts it, mother,” said Bob, ”as easy--yes, as easy as you lift the rollin' pin.”

The unbelieving woman still shook her head, smiled, and said, ”Nonsense!”

”Moreover,” continued Bob, waxing enthusiastic on his favourite topic, ”I'm told, for I haven't seen 'em yet, that they've got a pair o'

scissors there as can cut cold iron as easy as you can cut paper--they could cut through,” said Bob, pausing and looking round, ”they could cut through the poker and tongs and shovel, all at one go, as easy as if they was straws.”

”Gammon!” said Mrs Marrot.

”Isn't it a fact, daddy?” cried Bob.

”Quite true, Molly, my dear. I must take you over to see the works some day and convince you,” said John with a faint smile. ”But what's the news you were goin' to give us, Bob?” he added.

”The noos?--ah; that _good_ noos drove it all out o' my 'ead. Well, as I wos agoin' to say, there's a great to-do down at the shed, 'cause it's said that an awful lot o' thefts has bin goin' on of late at Bingly station, and it's bin reported that some of the drivers or firemen are consarned in it. An' d'ee know, father,” continued Bob, suddenly becoming grave and very earnest, ”I heard one o' the men say that Will Garvie is suspected.”

There was a momentary deep silence, as if every one had received a shock; then Mrs Marrot exclaimed ”What say 'ee, boy?”

At the same time her husband demanded sternly, ”Who said that?”

”I don't know, father. I was pa.s.sing through the shed at the time and didn't see who spoke, I only heerd 'im.”

”Father,” said Leo, over whose face a deep crimson flush had spread, ”_surely_ you don't for a moment believe it?”

”Believe it,” replied John, ”believe that my mate, Will Garvie, is a thief? I'd as soon believe that my Molly was a murderer!”

The energetic driver here struck his fist so violently on the bed as to cause his wounded side an acute twinge of pain. It had scarcely pa.s.sed away when the door opened and Will Garvie himself entered.