'
'Dead?'
'But that ain't the worst of it. He was took by the perlice last
night, which they wanted him for makin' bad money. I always have
said as it's a cruel thing that: 'cause how can you tell who gets
the bad coin, an' it may be some pore person as can't afford to lose
not a 'apenny. But that's what he's been up to, an' this long time,
as it appears.'
In her dialect, which requires so many words for the narration of a
simple story, Mrs. Griffin told what she knew concerning Bob
Hewett's accident and capture; his death had taken place early this
morning, and Pennyloaf was all but crazy with grief. To Jane these
things sounded so extraordinary that for some time she could
scarcely put a question, but sat in dismay, listening to the woman's
prolix description of all that had come to pass since Wednesday
evening. At length she called for Mrs. Byass, for whose benefit the
story was repeated.
'I'm sure you oughtn't to go there to-day,' was Bessie's opinion.
'You've quite enough trouble of your own, my dear.'
'And that's just what I was a-sayin', mum,' assented Mrs. Griffin,
who had won Bessie's highest opinion by her free use of respectful
forms of address.
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