know."

"No, Nanny," said I, "I must have a shilling."

"A shilling, you little cheat! I can't give it; but what do you want?
don't you want a key to your chest, or something of that sort?"

"I've no chest, mother, and therefore don't want a key."

"But you want something out of all the pretty things in my shop; boys
always fancy something."

I laughed at the idea of "pretty things" in her shop, for it contained
nothing but old iron, empty bottles, dirty rags and phials; so I told
her there was nothing that I wanted.

"Well," says she, "sit down a little, and look about you; there's no
hurry. So Mrs. East has got another boy, worse luck for the parish, with
six children already!--Look about you, and take your time.--Did you hear
of Peter James giving his wife a black eye last night because she wanted
to get him out of the alehouse?--I wonder who that letter was from that
Susan Davis had from the post-office. I think I could guess; poor girl!
she has looked rather peaking for some weeks.--Don't be in a hurry,
Jack; look about; there's plenty of pretty things in my shop.--So Davis
the butcher has been pulled up for bad meat; I thought it would come to
that, and I'm glad of it.--There's a capital lock and key, Jack, to put
to your chest, when you get one; suppose you take that.--What's the
doctor about? They say he is always sitting with the widow.--Does your
mother make plenty of money by clear-starching? I know your sister had a
spotted muslin frock on last Sunday, and that must have cost