d.i.c.k--(_with a grin._)
Why, for singing, honey! So says I, "Hark "ee, Mr. Sc.r.a.pe-trencher, there go words to that bargain: what right have you to go for to speak in that there way to me?" says I; and says he, "We"ll have you "dited for a nuisance, fellor," says he.
MARGERY--(_clasping her hands._)
A nuisance! my d.i.c.k a nuisance! O Lord a" mercy!
d.i.c.k.
Never fear, girl; I"m a free-born Englishman, and I knows the laws well enough: and says I, "No more a fellor than yourself; I"m an honest man, following an honest calling, and I don"t care _that_ for you nor your lord neither; and I"ll sing _when_ I please, and I"ll sing _what_ I please, and I"ll sing as loud as I please; I will, by jingo!" and so he lifts me up his cane, and I says quite cool, "This house is my castle; and if you don"t take yourself out of that in a jiffey, why, I"ll give your laced jacket such a dusting as it never had before in its life--I will."
MARGERY.
O, d.i.c.k! you"ve a spirit of your own, I warrant. Well, and then?
d.i.c.k.
Oh, I promise you he was off in the twinkling of a bed-post, and I"ve heard no more of him; but I was determined to wake you this morning with a thundering song; just to show "em I didn"t care for "em--ha! ha! ha!
MARGERY.
Oh, ho! that was the reason, then, that you bawled so in my ear, and frightened me out of my sleep--was it? Oh, well, I forgive you; but bless me! I stand chattering here, and it"s twelve o"clock, as I live!
I must go to market--(_putting on her shawl and bonnet._) What would you like to have for dinner, d.i.c.k, love? a nice rasher of bacon, by way of a relish?
d.i.c.k--(_smacking his lips._)
Just the very thing, honey.
MARGERY.
Well, give me the shilling, then.
d.i.c.k--(_scratching his head._)
What shilling?
MARGERY.
Why, the shilling you had yesterday.
d.i.c.k--(_feeling in his pockets._)
A shilling!
MARGERY.
Yes, a shilling. (_Gaily._) To have meat, one must have money; and folks must eat as well as sing, d.i.c.k, love. Come, out with it!
d.i.c.k.
But suppose I haven"t got it?
MARGERY.
How! what! you don"t mean for to say that the last shilling that you put in your pocket, just to make a show, is gone?
d.i.c.k--(_with a sigh._)
But I do, though--it"s gone.
MARGERY.
What shall we do?
d.i.c.k.
I don"t know. (_A pause. They look at each other._) Stay, that"s lucky.
Here"s a pair of dancing pumps as belongs to old Mrs. Crusty, the baker"s wife at the corner--
MARGERY--(_gaily._)
We can"t eat _them_ for dinner, I guess.
d.i.c.k.
No, no; but I"m just at the last st.i.tch.
MARGERY.
Yes--
d.i.c.k--(_speaking and working in a hurry._)
And so you"ll take them home--
MARGERY.
Yes--
d.i.c.k.
And tell her I must have seven-pence halfpenny for them. (_Gives them._)
MARGERY--(_examining the shoes._)
But, d.i.c.k, isn"t that some"at extortionate, as a body may say?
seven-pence halfpenny!