"I don't care a curse whether I stay
or go, after what she has said to me. But, come what may, you're a
gentleman, and one as can put hisself in a poor man's place. Why, sir, I
wasn't always so rough; but I have been twenty years at it; and mad folk
they'd wear the patience out of Jove, and the milk of human kindness out
of saints and opossums. However, if I was to stay here all my life,
instead of going to-morrow, I'd never lift hand to trouble you again, for
you taking my part again yourself like that."
"I'll put that to the test," said Mrs. Archbold sharply. "Stay--on your
probation. Hannah!"
And Baby-face biceps at a look took off his handcuffs; which she had been
prominent in putting on.
This extraordinary scene ended in the men being dismissed, and the women
remaining and going to work after their kind.
"The bed is too short for one thing," said Hannah. "Look at his poor feet
sticking out and cold as a stone: just feel of them, Jane."
"No, no; murder!" cried Alfred; "that tickles."
Hannah ran for a chair, Jane for another pillow. Mrs. Archbold took off
his handcuffs, and, passing her hand softly and caressingly over his
head, lamented the loss of his poor hair.
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