Різдвяна історія
Chapter 4
‘Ifhewantedtokeepthemafterhewasdead,awickedoldscrew,’pursuedthewoman,‘whywasn’thenaturalinhislifetime?Ifhehadbeen,he’dhavehadsomebodytolookafterhimwhenhewasstruckwithDeath,insteadoflyinggaspingouthislastthere,alonebyhimself.’
‘It’sthetruestwordthateverwasspoke,’saidMrsDilber.‘It’sajudgmentonhim!’
‘Iwishitwasalittleheavierjudgment,’repliedthewoman;‘anditshouldhavebeen,youmaydependuponit,ifIcouldhavelaidmyhandsonanythingelse.Openthatbundle,oldJoe,andletmeknowthevalueofit.Speakoutplain.I’mnotafraidtobethefirst,norafraidforthemtoseeit!Weknowprettywellthatwewerehelpingourselves,beforewemethere,Ibelieve.It’snosin.Openthebundle,Joe.’
Butthegallantryofherfriendswouldnotallowofthis;andthemaninfadedblack,mountingthebreachfirst,producedhisplunder.Itwasnotextensive.Asealortwo,apencil-case,apairofsleeve-buttons,andabroochofnogreatvalue,wereall.TheywereseverallyexaminedandappraisedbyoldJoe,whochalkedthesumshewasdisposedtogiveforeach,uponthewall,andaddedthemupintoatotalwhenhefoundtherewasnothingmoretocome.
‘That’syouraccount,’saidJoe,‘andIwouldn’tgiveanothersixpence,ifIwastobeboiledfornotdoingit.Who’snext?’
MrsDilberwasnext.Sheetsandtowels,alittlewearingapparel,twoold-fashionedsilverteaspoons,apairofsugar-tongs,andafewboots.
