75 лучших рассказов / 75 Best Short Stories

When I wakes up at half dark and half light, and hears a door shutting, I know as it’s either father going off to his work or Mr. Hicking come home from his.’

�Who is Mr. Hicking?’

�Him as we’ve been speaking on – William. We calls him mister, ’cause he’s a toff. Father’s just doing jobs in Covent Gardens, but Mr. Hicking, he’s a waiter, and a clean shirt every day. The old woman would like father to be a waiter, but he hain’t got the ’ristocratic look.’

�What old woman?’

�Go ’long! that’s my mother.

�Yes; but—’

�And another just for to lick the stamps? My!’

�William leaves the club at one o’clock?’ I said, interrogatively.

She nodded. �My mother,’ she said, �is one to talk, and she says Mr. Hicking as he should get away at twelve, ’cause his missis needs him more’n the gentlemen need him. The old woman do talk.’

�And what does William answer to that?’

�He says as the gentlemen can’t be kept waiting for their cheese.

�But William does not go straight home when he leaves the club?’

�That’s the kid.’

�Kid!’ I echoed, scarcely understanding, for, knowing how little the poor love their children, I had asked William no questions about the baby.

�Didn’t you know his missis had a kid?’

�Yes; but that is no excuse for William’s staying away from his sick wife,’ I answered, sharply. A baby in such a home as William’s, I reflected, must be trying; but still – besides, his class can sleep through any din.

�The kid ain’t in our court,’ the girl explained. �He’s in W.[52 - W. – West], he is, and I’ve never been out of W.C.; leastwise, not as I knows of.’

�This is W. I suppose you mean that the child is at West Kensington? Well, no doubt it was better for William’s wife to get rid of the child—’

�Better!’ interposed the girl. �’Tain’t better for her not to have the kid.

�How could you know that?’

�’Cause,’ answered the girl, illustrating her words with a gesture, �I watches her, and I sees her arms going this way, just like as she wanted to hug her kid.’

�Possibly you are right,’ I said, frowning; �but William had put the child out to nurse because it disturbed his night’s rest.