第53章

Three Children.The Wages of Intelligence Owen spent the greater part of the dinner hour by himself in the drawing-room making pencil sketches in his pocket-book and taking measurements.In the evening after leaving off, instead of going straight home as usual he went round to the Free Library to see if he could find anything concerning Moorish decorative work in any of the books there.Although it was only a small and ill-equipped institution he was rewarded by the discovery of illustrations of several examples of which he made sketches.After about an hour spent this way, as he was proceeding homewards he observed two children - a boy and a girl - whose appearance seemed familiar.They were standing at the window of a sweetstuff shop examining the wares exposed therein.As Owen came up the children turned round and the recognized each other simultaneously.They were Charley and Elsie Linden.Owen spoke to them as he drew near and the boy appealed to him for his opinion concerning a dispute they had been having.

`I say, mister.Which do you think is the best: a fardensworth of everlasting stickjaw torfee, or a prize packet?'

`I'd rather have a prize packet,' replied Owen, unhesitatingly.

`There! I told you so!' cried Elsie, triumphantly.

`Well, I don't care.I'd sooner 'ave the torfee,' said Charley, doggedly.

`Why, can't you agree which of the two to buy?'

`Oh no, it's not that,' replied Elsie.`We was only just SUPPOSINGwhat we'd buy if we 'ad a fardin; but we're not really goin' to buy nothing, because we ain't got no money.'

`Oh, I see,' said Owen.`But I think *I* have some money,' and putting his hand into his pocket he produced two halfpennies and gave one to each of the children, who immediately went in to buy the toffee and the prize packet, and when they came out he walked along with them, as they were going in the same direction as he was: indeed, they would have to pass by his house.

`Has your grandfather got anything to do yet?' he inquired as they went along.

`No.'E's still walkin' about, mister,' replied Charley.

When they reached Owen's door he invited them to come up to see the kitten, which they had been inquiring about on the way.Frankie was delighted with these two visitors, and whilst they were eating some home-made cakes that Nora gave them, he entertained them by displaying the contents of his toy box, and the antics of the kitten, which was the best toy of all, for it invented new games all the time: acrobatic performances on the rails of chairs; curtain climbing; running slides up and down the oilcloth; hiding and peeping round corners and under the sofa.The kitten cut so many comical capers, and in a little while the children began to create such an uproar, that Nora had to interfere lest the people in the flat underneath should be annoyed.

However, Elsie and Charley were not able to stay very long, because their mother would be anxious about them, but they promised to come again some other day to play with Frankie.

`I'm going to 'ave a prize next Sunday at our Sunday School,' said Elsie as they were leaving.

`What are you going to get it for?' asked Nora.

`'Cause I learned my text properly.I had to learn the whole of the first chapter of Matthew by heart and I never made one single mistake!

So teacher said she'd give me a nice book next Sunday.'

`I 'ad one too, the other week, about six months ago, didn't I, Elsie?' said Charley.

`Yes,' replied Elsie and added: `Do they give prizes at your Sunday School, Frankie?'

`I don't go to Sunday School.'

`Ain't you never been?' said Charley in a tone of surprise.

`No,' replied Frankie.`Dad says I have quite enough of school all the week.'

`You ought to come to ours, man!' urged Charley.`It's not like being in school at all! And we 'as a treat in the summer, and prizes and sometimes a magic lantern 'tainment.It ain't 'arf all right, I can tell you.'

Frankie looked inquiringly at his mother.

`Might I go, Mum?'

`Yes, if you like, dear.'

`But I don't know the way.'

`Oh, it's not far from 'ere,' cried Charley.`We 'as to pass by your 'ouse when we're goin', so I'll call for you on Sunday if you like.'

`It's only just round in Duke Street; you know, the "Shining Light Chapel",' said Elsie.`It commences at three o'clock.'

`All right,' said Nora.`I'll have Frankie ready at a quarter to three.But now you must run home as fast as you can.Did you like those cakes?'

`Yes, thank you very much,' answered Elsie.

`Not 'arf!' said Charley.

`Does your mother make cakes for you sometimes?'

`She used to, but she's too busy now, making blouses and one thing and another,' Elsie answered.

`I suppose she hasn't much time for cooking,' said Nora, `so I've wrapped up some more of those cakes in this parcel for you to take home for tomorrow.I think you can manage to carry it all right, can't you, Charley?'

`I think I'd better carry it myself,' said Elsie.`Charley's SOcareless, he's sure to lose some of them.'

`I ain't no more careless than you are,' cried Charley, indignantly.