"No, you don't, Slimy! No, you don't! What you have in this house
you pay for in coppers, so you know. Next time I catch you tryin' to
ring the changes, I'll have you run in, and then you'll get a warm
bath, which you wouldn't partic'lar care for."
The creature spoke, in hoarse, jumbled words, not easy to catch
unless you listened closely.
"If you've any accusion to make agin me, Mrs. Sprowl, p'r'aps you'll
wait till you can prove it. I want change for arf a suvrin: ain't
that straight, now?"
"Straight or not, you won't get no change over this counter, so
there you've the straight tip. Now sling yer 'ook, Slimy, an' get it
somewhere else."
"If you've any accusion to make--"
"Hold yer noise!--What's he ordered, Liz?"
"Pot o' old six," answered the girl.
"Got sixpence, Slimy?"
"No, I ain't, Mrs. Sprowl," muttered the creature. "I've got arf a
suvrin."
"Then go an' get change for it. Now, once more, sling yer 'ook."
The man moved away, sending back a horrible glare from his one fiery
eyeball.
Mrs. Sprowl re-entered the parlour.
"I wish you'd take me on as barmaid, Sarah," Harriet said, when she
had drunk her glass of spirits.
"Take you on?" exclaimed the other, with surprise.
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