If I Had a Father

yo’re a friend ov th’ maister’s, yo’ll mebbe mind th’ shop a smo’ bit. Aw mun goo going. Warren I say, old man⁠—your name’s Thomas Pearson⁠—ain’t it? Thomas Yigh. Aw yer. But hea cooms to to knaw mo name? Warren I know all about you. Thomas Ivvery body knaws ivvery body yere! Aw connot stur a fut fur folks as knaws mo, and knaws mo name, and knaws what aw be after. Lonnon is a dreedfu’ plaze. Aw mun geet mo lass to whoam. Yo’ll mind th’ shop till th’ maister cooms back. Good neet going. Warren Stopping him. They want you here a bit. You’d better stop. The man will be back directly. You’re too suspicious. Thomas Nea, maister, thae’rt wrung theer. Aw’ve trusted too mich⁠—a theawsand times too mich. Warren You trusted the wrong people, then. Thomas It taks no mak o’ a warlock to tell mo that, maister. It’s smo’ comfort, noather. Warren Well now, you give me a turn, and hear what I’ve got to say. Thomas Yo’re o’ tarred wi’ th’ same stick. Ivvery body maks gam ov th’ poor owd mon! Let me goo, maister. Aw want mo chylt, mo Mattie! Warren You must wait till Mr. Gervaise’s man comes back. Thomas Despairingly. O Lord. Th’ peack ov sunbrunt lies they ha’ been tellin’ me sin’ aw coom yere!⁠—childer an o’! Warren Have patience, man. You won’t repent it. Thomas What mun be, mun. Aw connot ha’ patience, but aw con stop. Aw’d rayther goo, tho. Aw’m noan sorry to rest noather. Sits down on the dais. Enter Bill. Warren Here, boy! Don’t let the old man go till someone comes. Exit. Bill All right, sir! Hillo, daddy! There you are! Thank God! Thomas What fur, boy? Wull he gie mo mo Mattie again⁠—dosto think? Bill That he will, daddy! You come along, an’ you’ll know a honest boy next time.⁠—I can’t till I see Mr. William, though. Thomas Iv thae manes th’ maister’s mon yere, he’s run eawt. An’ aw connot goo witho. Aw’m keepin’ th’ shop till he coom back. An’ aw dunnot mich care to goo witho. Aw dunnot mich trust tho. Th’ Lord have a care ov mo! Aw dimnot knaw which to trust, and which not to trust. But aw mun wait for maister William, as yo co’ him. Bill All right, daddy!⁠—Don’t you stir from here till I come back⁠—not for nobody⁠—no, not for Joseph! Thomas Aw dunnot knaw no Joseph. Bill I’ll soon let you see I’m a honest boy! As you can’t go to Mattie, I’ll bring Mattie to you: see if I don’t! An’ if she ain’t the right un, I’ll take her back, and charge ye nuffin for carriage. Can’t say fairer than that, daddy! Thomas Bless tho, mo boy! Dosto mane it true? Bill Yes⁠—an’ that you’ll see, afore you’re an ’alf an hour older, daddy. When Mr. William comes, you say to him, “Bill’s been.⁠—All right.” Thomas Aw dunnot like secrets, lad. What don yo mane? Ivvery body seems to mane something, and nobory to say it. Bill Never you mind, daddy! “Bill’s been.⁠—All right.” That’s your ticket. I’m off. Exit. Thomas gets up, and walks about, murmuring to himself. A knock at the door. Thomas Somebory after mo again! Aw’ll geet eawt ov th’ way. Goes behind the Psyche. Enter Waterfield. Waterfield Nobody here! I am unlucky. “Not at home,” said the rascal⁠—and grinned, by Jove! I’ll be at the bottom of this. There’s no harm in Gervaise. He’s a decent fellow. Knocks at the door of Gervaise’s room. I won’t leave the place till I’ve set things right⁠—not if I’ve got to give him a post-obit for five thousand⁠—I won’t!⁠—Nobody there? Looks in. No. Then I’ll go in and wait. Exit. Thomas Peeping from behind the Psyche. That’s the villain! Lord o’ mercy! that’s the villain! If aw’re as strung as aw’m owd, aw’d scrunch his yed⁠—aw would! Aw’m sure it’s th’ mon. He kep eawt ov mo way⁠—but aw seigh him once. O Lord, keep mo hands off ov him. Aw met kill him. Aw’m sartin sure ov him when aw see him. Aw’ll not goo nigh him till somebory cooms⁠—cep’ he roons away. Aw’m noan fleyed ov him, but aw met not be able to keep mo howd ov him. Oh, mo Mattie! mo Mattie! to leave thi owd faither for sich a mak ov a mon as yon! But yere cooms somebory moor. Goes behind the Psyche. Enter Mrs. Clifford. Mrs. Clifford No one here? She can never be in his room with him! Opens the door. Oh! Mr. Waterfield! You’re here⁠—are you? Waterfield Coming to the door. Mrs. Clifford! This is indeed an unexpected pleasure! Mrs. Clifford Have you got Constance with you there? Waterfield I’ve no such good fortune. Mrs. Clifford Where is she, then? Waterfield At home, I presume. Mrs. Clifford Indeed she is not. I must speak to Arthur. Waterfield He’s not here. Mrs. Clifford Where’s my⁠—his man, then? Waterfield Taken himself off to the public-house, I suppose. There’s nobody about. Odd⁠—ain’t it? Mrs. Clifford I’ll go and see. Exit into the house. Waterfield What can be the row! there is some row. Exit into the room. Enter Gervaise, supported by Col. Gervaise. Col. Gervaise Thank God! Thank God! Gervaise But where is she? I shall go mad if you’ve told me a lie. Col. Gervaise I saw her, and sent a messenger after her. We shall have news of her presently. Do have a little patience, sir. Gervaise How can I have patience? I’m a brute⁠—a mean, selfish devil! If that fellow Waterfield was to horsewhip me⁠—I should let him. Thomas Coming forward. Theer wur that yung chap yere a while agoo, and he said aw wur to say to Maister William⁠—what wur it aw’re to say?⁠—Yigh⁠—it wur⁠—“Bill’s been. O’reet.” Col. Gervaise There, sir! I told you so. Do sit down. I’ll go after her. Gervaise I will. I will. Only make haste. Stands staring at the Psyche. Thomas Th’ boy said he’d be yere direckly. Col. Gervaise You sit down. I’ll be with you presently.