They as swindles does more and risks less than they as robs; and if you cheats toppingly, you may laugh at the topping cheat [Gallows].

And now go play." Paul seized his hat, but lingered; and the dame, guessing at the signification of the pause, drew forth and placed in the boy's hand the sum of five halfpence and one farthing.
"There, boy," quoth she, and she stroked his head fondly when she spoke, "you does right not to play for nothing,--it's loss of time; but play with those as be less than yoursel', and then you can go for to beat 'em if they says you go for to cheat!" Paul vanished; and the dame, laying her hand on Dummie's shoulder, said,-- "There be nothing like a friend in need, Dummie; and somehow or other, I thinks as how you knows more of the horigin of that 'ere lad than any of us!" "Me, dame!" exclaimed Dummie, with a broad gaze of astonishment.
"Ah, you! you knows as how the mother saw more of you just afore she died than she did of 'ere one of us.

Noar, now, noar, now! Tell us all about 'un.

Did she steal 'un, think ye ?" "Lauk, Mother Margery, dost think I knows?
Vot put such a crotchet in your 'ead ?" "Well!" said the dame, with a disappointed sigh, "I always thought as how you were more knowing about it than you owns.

Dear, dear, I shall never forgit the night when Judith brought the poor cretur here,--you knows she had been some months in my house afore ever I see'd the urchin; and when she brought it, she looked so pale and ghostly that I had not the heart to say a word, so I stared at the brat, and it stretched out its wee little hands to me.