'Theer's Harry Wigson, he's gone to Manchester to be prenticed.

He doan't goo loafin round aw day.' Her sharp wits disconcerted Reuben.

He looked anxiously at David.
The boy coloured furiously, and cast an angry glance at his sister.
'Theer's money wanted for prenticin,' he said shortly.
Reuben felt a stab.

Neither of the children knew that they possessed a penny.

A blunt word of Hannah's first of all, about 'not gien 'em ony high noshuns o' theirsels,' aided on Reuben's side by the natural secretiveness of the peasant in money affairs, had effectually concealed all knowledge of their own share in the family finances from the orphans.
He reached out a soil-stained hand, shaking already with incipient age, and laid it on David's sleeve.
'Art tha hankerin after a trade, lad ?' he said hastily, nay, harshly.
David looked at his uncle astonished.