"I couldn't a-done it." "But why not ?" "Because, sir," snivelled the lad, "I didn't have no money, sir." "Humph! you had no money, eh ?" "No, sir; nothing but thrippence-a'penny, which mother gave me afore I started, when she wished me good-bye.

She was sorry as how she could give me nothing more; and so I couldn't pay the fare, and had no ticket." "So, my joker, you got on the train without one at all!" said the Captain, interrupting him.

"Do you know that was really cheating the railway company ?" "I knows it, sir," replied Dick Allsop, who had better now be called by his own proper name, looking down as if ashamed of what he had done.

"I knows it's wrong; but, sir, I couldn't help it, as there was no other way I seed of getting to Porchmouth." "But, why didn't you jump into the carriage like a Christian, as I said just now ?" observed the Captain.

"Eh ?" Dick seemed amused by this question.
"Does yer think, sir, the porters would ha' let me if they'd seed me a- trying it on ?" said he, with a radiant grin that lit up his face, quite changing its expression.