He has only got to get a good character over his work, and the governor and them will soon let him go up country as a signed servant, and when he has served his time he can start farmer on his own account.

Makes faces at you, doesn't he ?" "Yes," cried Nic eagerly.
"Ah, he won't now I'm here." Nic smiled, for the man screwed one side of his face as he passed, thinking that the chief warder would not see, but he did.
"You, Twenty-five! How dare you?
Extra punishment for that.

Pass by, sir." "No, no, don't punish him," whispered Nic.

"He did not mean any harm." "Not going to, sir," said the warder drily; "but one must keep them in their places.

He's a comic sort of blackguard.