But here the boy had mustered up his courage and voice.
"Sir, I want work; may I earn a penny ?" He spoke in tolerably good English--different from our coarse, broad, G----shire drawl; and taking off his tattered old cap, looked right up into my father's face, The old man scanned him closely.
"What is thy name, lad ?" "John Halifax." "Where dost thee come from ?" "Cornwall." "Hast thee any parents living ?" "No." I wished my father would not question thus; but possibly he had his own motives, which were rarely harsh, though his actions often appeared so.
"How old might thee be, John Halifax ?" "Fourteen, sir." "Thee art used to work ?" "Yes." "What sort of work ?" "Anything that I can get to do." I listened nervously to this catechism, which went on behind my back.
"Well," said my father, after a pause, "thee shall take my son home, and I'll give thee a groat.

Let me see; art thee a lad to be trusted ?" And holding him at arm's length, regarding him meanwhile with eyes that were the terror of all the rogues in Norton Bury, Abel Fletcher jingled temptingly the silver money in the pockets of his long-flapped brown waistcoat.

"I say, art thee a lad to be trusted ?" John Halifax neither answered nor declined his eyes.

He seemed to feel that this was a critical moment, and to have gathered all his mental forces into a serried square, to meet the attack.

He met it, and conquered in silence.
"Lad, shall I give thee the groat now ?" "Not till I've earned it, sir." So, drawing his hand back, my father slipped the money into mine, and left us.
I followed him with my eyes, as he went sturdily plashing down the street; his broad, comfortable back, which owned a coat of true Quaker cut, but spotless, warm, and fine; his ribbed hose and leathern gaiters, and the wide-brimmed hat set over a fringe of grey hairs, that crowned the whole with respectable dignity.