"Well, sir," Selina went on, "I moved to Eltham, and took a room. I
soon found out what sort the Bostocks were. Every Saturday they drew
two pounds for the keep of the child; and they were hardly ever sober
till Thursday. And they starved the child, sir; and sometimes they
beat him. Now and then, when they were drunk, I've got food, good food
to him. But not often, for he was their livelihood, and however drunk
they was, they kept an eye on him; mostly he's locked up in a bedroom.
I wrote to you, sir, three times, and waited and waited for answers
till I was sick at heart; and things was getting worse and worse. I
couldn't have stood it any longer; I was just going to steal him and
carry him off somewhere where I could look after him without no one
interfering. But I thought I'd see you, and tell you about it first.
And now, sir, if you'd let me have charge of him"--her eyes fairly
blazed with eagerness--"I'd look after him properly--I would, indeed.
And I shouldn't want no two pounds a week--why, five shillings, five
shillings would be ample, sir. I'm a capable woman, and I can get as
much charring as ever I can do."
"Of course, you shall have charge of him," said Sir Tancred. "You seem
to be the only person in the world who has any right to have charge of
him.
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