Arry allus laughed at me, but I know him and his ways, and what it means when his eyes look so bright, and theres a twitching about the corners of his mouth: and the more wild and happy I seemed, the quieter hed grow, poor boy, and then hed take my basket away and carry it hisself atop of his cages and sticks and nets, and Go along, my gal, hed say, so that I should be free and light. For hes a good fellow is Arry, and never lifted his hand again me once in all the six years weve been married, not even when he came home a bit on.
He used to like me to be fond of the country, and wed go hopping in the autumn time down there in Surrey amongst the lovely hills, where the place is all sandy; and theres the big fir woods where you go walking between the tall, straight trunks, with the sweet scent meeting you at every step, as you walk over a thick bed of spines. Then out again, where the heath is all purple, and the whortleberries grow; while every hedge is loaded with the great ripe blackberries miles and miles away from the smoke, but we never thought of the distance till we were going home. Ah! it was enough to make one grudge the people as had money, allus out there in the clear, bright air; and yet I dont know as they was happier than we when we made our bit o fire under a sandy bank, and sat there and had our bit of bread and cheese or a drop o tea.
Hopping used to set us up well for some time; and how I used to love it! but the worst of it was when we went back again into the court so dull and dark, when somehow or other, it allus seemed to come in wet and miserable when we went back home, though the old woman was allus glad to see us, and did all she could to cheer us up; for she never goes out because of her rheumatics. But it was of no use to be low, and we soon settled down again.
All sorts we had in our place: finches, and canaries, and larks, and squirrels sometimes. In the spring-time we used to put pairs of canaries in a big cage, and give em stuff to build their pretty little nests; and there was one pair one year as I used to watch, and seem to pity so, for there was the nest and the beautiful eggs, and the little soft, downy, yellow-breasted thing sitting week after week, and no little ones came; and then again and again the same. And I couldnt help it, you know; but it allus hurt me, and made me have a good cry; for it made me think of three times when, after begging very hard, Arrys mother had let me see a tiny, soft little babe, so delicate and beautiful, with its little hands and lovely pink nails; so pale, and still; there were the little blue veins in the white forehead, and the dimples in the cheeks, while the head was covered with soft golden hair;
and the eyes ah! the eyes were allus the same, closed closed, and they never looked in mine; while when I put my cheek up against it twas allus the same too cold, cold, cold. Three times; and I shall never have two little lips say Mother to me.
Arry used to say it was just as well, for poor people like us was best without em; but it did seem so hard for the little, tiny, soft things never to look upon the daylight, though it was only in a garret up a court.
Hell be out in another month, Arry will, and weve kep all together as well as we could. You see, Ive done a great deal in creases of a morning, for they allus sells somehow; then, too, Ive had a turn at flowers, for people will allus buy them too; young chaps to stick in their button-holes, and gals going to work to put in a jug of water, so as to get the sweet scent of the pretty bright things, that it seems almost as cruel to bring into the City as it does birds. Moss roses, and pinks, and carnations sells best, and I dont know who loves em most, your work-gal from the country or the poor London-bred one. At times Ive had a fruit-basket, and done pretty well that way; for, you see, Ive been a bit lucky; and allus had a bit more than we wanted to keep us; though moren once I thought we must sell the things outer the room.
Poor boy! hell be surprised when he comes out, for it was along of hard times that he got his six months. Hed been down on his luck for some weeks, and, though he tried hard, things went again him. I tried to cheer him up, but he got a bit wild and savage, and theres allus plenty to get a chap like him to join in a plant robbery, you know, sir; and what with not havin enough to eat, and the drink they give him, he got worse and worse; and not being used to it, the other fellows got off, and poor Arry was taken.
He wouldnt peach, bless you; though some of his mates in the job was afraid, and got outer the way. One way and another we got money enough to get him a lawyer, and his case came on; and while I was a-sitting there, trying to keep all the trouble down, I heard the magistrate talk to him, and give him six months hard labour, poor lad, when hed only done it to get food.
He saw me there, and give me a good long look, trying to smile all the time; but I knowd that bright look in his eyes, and the working at the corners of his mouth, and what he was feeling; but I never flinched a bit, but met his look true and steady, for I knew he wanted all the comfort I could give him.