"She wouldn't mind"; and
hastily rolling them into a parcel, together with a pair of carpet
slippers of the captain's, he thrust the lot into an old biscuit bag.
Then he shouldered his burden, and, going cautiously on deck, gained the
shore, and set off at a trot to the address furnished in the letter.
It was a long way, and the bag was heavy. His first attempt at barter
was alarming, for the pawnbroker, who had just been cautioned by the
police, was in such a severe and uncomfortable state of morals, that the
boy quickly snatched up his bundle again and left. Sorely troubled he
walked hastily along, until, in a small bye street, his glance fell upon
a baker of mild and benevolent aspect, standing behind the counter of
his shop.
"If you please, sir," said Tommy, entering, and depositing his bag on
the counter, "have you got any cast-off clothes you don't want?"
The baker turned to a shelf, and selecting a stale loaf cut it in
halves, one of which he placed before the boy.
"I don't want bread," said Tommy desperately; "but mother has just died,
and father wants mourning for the funeral. He's only got a new suit with
him, and if he can change these things of mother's for an old suit, he'd
sell his best ones to bury her with."
He shook the articles out on the counter, and the baker's wife, who had
just come into the shop, inspected them rather favourably.
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