The String of Pearls (1850), p. 21[6]

"There, Charley," he said as he handed them to the little fellow," There's
a piece for you, and a piece for mamma."
"Really you are very kind, Mr. Todd," said Brown.
"Oh, don't mention it. Run home at once, Charley, with them, and by the
time you get back your father will be—finished. Run along."
"I won't," said Charley.
"Ah, come—come," said his father."
"I won't go, and I don't like soap."
"And why don't you like soap, my little man?" said Todd, as he recommenced
operations upon the silversmith's face.
"Because I don't like to be washed at all, it scrubs so, and I don't like you,
either, you are so dreadfully ugly—that I don't."
Todd smiled blandly.
"Now, Charley," said his father, "I am very angry with you. You are a very bad boy indeed. Why don't you do as Mr. Todd tells you?"
"Because I won't."
"Bless him," said Todd, "bless his heart. But don't you think, Mr. B."—
here Todd's voice sank to a whisper—"don't you think that it s rather injudicious to encourage this obstinacy—if one may call it suchthus early in life? It may, you know, grow upon the dear little fellow."
"You are right, Mr. Todd; "and I know that he is spoiled; but I have a
more than ordinary affection for him, since, under most critical circumstances, once I saved his life. From that time, I confess that I have been weak enough to allow him too much of his own way. Thank you, Mr. Todd. A very clean comfortable shave indeed."
Mr. Brown rose from his chair and approached the little boy.
"Charley, my dear," he said; "you will save papa's life" some day, won't
you?"
"Yes," said Charley.
The father kissed him, as he added—
"How affected I feel to- night. I suppose it's the thought of the long journey
I am going."
"No doubt," said Todd.
"Good night, Mr. Todd. Come along, Charley."
"Won't you give me a kiss, you darling, before you go?" said Todd.
"No, ugly, I won't."
"Oh, Charley—Charley, your behaviour to Mr. Todd is really anything but
right. You are a very bad boy to-night. Come along."
Away they went, and Todd stood stropping the lately-used razor upon his
hand, as he glared upon them, and muttered—
"Jewels worth three thousand pounds! And so you saved the child's
life, did you? By all that's devilish he has returned the obligation."
He went to the door and looked after the retreating figures of the silversmith
and his child. He saw with what tender care the father lifted the little one
over the road-way, and again he muttered—
"Three thousand pounds gone!—gone, when it was almost within my grasp.
All this is new. I used not to be the sport of such accidents and adverse circumstances. Time was, when by the seeming irresistible force of my will, I could bend circumstances to my purposes, but now I am the sport of dogs and children. What is the meaning of it all? Is my ancient cunning deserting me? Is my brain no longer active and full of daring?"
He crept back into his shop again. The hour was now getting late, and after
sitting for some time in silent musing he rose, and without a word, commenced
closing his establishment for the night.
"I must have another boy," he said, as he put up the last shutter and secured
it m its place. "I must have another boy. This state of things will not do.
I must certainly have another boy. Tobias Ragg would have suited me very
well, if he had not been so—so—what shall I call it, confoundedly imaginative.