The String of Pearls (1850), p. 311

moment he is sent of an errand, with open mouth, proclaiming this and that has happened in the shop. I will have him."
He darted to the door.
"Hoi!—hoi!"
Johanna turned round, and came back in a minute. Todd had caught at the bait at last. She got close to the door.
"Upon consideration," said Todd, "I will speak to you again. But just run and see what the time is by St. Dunstan's Church."
"St.—St. who?" said Johanna, looking around her with a bewildered, confused sort of air. "St. who?"
"St. Dunstan's, in Fleet Street."
"Fleet Street? If you will direct me, sir, I dare say I shall find it—oh, yes. I am good at finding places."
"He is strange in London." muttered Todd. "I am satisfied of that. He is strange. Come in—come in, and shut the door after you."
With a heart beating with violence, that w r as positively fearful, Johanna followed Todd into the shop, carefully closing the door behind her, as she had
been ordered to do.
"Now," said Todd, "nothing in the world but my consideration for your orphan and desolate condition, could possibly induce me to think of taking you
in; but the fact is, being an orphan myself—(here Todd made a hideous grimace)—I say, being an orphan myself, with little to distress me amid the
oceans and quicksands of this wicked world., some very strong sense of religion—(another hideous grimace)—I naturally feel for you."
"Thank you, sir."
"Are you decidedly pious?"
"I hope so, sir."
"Humph! Well, we will say more upon that all-important subject another time, and if I consent to be your master, a—a—a—"
"Charley Green, sir."
"Ay, Charley Green. If I consent to take you for a week upon trial, you must wholly attribute it to my feelings."
"Certainly, sir."
"Have you any idea yourself as to terms?"
"None in the least, sir."
"Very good. Then you will not be disappointed. I shall give you sixpence a week, and your board wages of threepence a day, besides perquisites. The
threepence I advise you to spend in three penny pies, at Mrs. Lovett's, in Bell Yard. They are the most nutritious and appetizing things you can buy ; and
in the Temple you will find an excellent pump, so that the half hour you will be allowed for dinner will be admirably consumed in your walk to the pie shop, and from thence to the pump, and then home here again."
"Yes, sir."
"You will sleep under the counter, here, of a night, and the perquisites mention will consist of the use of the pewter wash-hand basin, the soap, and the
end of a towel."
"Yes, sir."
"You will hear and see much in this place. Perhaps now and then you will be surprised at something; but—but, master Charley, if you go and gossip about me or my affairs, or what you see, or what you hear, or what you think you would like to see or hear, I'll cut your throat!"
"Charley started."
"Oh! sir," he said, "you may rely upon me. I will be quite discreet. I am a fortunate lad to get so soon into the employment of such an exemplary master."
"Ha!"
Todd, for a space of two minutes made the most hideous and extraordinary grimaces.