For a long time neither spoke. It
was David who broke the strain.
"Joey, I wonder if you know how much Dick Cronk loves Ruby?" He put
the question tentatively.
"I do," responded Joey promptly. "He loves her so much and so honestly
that he won't tell 'er about it."
"I feel very sorry for him."
"So do I. He's often told me that he's mad in love with 'er. But he
says she can't haf--afford to 'ave anything to do with a pickpocket.
He says it wouldn't be right. So he's just going on loving 'er and
saying nothink. That's the way it'll be to the end."
"And Ruby?"
"Well, she knows 'ow it is with 'im. I daresay that's why she's allus
trying to get 'im to give up wot he's doing now and go out West where
he could begin all over again."
"If he did that, would you let her--"
"That's the question, my lad," interrupted Joey very soberly. "I don't
think I could let 'er marry a chap as 'ad been a thief. I--I, well,
you see, Jacky, I want my gal to marry a gentleman."
His lip twitched and he fell to studying the ground. David did not
smile. He looked away, for he understood the longing that was in the
heart of this lowly-born jester who did not even pretend to be a
gentleman.
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