"Is he her husband?" asked Julius.
"Well, I don't know, sir; leastways, Granny says he ought to be
answerable for what's required."
Mrs. Reynolds further betrayed that the family had not been ignorant
of Fanny's career since she had run away from home, leaving her
child on her grandmother's hands. She had made her home in one of
the yellow vans which circulate between fairs and races, driving an
ostensible trade in cheap toys, but really existing by setting up
games which were, in fact, forms of gambling, according to the taste
of the people and the toleration of the police. From time to time,
she had appeared at home, late in the evening, with small sums of
money and presents for her boy; and Mrs. Dan believed that she
thought herself as good as married to 'that there Drake.' She was
reported to be asleep, and the place 'all of a caddle,' and Julius
promised to call later in the day.
"Yes, sir," said Mrs. Reynolds; "it would be a right good thing,
poor girl. She've a kind heart, they all do say; not as I know, not
coming here till she was gone, nor wanting to know much on her, for
'twas a right bad way she was in, and 'twere well if them nasty
races were put down by Act of Parliament, for they be the very ruin
of the girls in these parts.
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