As was to be expected, Bet had confided to Will and to Hester the whole
story of Dent's proposal, and of her father having sold away her beat,
and so deprived her of the means of earning bread for herself and her
little brothers. Will and Hester between them had provided her with
a little money for present necessaries, and Will told her that on the
day they were married he meant to buy another newspaper beat for her.
"When I'm at sea you must be earning something, Bet," he said; "and
though every girl can't hold her own and be good and respectable as
you are, yet there ain't no fear for one like you, and you may as well
go on selling newspapers to the gentlemen, and show them what a
Liverpool lass can be when she likes."
"But the best beat is gone," said Bet, mournfully--"there ain't another
to be had for love or money like that what mother bought for me round
by the clubs."
Will's disposition was very sanguine.
"We'll find a beat nearly as good," he said in a confident voice.
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