‘Yes, I am. Do you think she’d thank me for it, seein’ how I got it—by robbin’ and swindlin’? It’s dirty money, governor, and I wants to do a lot o’ good with it. I should like it for to go to a chapel, or a church, or something. There cannot be no harm in that, ean there?’ ‘Is it in money?’ ‘Well, not all on it; a good bit is. There’s a lot o’ plate and a lot o’ joolery, but I suppose that wouldn’t matter. Churches and chapels don’t ask no questions when they has property left ‘em, do they?’ Gurth smiled. ‘Can’t say, Josh. I haven’t any experience.’ ‘At any rate, the gal don’t soil her fingers with none on it. I should like to leave her summat, too—summat as I come by all right and proper—summat as I needn’t be ashamed on; but I’m blest if I ever earned much on the square, when I comes to think it over.’ Gurth turned the conversation. ‘What are you going to do about the Smiths now?’ he said. ‘Do? Why, see’em right, come what may. Marston’s dead, and nothing as I can say will hurt him. I’m a-going to blow the whole gaff—make what they call a clean breast on it. I couldn’t die easy if I thought as I’d left that poor chap to be collared again.’ ‘When are you going to do it?’ ‘Bimeby,’ answered the old man uneasily; ‘bimeby.’ It was evident that although he had made up his mind to put himself at the mercy of the law, he was loth to do so while the least chance of life remained. Gurth Egerton left him much perplexed about the disposal of his property, and went away charged with a message to Birnie. ‘Tell him to give us a look in if he can,’ groaned Josh ‘I’m deuced bad, and I can’t sleep. If he sees me he can give me summat as will let me sleep; he’s done it afore. Tell him I shan’t trouble him much longer, but I’d like for to see him if I can.’ Gurth took the thin, trembling hand of the old man and shook it gently. ‘I’ll tell him,’ he said. ‘He’ll come and see you, Josh. He doesn’t forget old friends, though he is such a big pot now.’ ‘No, no,’ said Heckett; ‘he’ll come—he’ll come. I want him to tell me how long I shall live, for I’ve a lot to do—a lot to do.’ Wearied with the exertion of talking, old Heckett sank back in his chair and closed his eyes, and Gurth, with a farewell nod, went out and closed the door softly behind him. CHAPTER LXV. MR. JABEZ DUCK DISTINGUISHES HIMSELF AT LAST. Mr. and Mrs. Jabez Duck, by saying very little to each other, managed to avoid those scenes of wordy warfare which are considered part and parcel of English domestic institutions. Indeed, so common is it for husband and wife to disagree when they commence to converse, that the expression, ‘Master and missus have been having a few words,’ is quite understood in the kitchen to mean that ‘Master and missus’ have been having a quarrel.