"Well Jack," said Devilsdust, "I suppose you have heard the
news?"
"If it be anything that has happened at Mowbray, especially in
this quarter, I should think I had. Times must be very bad
indeed that some one does not drop in to tell me anything that
has happened and to ask my advice."
"It's nothing to do with Mowbray."
"Thank you kindly, Mrs Trotman," said Mick, "and here's your
very good health."
"Then I am in the dark," said Chaffing Jack, replying to the
previous observation of Devilsdust, "for I never see a
newspaper now except a week old, and that lent by a friend, I
who used to take my Sun regular, to say nothing of the
Dispatch, and Bell's Life. Times is changed, Mr Radley."
"You speak like a book, Mr Trotman," said Mick, "and here's
your very good health. But as for newspapers, I'm all in the
dark myself, for the Literary and Scientific is shut up, and
no subscribers left, except the honorary ones, and not a
journal to be had except the Moral World and that's gratis."
"As bad as the Temple," said Chaffing Jack, "it's all up with
the institutions of the country. And what then is the news?"
"Labour is triumphant in Lancashire," said Devilsdust with
bitter solemnity.
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