"
Mr. Smug, the officer, rolled out this section in a sonorous
monotone, without stops, like a clerk of the court. It was his
pride to know by heart all the acts relating to his department,
and to bring them down upon any obstinate head that he wished to
crush. Ginx's head, however, was impervious to an act of
parliament. In his then temper, the Commination Service or St.
Ernulphus's curse would have been feathers to him. The only
feeling aroused in his mind by the words of the legislature was
one of resentment. To him they seemed unjust, because they were
hard and fast, and made no allowance for circumstances. So he
said:
GINX. D---- the act of parliament! What's the use of saying I
shan't abandon the child, when I can't keep it alive?
OFFICER. But you're bound by law to keep it alive.
GINX. Bound to keep it alive? How am I to do it? There's the
rest on 'em there (nodding towards his house) little better nor
alive now. If that's an act of Parleyment, why don't the act of
Parleyment provide for 'em? You know what wages is, and I can't
get more than is going.
CHORUS. Yes. Why don't Parleyment provide for 'em? You take
the child, Mr. Smug.
OFFICER (regardless of grammar).
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