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Chapter 20: A penny for a thought continued
"Could I have a penny, sir?"
"What?" Muttered Edward distractedly, striking a match to a packed pipe.
"A penny, sir- haven't eaten all day!"
"That is a lie- but it seems I will not be rid of you! There, now! Ask Mrs. J for a biscuit, you're clearly after one!" And with that he pulled three pennies from the pocket of his dressing gown, throwing them irritably at the delighted lad. Mylo scrambled about the room, plucking them from the wooden floor. It was at this moment that Professor Barland chose to enter the fray, opening the door and nearly tripping headlong over the boy as he reached for a final penny tucking itself under the ottoman.
"What the devil- Mylo, good heavens is that you? I nearly broke a leg, young man, away with you!" Spluttered the professor as the boy righted himself, clutching to the mantelpiece and coming face to face with an old skull, its empty sockets gazing balefully through him.
"Is that a huma
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