Explore "To London Town" by Arthur Morrison on Textopian. Read with annotations and highlights.
THE shock left Johnny and Bessy numb, and, though Bessy was quicker, the change took Johnny two or three days to realise -- even to understand. His first distinct impression was one of injury and resentment. He had been tricked -- hoodwinked. His mother -- even his mother had deceived him and Bessy. Why? Why not tell them first?
She _would_ have told them, he was sure; she told them everything. Butson had persuaded her to keep them in ignorance till the thing was done, lest they should rebel, and perhaps bring her to a change of mood. And Johnny's guess was a good one. Forthwith his resentment became something more; hate, mere hate for this man who had come between him and his mother -- this cadger of suppers thrusting himself into their intimate life. .