bers," grinning; "top loft of a 'ouse in the court. If anyone
else 'd 'ave it I should be turned out. It's an 'ole, I can tell yer--
but it's better than sleepin' under the bridges."

"Take me to see it," said Antony Dart. "I want to see the girl."

The words spoke themselves. Why should he care to see either cockloft
or girl? He did not. He wanted to go back to his lodgings with that
which he had come out to buy. Yet he said this thing. His companion
looked up at him with an expression actually relieved.

"Would yer tike up with 'er?" with eager sharpness, as if confronting a
simple business proposition. "She's pretty an' clean, an' she won't
drink a drop o' nothin'. If she was treated kind she'd be cheerfler.
She's got a round fice an' light 'air an' eyes. 'Er 'air's curly.
P'raps yer'd like 'er."

"Take me to see her."

"She'd look better to-morrow," cautiously, "when the swellin's gone
down round 'er eye."

Dart started--and it was because he had for the last five minutes
forgotten something.

"I shall not be here to-morrow," he said. His grasp upon the thing in
his pocket had loosened, and he tightened it.

"I have some more money in my purse," he said deliberately. "I meant to
give it away before going. I want to give it to people who need it very
much."

She gave him one of the sly, squinting glances.

"Deservin' cases?" She put it to him in brazen mockery.

"I don't care," he answered slowly and heavily. "I don't care a damn."

Her face changed exactly as he had seen it change on the bridge when she
had drawn nearer to him. Its ugly hardness suddenly looked human. And
that she could look human was fantastic.

"'Ow much 'ave yer?" she asked. "'Ow much is it?"

"About ten pounds."

She stopped and stared at him with open mouth.

"Gawd!" she broke out; "ten pounds 'd send Apple Blossom Court to
'eving. Leastways, it'd take some of it out o' 'ell."

"Take me to it," he said roughly. "Take me."

She began to walk quickly, breathing fast. The fog was lighter, and it
was no longer a blinding thing.

A question occurred to Dart.

"Why don't you ask me to give the money to you?" he said bluntly.

"Dunno," she answered as bluntly. But after taking a few steps farther
she spoke again.

"I 'm cheerfler than most of 'em," she elaborated. "If yer born
cheerfle yer can stand things. When I gets a job nussin' women's bibies
they don't cry when I 'andles 'em. I gets many a bite an' a