his wits, never very powerful, had grown childish under the
blow.

"So don't yous go pokin' borak at 'im," she cried, flushing pink.
"'E's a good father to me, if she lets 'im alone. But she's got 'im
under 'er thumb with 'er nasty tongue."

Chook thought Mrs Partridge was an agreeable woman. Instantly Pinkey's
eyes blazed with anger.

"Is she? You ought ter 'ear 'er talk. She's got a tongue like a dog's
tail; it's always waggin'. An' niver a good word for anybody. I wish
she'd mind 'er own business, an' clean up the 'ouse. W'en my mother
was alive, you could eat yer dinner off the floor, but Sarah's too
delicate for 'ousework. She'd 'ave married the greengrocer, but she
was too delicate to wait in the shop. We niver see a bit o' fresh meat
in the 'ouse, an' if yer say anythin' she bursts into tears, an' sez
somethin' nasty about Lil. She makes believe she's got no more
appetite than a canary, but she lives on the pick of the 'am shop w'en
nobody's lookin'. Look 'ow fat she is. W'en she married Dad, you could
'ear 'er bones rattle. I wouldn't mind if she did the washin'. But
she puts the things in soak on Monday, an' then on Saturday I 'ave ter
turn to an' do the lot, 'cause she's delicate. I ain't delicate. I'm
only skin an' bone."

Her face was flushed and eager; her eyes sparkled. Chook remembered
the song about eyes and stars, and agreed with the words. And as
suddenly the sparkle died out of her eyes, her mouth drooped, and the
colour left her face, pale as ivory in the faint gleam of the stars.

"Yous don't think any worse o' me 'cause Lil's crook, do yer?" she
asked piteously.

Chook swore a denial.

"P'raps yer think it runs in the family; but Lil 'ud 'a' gone straight
if she 'adn't been driven out o' the 'ouse by Sarah's nasty tongue."

Chook declared that Lil was spotless.

"No, she ain't," said Pinkey; "she's as bad as they make 'em now;
but...wot makes yer tail up after me?" she inquired suddenly.

Chook answered that she had sent him fair off his dot.

"Oh yes, that's wot yer said to Poll Corcoran, an' then went skitin'
that she'd do anythin' yer liked, if yer lifted yer finger. I've 'eard
all about yous."

Chook swore that he would never harm a hair of her head.

"The worst 'arm is done without meanin' it," said Pinkey wisely, "an'
that's w'y I'm frightened of yer."

"Wotcher got ter be frightened o' me?" asked Chook, softly.

"I'm frightened o' yer...'cause I like yer,