d Pinky.

Norah shrugged her shoulders, and answered with no more feeling in her
voice than if she had been speaking of inanimate things:

"She's got to keep Kit up to her work."

"Up to her work!"

"Yes; that's just it. Kit's lazy and cheats--buys cakes and candies; and
Sal has to come down on her; it's the way, you know. If Sal didn't come
down sharp on her all the while, Kit wouldn't bring her ten cents a day.
They all have to do it--so much a day or a lickin'; and a little lickin'
isn't any use--got to 'most kill some of 'em. We're used to it in here.
Hark!"

The screams of a child in pain rang out wildly, the sounds coming from
across the narrow street. Quick, hard strokes of a lash were heard at
the same time. Pinky turned a little pale.

"Only Mother Quig," said Norah, with an indifferent air; "she has to do
it 'most every night--no getting along any other way with Tom. It beats
all how much he can stand."

"Oh, Norah, won't she never stop?" cried Pinky, starting up. "I can't
bear it a minute longer."

"Shut y'r ears. You've got to," answered the woman, with some impatience
in her voice. "Tom has to be kept to his work as well as the rest of
'em. Half the fuss he's making is put on, anyhow; he doesn't mind a
beating any more than a horse. I know his hollers. There's Flanagan's
Nell getting it now," added Norah as the cries and entreaties of another
child were heard. She drew herself up and listened, a slight shade of
concern drifting across her face.

A long, agonizing wail shivered through the air.

"Nell's Sick, and can't do her work." The woman rose as she spoke. "I
saw her goin' off to-day, and told Flanagan she'd better keep her at
home."

Saying this, Norah went out quickly, Pinky following. With head erect
and mouth set firmly, the queen strode across the street and a little
way down the pavement, to the entrance of a cellar, from which the cries
and sounds of whipping came. Down the five or six rotten and broken
steps she plunged, Pinky close after her.

"Stop!" shouted Norah, in a tone of command.

Instantly the blows ceased, and the cries were hushed.

"You'll be hanged for murder if you don't take care," said Norah.
"What's Nell been doin'?"

"Doin', the slut!" ejaculated the woman, a short, bloated, revolting
creature, with scarcely anything human in her face. "Doin', did ye say?
It's nothin' she's been doin', the lazy, trapsing huzzy! Who's that
intrudin' herself in here?" she add