look at, is it? Sort of a physog for a thief, eh? See them
lines?--Want to know what them stand for? That's drink, an'
starvation, an' 'ard work, an' a damned lonely life.

MARY. Oh, you poor man!

ROBERT. Yus, miss, I am.

MARY. You mustn't say "damned," you know.

ROBERT. No, miss.

MARY. _That's_ wicked, at any rate.

ROBERT. Yus, miss.

MARY. And you owned yourself that you drank. That's not very
good, either.

ROBERT. No, miss.

MARY. So, you see, you _are_ a little bit naughty, after all,
aren't you?

ROBERT. Yus, miss.

MARY. Now, isn't it much nicer for you to try and look at things
in this way? I'm sure you feel a great deal better already.

Do you know-- Wait a moment . . .

[She resumes her seat, turning it towards him, the passion of
salvation in her eyes.]

Do you know, I'd like to do you some good!

ROBERT. You, miss?

MARY. Yes, wouldn't you like me to?

ROBERT. You're the on'y person in the world I'd--I'd like to see
try, miss.

MARY [glad in the consciousness of "being used"]. That's because
you know I'm interested in you, that I mean it, that I'm not trying
to think only of myself.

ROBERT [a little stupidly]. Aren't you, miss?

MARY. No: we must always remember that there are other people in
the world besides ourselves.

[This coincides with his experience: he says so.]

ROBERT. Yus, miss, there are.

MARY. Very well: now I'll see what I can do to help you.

ROBERT. Thank you, miss.

MARY. Now, don't you think, if you were really _to wish_ very
hard, it would make things better for you?

ROBERT. I don't know what you mean, miss.

MARY. Well, it's like this: if you only wish very very hard,
everything comes true.

ROBERT. Wot _I_ want, ain't no use wishing for!

MARY. It doesn't matter what it is! Anything you like! It will
all happen!

ROBERT. Blimey, wot's the good o' talkin'?

MARY. Oh, wouldn't you like to help to spin the fairy-tale?

ROBERT [roughly], I don't believe in no fairy-tales!

MARY. I do! I don't believe there's anything else in the world,
if we only knew! And that's why I'm wishing! I'm wishing now!
I'm wishing hard!

ROBERT [passionately]. So am I, Gawd 'elp me! But it's no use!

MARY. It is! It is! What are you wishing for?

ROBERT. Never you mind! Summat as impossible as--fairy-tales!

MARY. So's mine! That's what it has to be! Mine's the most
impossible thing in the world!

ROBER