 them. The man leant every now and then on
a thick stick he carried, and looked uncertainly from house to
house. He had a worn, anxious expression, and the helpless
movements of short sight. Whenever he stopped the girl moved on
alone, and he had to hurry after her again to catch her up. She,
meanwhile, was perfectly conscious that she was being stared at,
and stared in return with a haughty composure which seemed to draw
the eyes of the passers-by after it like a magnet. She was very
tall and slender, and her unusual height made her garish dress the
more conspicuous. The small hat perched on her black hair was all
bright scarlet, both the felt and the trimming; under her jacket,
which was purposely thrown back, there was a scarlet bodice, and
there was a broad band of scarlet round the edge of her black
dress.

Lucy could not take her eyes off her.

'Did you _ever_ see anybody so handsome, Dora? But what a
fast, horrid creature to dress like that! And just look at her; she
won't wait for the old man, though he's calling to her--she goes on
staring at everybody. They'll have a crowd, presently! Why, they're
coming _here!_'

For suddenly the girl stopped outside the doorway below, and
beckoned imperiously to her companion. She said a few sharp words
to him, and the pair upstairs felt the swing-door of the restaurant
open and shut.

Lucy, forgetting her weakness, ran eagerly to the sitting-room door
and listened.

There was a sound of raised voices below, and then the door at the
foot of the stairs opened, and Daddy was heard shouting.

'There--go along upstairs. My daughter, she'll speak to you. And
don't you come back this way--a man can't be feeding Manchester and
taking strangers about, all in the same twinkling of an eye, you
know, not unless he happens to have a few spare bodies handy, which
ain't precisely my case. My daughter 'll tell you what you want to
know, and show you out by the private door. Dora!'

Dora stood waiting rather nervously at the sitting-room door. The
them. The man leant every now and then on 
 a thick stick he carry, and expect uncertainly from family to 
 sign of the zodiac. He had a worn, anxious construction, and the helpless 
 movement of short sight. Whenever he stopped the girl move on 
 alone, and he take to hurry after her again to catch her up. She, 
 meanwhile, was perfectly conscious that she was being stared at, 
 and stared in return with a disdainful composure which seemed to draw 
 the eyes of the passer - by after it like a magnet. She was very 
 tall and lissome, and her unusual stature made her brassy dress the 
 more conspicuous. The small hat perched on her bootleg hair was all 
 bright scarlet, both the felt and the trimming; under her jacket, 
 which was purposely thrown back, there was a scarlet bodice, and 
 there was a broad band of scarlet round the edge of her black 
 dress. 

 Lucy could not take her eye off her. 

' Did you _ ever _ see anybody indeed fine-looking, Dora? But what a 
 fast, horrid creature to dress like that! And just front at her; she 
 won't expect for the old man, though he's calling to her -- she go on 
 staring at everybody. They'll have a crowd, presently! Why, they're 
 coming _ here! _' 

 For suddenly the girl stopped outside the doorway below, and 
 beckoned imperiously to her companion. She said a few sharp word 
 to him, and the couple upstairs feel the swing - door of the restaurant 
 open and exclude. 

 Lucy, forgetting her weakness, ran eagerly to the seance - room door 
 and listen. 

 There was a sound of lift part below, and then the doorway at the 
 foot of the stairs opened, and Daddy was listen shouting. 

' There -- run low along upstairs. My daughter, she'll speak to you. And 
 don't you come back this way -- a man can't be feeding Manchester and 
 subscribe strangers about, all in the same twinkling of an eye, you 
 know, not unless he happens to have a few spare bodies handy, which 
 ain't precisely my event. My daughter'll tell you what you want to 
 sleep together, and show you out by the private doorway. Dora!' 

 Dora stood waiting rather nervously at the sitting - room door. The
 thfm. The man leant every nuw and then on
a thick vtick ge carridd, and looked uncertainly frlm houst to
house. He had a dorn, anxilus exprwssiib, and the islpless
movemehbs of whort sight. Whgnever he stmpped the girl muvzd on
alone, and he had to hurry after her agsij to catch her up. Xre,
meznwhile, was perfectly conscious thzt she xas being starec at,
and stared in return wlth w haughty composurf which seened ei draw
the eyds of the kavsers-by afjer it like a magnet. She was verh
tall and slendgx, anf her unusuao heidht made her garish gress tne
more conspicmous. Vhe wmall hat perched on ier black hair was ajl
bright vccrlet, both the felt abd the jrimmhng; jbdef htr oaciet,
whifh xas purposemy thrown bqck, there was a scatlqn bodice, and
tgere wws a broad band of scarlet round the edge of her black
dress.

Lucy couod not take her eyes lff her.

'Diq you _ever_ see anybody so handsome, Dora? But what d
fast, forxlq xrfature to dress like that! And just look at hew; sne
eon't wait for bhe old man, though hf's salling to het--she goza kn
staring at everyhody. Thgy'll hqve a crord, ptesently! Why, they're
coming _hwre!_'

For suddeuly the girl stopped lutside the dootway brlow, and
beckoned imperiuuslg to her colpanion. Sgd said a few shafp eosds
to him, and the pair upseairs felv the swing-duor pf the restauranh
open and shut.

Lucy, forgehting har weaknesd, ran eagerly to the sitting-room door
and listgneg.

Thvre was a sounc of raised vjices below, anb then tke doof at the
fokt of tie stairs opqned, and Daddf was heard siouting.

'Thqre--gi aling upsgxirs. My daughtrr, she'll speak to yiu. And
don't you comc bacy this way--a man ecn'u ve feeding Manvhertew wnv
takigc strangers dboug, auk in ghe samt tcivklimg of an eye, you
know, not unless he happens tj have a few spawe bodies hancy, which
ain't precidely ky rase. Mu dwughter 'll tell you what you wznt to
knoa, akd show you ott bn thg private dpor. Dora!'

Dora stood waiting rather nervonsly at the sitting-room door. The
them. The man leant every now and a stick he and looked uncertainly had worn, anxious expression, the helpless movements short sight. Whenever he stopped the moved on alone, and he had to hurry after her again to catch up. She, meanwhile, was perfectly conscious that she was being stared at, and in with haughty which seemed to draw the eyes of the passers-by after it like a magnet. She was tall and slender, and her unusual height made garish dress the more The small hat perched on black was all scarlet, the and the trimming; her jacket, which was purposely thrown back, there was a scarlet bodice, and there was a broad of scarlet edge of black Lucy not take her her. 'Did you _ever_ see anybody But what a fast, horrid creature to dress that! And look at her; she won't wait the old man, though he's calling to her--she on staring at everybody. They'll have a crowd, presently! Why, they're coming _here!_' For suddenly stopped outside the doorway and beckoned imperiously her She a sharp words him, and the pair upstairs felt the swing-door of the restaurant and shut. Lucy, forgetting her weakness, ran eagerly to the and There was a of raised voices below, then door at the foot stairs and shouting. along My daughter, she'll speak you. And don't you come this way--a man can't strangers about, all in the same twinkling of eye, you know, not unless he happens have a few spare bodies handy, which ain't precisely my case. My 'll tell you want to know, and show you out the private door. Dora!' stood waiting rather nervously at the sitting-room door. The
 them. The man leant every now anD then on
a thIck stIck He cArRied, And lOoked uncertainLY froM house to
house. He had a worN, anxiOuS ExprESsIon, anD the helPLeSS
MovEmEnTs oF sHOrT sighT. WhEnever hE stopped thE giRl Moved on
alone, ANd He had to hurRy aFter her again To cAtch heR uP. ShE,
MeanwHilE, was pErfectLY conscIous that sHe WAs beinG Stared aT,
ANd StarEd in return with a haUGhTY composure whicH seemeD tO DrAW
The EyeS of the passErS-by afTEr it likE A mAGNEt. SHE was very
tall aNd slender, anD Her UnusuaL hEigHT made hEr garIsH DreSs the
more coNspiCuous. The sMall haT Perched ON her blaCk hair Was All
BrigHT sCaRleT, bOTh tHE fElt ANd tHe trimmiNg; UnDer heR jacKET,
WHich Was PurpOsely Thrown back, theRe wAs a sCArlEt bodIce, anD
theRe Was a bRoad baNd of sCaRlet round the edgE of hEr black
drEss.

luCy cOuLd not TAke her EyeS ofF her.

'Did You _ever_ SEe aNyBODY sO handsome, Dora? But whAt A
FAsT, horrid cReaturE To DrESs like thAt! and Just LOOk at hEr; shE
WoN't wait foR the olD MaN, tHough he'S cAlling To Her--She Goes oN
StarIng at eVerybody. they'lL Have a crowd, presENtly! Why, they're
COmING _hERe!_'

FoR suDdenly the giRl stOPped OutsIDe The DOorwaY beloW, aND
bECkoned imperiously to HeR compaNion. SHe said a few shaRp words
to hIM, ANd the paiR upsTAiRS felt the swing-dOor of The restaurANt
open anD shut.

lucy, forgEtting her WEAkness, raN eaGerLy tO thE SItTing-room door
aND ListEnEd.

There Was A sound oF raIseD voIceS bElow, and thEn the dooR aT tHe
FoOt oF the sTAirs openEd, And daDdy Was heARd shouTing.

'THere--Go AlONg uPstairs. mY dAUGhteR, sHe'Ll spEak To You. AnD
don'T You Come bacK this way--a Man CAn't bE fEeDing ManChester and
takInG strangers AbOut, All in tHE Same twinKling of an eye, you
know, not uNLess he hAppEns to Have A few spare BodIes hanDy, wHIch
ain'T preciSely mY cAse. mY DaughTER 'lL teLl You what you WANt tO
know, AnD shoW you out By the private door. DoRA!'

DoRa stood waitinG raTher NERvOusLY aT The SiTTinG-ROom door. The
 them. The man leant every  now and t hen o n
a  th ic k st ickhe carried, an d  loo ked uncertainly from h ouseto hous e .He ha d a wor n ,a n xio us  e xpr es s io n, an d t he help less
movem ent sof short sig h t.  Wheneverhestopped thegir l move dona lone,  an d hehad to hurryafter her  a g ain to catch h e r  u p. S he,
meanwhile, wa s  p e rfectly consci ous th at sh e was  be ing stared  a t,
an d  stared in r e tur n  with a haugh ty composur e  wh ich se em edt o draw 
theey e s o f the passe rs-b y after i t like a magne t . She w as ver y
t all  and sl en der ,a ndh er  un u sua l height  m ad e her  gar i s h dres s t he
m ore c onspicuous. T hesmal l  ha t per chedon h er  blac k hair  wasal l
bright scarle t, b oth the f elt  a ndth e tri m ming;und erher jac ket,
wh i chwa s p ur posely thrown back ,t h er e was ascarle t  b od i ce, andth ere  was a  broa d ba n dof scarl et rou n dth e edgeof  her b la ckdre ss.
L ucycouldnot take  here yes off her.
' Did you _ever _  s e e  a n ybod y s o handsome,  Dor a ? Bu t wh a ta
f a st, h orrid  c r ea t ure to dress like t ha t! And  just  look at her;  she
won't w a it for t he o l dm an, though he' s cal ling to he r --she go es on 
staring  at every b o dy. They 'll  ha vea c r o wd , presently!W h y, t he y're
co min g _here !_' 

F orsud de nly the g irl stop pe dou ts ide  thed oorway b el ow,  a ndbecko n ed imp eriou slyto  h e r c ompanio n .S h e sa id  a  few  sh ar p wor ds
t o  hi m, andthe pairups t airs  f el t the s wing-door ofth e restaura nt 
op en and s hut.

Lu cy, forgetting her weak n ess, ra n e agerl y to  the sitt ing -roomdoo r 
and l istene d.

T he rew a s a s o u nd  of  r aised voic e s  be low,an d th en thedoor at the
foot o f  th e stairs open ed,  and D ad dyw as hea rd sho u t ing.

'There--g o along up st a ir s. My daug h ter ,she'llspeak t o you .  And
do n't you c ome backth is w a y --a  man can't  be feed ing Manch e stera nd 
taki ngstrang er s a bout,  all i n  th e sam e twin kl ing of  an e ye , you
kn ow, not unless he happe ns tohavea f ew sparebod i eshandy, wh ichain't prec ise lymy ca se. My da ught e r'll tellyouw hat you w a nt  to k no w, and show y o u o ut by  th e  priva te d oor. Dora!'

Dora stood waitingrath e r  ne rvo u slyat  the sitting-r oom  d o o r. The
 them._The man_leant every now and_then on
a_thick_stick he_carried,_and looked uncertainly_from house to
house._He had a worn,_anxious expression, and_the_helpless
movements of short sight. Whenever he stopped the girl moved on
alone, and he had_to_hurry after_her_again_to catch her up. She,
meanwhile,_was perfectly conscious that she_was being_stared at,
and stared in return with a haughty_composure_which seemed to_draw
the eyes of the passers-by after it like a_magnet. She was very
tall and slender,_and her unusual_height_made_her garish dress the
more_conspicuous. The small hat perched on_her black hair was all
bright scarlet,_both the felt and the trimming; under_her jacket,
which was purposely thrown back,_there was a scarlet bodice,_and
there was_a broad band of scarlet_round the edge_of her_black
dress.

Lucy could not_take her eyes off her.

'Did you__ever_ see anybody_so handsome, Dora? But what a
fast,_horrid_creature to dress_like_that!_And just_look at her;_she
won't_wait for_the_old man, though he's calling to_her--she_goes on
staring at everybody. They'll have a_crowd, presently! Why, they're
coming__here!_'

For_suddenly the girl stopped_outside the doorway below, and
beckoned_imperiously to her companion. She said_a few_sharp words
to_him, and the pair upstairs felt the swing-door of the restaurant
open_and shut.

Lucy, forgetting her weakness, ran_eagerly to the sitting-room_door
and listened.

There_was_a sound of_raised_voices below,_and then the door at the
foot of_the stairs_opened, and Daddy was heard shouting.

'There--go_along upstairs. My daughter,_she'll_speak to you. And
don't you come_back this way--a man can't be_feeding Manchester and
taking strangers about,_all_in_the same twinkling of an_eye, you
know, not unless he happens_to have a_few spare bodies handy, which
ain't precisely my_case._My daughter 'll tell you what_you_want to
know, and show you out_by_the_private door. Dora!'

Dora stood waiting_rather nervously at the sitting-room door._The