"Where's she gone, then?"
"What's she wanted for?" asked Mrs. Stuart.
"One o' the Handcock children's been and pulled a kettle o' boiling water over, and got itself scalded. Nancy Dunn's in there, but Mrs. Dunn's out, and Nancy thought Mrs. Mason 'ud help best. So I said I'd fetch her, and they told me she was come here."
"Why, whatever in the world was the mother about not to look after the child?" demanded Mrs. Stuart.
"Mrs. Handcock? She's off at the factory all day."
"More shame for her!" said Mrs. Stuart. "With four babies to look after, and a husband getting good wages."
"Well, she is—and the children's locked up at home commonly. Nancy heard the screams, and called help, and the door was broke open somehow. They had a job to get in. The child's badly hurt."
"I shouldn't wonder if Mrs. Mason was—what's your name?" inquired Mrs. Stuart.
"I'm Bess Gardiner." The girl's freckled face coloured up.
"You Bess Gardiner! I never! Why, I shouldn't have known you."