"'Tisn't any way to encourage beggars," said nurse decidedly. "I wash my hands of the whole concern, Miss Josie. If you go and catch a mortal fever, and get the house broken into and burned down, and all of us shot and smothered alive, like them Fenians do in Ireland, 'tain't my fault."
"I am sure this little girl wouldn't burn anybody," said Josie. "I haven't anything to give you now, little girl, but you must come to our house this evening,—no, not this evening, because I am going out with mother to tea,—but you must come to-morrow morning. Now mind."
"Thank ye, Miss," said Ailie.
"You don't know where we live though," said Josie, and with some difficulty she made the matter clear to Ailie. "Now mind you don't forget. Number Sixteen, and you are to ask for Miss Therlock." Josie looked dignified as she spoke. "If we find out that you have told me the exact truth, we will give you help."
"An' grandfather?" whispered Ailie.
"Yes, and your old grandfather too, of course. But mother likes to help little girls best, because—"
Josie paused, and looked grave, before continuing, "Yes, I know she will help you. It always makes her so unhappy to see any little girl hungry. That is the only reason I don't like you to come to the house. But you must come, and we'll give you something to eat before she sees you, and then you won't look so pinched. I wish I had a penny here, but I haven't."
"Nor I neither, so it's no good looking at me," said nurse. "Shows how much you think of your mamma's feelings, Miss Josie,—taking to her a child like that. When you know it'll make her think of Miss Vi, and she'll cry."
"I do think of her feelings," said Josie indignantly. "But I can't leave the little girl to starve. That isn't what mother would like. Mind you come, little girl, for I shall tell my mother all about you, and it would make her very unhappy, if you didn't. So mind you come."
And with a little parting nod, she marched off, followed by nurse. Suddenly remembering that Leveson had promised to look in on them that afternoon, she quickened her steps. All the way home her mind was full of the hungry child; but on reaching the house, that subject was banished by the sight of Leveson in the passage.