The lady bent her head at that moment, her companion gave a scream, and waved her umbrella in the air.
“Please give me a trifle for a night’s lodging, ma’am,” said the boy, addressing himself to the younger of the two ladies.
“Yes, certainly,” she said. “Aunt, you’ve got my purse in your bag; I want it for a moment.”
“Want it—what for? Here’s a Hammersmith omnibus waiting.”
“Don’t go away without giving me something,” cried Alf, in piteous accents.
“Anna Maria, what can you be thinking about? We shall lose the omnibus if you don’t leave off chattering to that dirty little fellow.”
“Let me have the purse.”
“I can’t get at it without wetting myself through. Give him something another time. It doesn’t do to place any reliance upon what boys of his sort say. Do come, or we shall be left behind. Come, Anna Maria.”
“Now, ma’am, look sharp, please,” bawled the conductor. “Jump in, ladies, if you’re going.”
The door of the omnibus was held impatiently open.