'Ah, that they do; and a nice pest they are, a many on 'em. They're as thick as fleas.'
----'And at this season it is good to think of them, and to try to do some little thing in their behalf. It is but little that we can do--very, very little. Do you know of such a child as we seek for now?'
'A girl?
'A girl or boy.'
'God Almighty bless you, ma'am!' cried the landlady. 'Stop here minute, and I'll let you know.'
She ran in haste upstairs to where her kind-hearted lodger was nursing the twins.
'I beg you a thousand pardons, Mrs. Manning,' she said, panting, 'and you too, Mr. Manning, and I wish you a merry Christmas, and many on 'em! I'm that out of breath and that astonished, that I don't know if I'm on my head or my heels. Stay a minute, my good souls; I'll be back in a jiffey.'
With that, she ran out of the room and downstairs, to assure herself that her visitors had not flown, or that she had not been dreaming. Having satisfied herself she ran upstairs again, and sat down, in more panting state than before.
'I thought I was dreaming, and that they was apparitions.' she gasped.