“He war dar, but Lor! he couldn’t holp it, Mars’ Tiburce couldn’t, no more en me.”
“You’ve broken my heart, Tite, and if you don’t go and find her I’ll hate you always. Mind what I say, I’ll hate you forever,” and Pepsie thrust out her long head and set her teeth in a cruel way.
“Oh laws, honey! Oh laws, Miss Peps’, dey’s all a-lookin’, dey’s gwine bring ’er back soon; doan’t git scart, dat chile’s all right.”
“Go and look for her; go and find her! Mind what I tell you; bring her back safe or—” Here Pepsie threw herself back in her chair and fairly writhed. “Oh, oh! and I must stay here and not do anything, and that darling is lost, lost!—out in the streets alone, and nearly dark. Go, go and look for her; don’t stand there glaring at me. Go, I say,” and Pepsie raised her nutcracker threateningly.
“Yes, Miss Peps’, yes, I’ll bring ’er back shore,” cried Tite, dodging an imaginary blow, as she darted out, her rags and tatters flying after her.
When she had gone Pepsie could do nothing but strain her eyes in the gathering darkness, and wring her hands and weep. She saw the light and the fire in Madame Jozain’s room, but the door was closed because the evening was chilly, and the street seemed deserted. There was no one to speak to; she was alone in the dark little room with only Tony, who rustled his feathers in a ghostly sort of way, and toned dismally.
Presently, she heard the sound of wheels, and peering out saw Tante Modeste’s milk-cart; her heart gave a great bound. How foolish she was to take on in such a wild way; they had found her, she was there in the cart, safe and sound; but instead of Lady Jane’s blithe little voice she heard her Uncle Paichoux, and in an instant Tante Modeste entered with a very anxious face.
“She hasn’t come home, has she?” were Tante Modeste’s first words.
“Oh, oh!” sobbed Pepsie, “then you haven’t brought her?”
“Don’t cry, child, don’t cry, we’ll find her now. When I saw I couldn’t do anything, I took the young ones home, and got your uncle. I said, ‘If I have Paichoux, I’ll be able to find her.’ We’re going right to the police. I dare say they’ve found her, or know where she is.”