"Nothing," replied Elfie, without raising her head.
Susie thought she knew what it was. "Look up, Elfie," she said, in a tone of gladness: "the landlord's been here, and it's all right now; and see what I've got."
Elfie slowly raised her head, but did not look at Susie or the bag of coals. "The landlord's been here," she slowly repeated; "then I'm too late after all;" and her head went down lower than before.
Susie was puzzled, until looking round she saw a little pile of halfpence on the table. "O Elfie, where did you get all that money?" she said in a tone of joyful surprise, as she sprang over to count it. "Sixpence! O Elfie, how rich we are! And I've just been to buy some coals to make a fire. But why don't you look up?" she added, as she noticed that her companion's head was still bowed upon her knees.
But Elfie did not move, did not attempt to lift her head, but grumbled out something Susie could not understand.
"Are you ill, Elfie?" asked Susie in alarm.
"No, no; leave me alone, and light the fire," said the girl, shaking off the hand that had been laid upon her shoulder.
"I know what it is: you're sorry you did not get home in time to pay the landlord. But it doesn't matter one bit; he was very kind, and won't turn us out, and we ain't to pay the twopence next week. Wouldn't you like to know how I got the coals?" said Susie.
"How did you get 'em?" said Elfie, just lifting her head for a minute.
"Hold your head up, then, and tell me how you got all that money on the table first," said Susie laughing.