"If you please, will you walk up-stairs?"
Harriet Wesden spoke very kindly, and edged away from Mattie as she advanced—Mattie was the girl who had stolen the brooch, a strange creature from an uncivilized world, and the stationer's little daughter was afraid of her old pensioner.
The girl from the streets stared at Harriet Wesden in her turn, looked very intently at her warm dress and white pinafore, and then looked back at Mr. Wesden.
"May I go up, sir?"
"I don't see why they can't come down here," he grumbled, "but you must go up if they want to see you. Stop here, Harriet, and call Ann—you might catch something, girl."
Ann was called, and presently a broad-faced, red-armed girl made her appearance.
"Show a light to this girl up-stairs, Ann."
"This girl—here?"
"Yes—that girl there."
"Oh! lawks—so you've turned up agin."