“A cleaning herself.”

“Then I shall wait.”

“Oh, dear! oh, dear!” cried Liza, stamping about, and speaking in a tearful whisper. “I do wish I never hadn’t had no mother, that I do.”

“There’s a ungrateful gal,” said the fish-woman; “and you growed up so beautiful, and me so proud on you.”

“Well, will you promise to go away, mother, and never come and ask no more if I give you something this time?”

“To be sure I will, my dear, of course. There, be quick, before any one comes, and do it up neat in a napkin, there’s a good gal, and I’ll bring you a lobster next time I come.”

“There, now, and you promised you wouldn’t come no more.”

“Ah, well, I won’t then, my dear.”

“Then I’ll get you a bit this time; but mind, never no more.”

“No, never no more, my beauty. Only be quick.”