'That's me, Miss Lotty.'
'Did your mother ever take a lodger?'
'No, little sister—but—but'——
Then at that moment Chops began to dance and to caper so wildly there in the starlight that Wallace was forced to back astern to bark at him.
'I 'ave it, Miss Lotty. Lor' love ye, I've got it!' he cried. 'Wonder it didn't strike me at onct.' Then he lowered his voice to almost a whisper. 'If so be as ye does run away, Lotty, an' does get as far as Lunnon town, my dear, it's straight to 'Ighgate 'Eath ye goes, to the 'ouse o' my parents, an' lodge there as 'appy as a May Queen till ye gets summat to do.'
'Oh,' said Lotty, 'this is so very kind of you, Chops. I hope I'll be able to thank you some day, Chops—some day.'
'W'en I leads ye to the halt'——
Lotty put her little hand on his mouth. 'You shall always be my friend, won't you?'
'Oh lor', wot a question to hax!'
'But if I go to London—if I get to London—I'll be sure to call on your parents at Highgate Heath. Then, Chops'—— she said somewhat anxiously.