“I call that plucky; and ha’ yer any money?”
“No,” answered Faith.
“That’s rayther blue!” exclaimed Meg, indulging in a long whistle; “fur I h’an’t none ne’ther; but never mind, we’ll get along somehow. Now let’s set down on the grass and make up our plans—you don’t mind if I speak a bit plain, Faithy?”
“No,” answered Faith; “I don’t mind nothink but to find Roy again.”
“Well, it’s right as you should know that little ’un ha’ bin stole. Many and many a body as I could tell on, steals the well-dressed babies; they does it fur the clothes and the reward offered. My mother—she ha’ stole two or three.”
“Oh, how dreadful wicked she must be!” said Faith. “I hope, Meg, as we h’an’t got to live wid yer mother while we’re looking fur Roy?”
“No,” answered Meg, shaking her head gravely; “I parted wid mother yesterday—we ’greed as it wor ’bout time fur me to purwide fur my own self. I mayn’t never see mother agen—it all comes natral. I’m real glad as we’re parted, for now I won’t be wallopped no more.”
“I never, never thought as mothers wor like that,” said Faith; “she must be most desp’rate wicked.”
“Oh, no, she’s not so werry; I ha’ seen far worse nor mother.”
“But to steal the babies!” said Faith.