“She is always sour on Andy because his mother won’t do her dirty washing,” explained the German boy.
“My mother is sick—and she can’t wash,” sobbed the unfortunate Andy.
“Yep, and that money of his’n was for her, too,” put in Skip.
At this point another figure sauntered down from the house.
“There comes Mrs. Blazes!” put in Narrow. “She couldn’t miss the show.”
The woman who came down the path sent on before her the rather overpowering odor of badly mixed perfumes.
“Look at her sparklers,” whispered a boy to Cora, “that’s why we call her ‘Blazes.’”
A black lace scarf was over the woman’s head and now the “sparklers,” or diamonds that she wore, in evident flashy taste, could be seen at her throat, and on her fingers. Bess smiled to Belle, and Cora turned to the boys.
“We must finish up this business,” she said. “It is getting late, and we have to go to Chelton.”
“Go ahead!” called the urchins.