The children ate their meal ravenously, the man watching them meanwhile.
"What are you going to do now?" he asked when they had finished.
"Find a crossin', fust thing," answered Bib.
"Well, good luck to you," said the man.
But Bob did not find it very easy work. It had been a dry season, and the crossings were not muddy, so that there was very little to do. One or two people, attracted by Willie's sweet face, gave him a copper, and just before dinner a gentleman asked Bob to hold his horse, for which he gave him threepence; and so they dragged on during the day, but it was very hot, and poor little Willie soon got tired.
"Never mind, Willie," said Bob, "we'll go and sit in the park again presently. Let's stay a little longer."
So Willie sat down on a doorstep and waited while Bob tried to earn a little more. But at last he gave up in despair, and, taking Willie's hand, they turned off into the park. Bob brought some bread-and-cheese from his pocket, and with a drink of water from the fountain, they made their evening meal.
"I wonder if father'll try to find us," said Willie. "You won't ever let me go back, will yer, Bob?"
"Not if I knows it," said Bob. "Yer'll 'ave to be my kid now, Willie; some day yer shall 'ave a broom o' yer own. I'll 'ave to teach yer the bizness."
Willie clapped his hands delightedly.