"Bless you, miss, he's always a-crying—there's no need to worry," said Crippley, whose real name was Lizzie. "Take him in with you, Sarah, and tell mother he's a naughty boy, that's what he is," and Light Smiley picked him up and ran off with him in such a hurry that Peggy stood still repeating "poor little boy" before she knew what had become of him.
Quiet was restored, however. Peggy, having done what she came for, should have gone home, but the attractions of society were too much for her. She lingered—Crippley pushed Sarah's empty chair towards her.
"Take a seat, miss," she said. "You'll excuse me not gettin' up. Onst I'm a-sittin' down, it's not so heasy."
Peggy looked at her with great interest.
"Does it hurt much?" she asked.
Lizzie smiled in a superior way.
"Bless you," she said again, "hurt's no word for it. It's hall over—but it's time I were used to it—never mind about me, missy. I'm sure it was most obligin' of you to bring the shoe, but won't your mamma and your nurse scold you?"
"My mamma's gone away, and so has my nurse," said Peggy. "I'm all alone."
All the eyes looked up with sympathy.
"Deary me, who'd a thought it?" said Brown Smiley. "But there must be somebody to do for you, miss."