Presently a foot-fall was heard, and a man drew near. The woman gazed intently into his face. It was not a pleasant face. There was a scowl on it. She drew back and let him pass. Then several women passed, but she took no notice of them. Then another man appeared. His face seemed a jolly one. The woman stepped forward at once and confronted him.
“Please, sir,” she began, but the man was too sharp for her.
“Come now—you’ve brought out that baby on purpose to humbug people with it. Don’t fancy you’ll throw dust in my eyes. I’m too old a cock for that. Don’t you know that you’re breaking the law by begging?”
“I’m not begging,” retorted the woman, almost fiercely.
“Oh! indeed. Why do you stop me, then?”
“I merely wished to ask if your name is Thompson.”
“Ah hem!” ejaculated the man with a broad grin, “well no, madam, my name is not Thompson.”
“Well, then,” rejoined the woman, still indignantly, “you may move on.”
She had used an expression all too familiar to herself, and the man, obeying the order with a bow and a mocking laugh, disappeared like those who had gone before him.
For some time no one else appeared save a policeman. When he approached, the woman went past him down the street, as if bent on some business, but when he was out of sight she returned to the old spot, which was near the entrance to an alley.