“Well, what’s the matter?” persisted William.
“My daddy’s out of work,” said the little girl.
This nonplussed the Outlaws. They’d have fought anyone who’d hurt her, they’d have found anything she’d lost, but this seemed outside their sphere.
“What d’you mean?” said Douglas, “d’you mean he’s got nothin’ to do?”
“Yes,” said the little girl, “nobody’ll give ’im any work to do, an’ he’s got to stop at home all day.”
“Coo!” said Ginger feelingly, “I wish I was him.”
“Well,” said William, “don’ you worry, that’s all. Don’ you worry. We’ll get him some work,” and added as an afterthought, “What can he do?”
“He can do anythin’,” said the little girl peeping at him from behind the corner of her pinafore. “Wot can you do?”
Then someone called her in and the Outlaws found themselves standing around in a semicircle gazing with ardent sympathy and admiration at a closed door. They hastily assumed their normal manly expressions and went on down the road.
******