"I will!" said Clam determinately.
"How will you?" said Elizabeth.
"I'll make mammy give me some," said the girl flourishing her clasped fist.
"Wouldn't you like to leave picking things out of the street, and go to live with somebody who would take care of you and teach you to be a good girl?" said Elizabeth.
Clam tossed her sixpence up and down in her hand, and finally brought her eyes to bear upon Elizabeth and said,
"I don't want nobody to take care of me."
"If she could be taught, and would, I'd take care of her afterwards," said Elizabeth to Winthrop.
"If he'd say so, I would," said Clam.
"Look here," said Winthrop. "Would you like to come into some kind house — if I can find you one — and learn to do clean work?"
"It don't make no odds," said Clam looking at her basket.