“Pay for it?”
“Yes; if it isn't begged with, and made to pay its way and earn something into the bargain, it's got to be a dead weight on somebody. So you see how it is, Fan. Now, if you'll take a fool's advice, you'll let 'it go to the almshouse, or let it alone to die and get out of its misery as soon as possible. You can find another baby that will do just as well, if you should ever need one.”
“How much would it cost, do you think, to have it boarded with some one who wouldn't abuse it? She might beg with it herself, or hire it out two or three times a week. I guess it would stand that.”
“Beggars don't belong to the merciful kind,” answered Pinky; “there's no trusting any of them. A baby in their hands is never safe. I've seen 'em brought in at night more dead than alive, and tossed on a dirty rag-heap to die before morning. I'm always glad when they're out of their misery, poor things! The fact is, Fan, if you expect that baby to live, you've got to take it clean out of the hands of beggars.”
“What could I get it boarded for outright?” asked Mrs. Bray.
“For 'most anything, 'cording to how it's done. But why not, while you're about it, bleed the old lady, its grandmother, a little deeper, and take a few drops for the baby?”
“Guess you're kind o' right about that, Fan; anyhow, we'll make a start on it. You find another place for the brat.”
“'Greed; when shall I do it?”
“The sooner, the better. It might die of cold any night in that horrible den. Ugh!”
“I've been in worse places. Bedlow street is full of them, and so is Briar street and Dirty alley. You don't know anything about it.”