Mr. Leigh seemed about to reply in the affirmative, but stopped himself leaving the confession to the Duchess.
“Bat’s gone out in the Kingsland Road,” went on the red-haired young woman.
“What for?” asked the Duchess, unloading the barrows.
“To get change,” said the young woman.
This reply amused the Duchess so much that, casting away resentment against the world in general and Pimlico Walk in particular, she rested a chair-bedstead in the dim passage and sat down upon it to enjoy the laugh. Bobbie, anxious to show himself as one of the family, laughed too, and Mr. Leigh almost smiled.
“You are a caution,” said the Duchess exhaustedly.
“What ’ave I said now?” asked the young woman, with all a humorist’s assumption of gravity.
“It isn’t so much what you say as your manner.”
“This your tenth?” asked the girl, resting her chin on the broom and nodding her head in the direction of Bobbie.
“He’s a little chap,” explained the amused Duchess, “that’s left without a parent, and we’re going to look after him. Ain’t we, Leigh?”