“I will come in,” said Merrimeg. “Oh, but I’m glad you’ve come!” And she stepped into the room.
“But she wants to go home!” said the Rag-Bone Man, wiping his eyes and nose with the back of his hand. “Have you got a dry handkerchief?”
“Have you got a handkerchief, brother Nibby?” said Malkin.
“Oh dear no,” said Nibby. “I always forget it.”
“Do you know where you left it, brother?” said Malkin.
“Oh dear yes,” said Nibby. “In the ice box under the kitchen sink.”
“Then please!” said the Rag-Bone Man. “Please! Take me there and give it to me! Oh, oh! When I think of all the children running away from me, and now she wants to go home, and no handkerchiefs in the house,—I’m going to cry again, I’m going to cry again, I just know it!” And sure enough, he began to cry, harder than ever.
“Maybe he’d feel better,” said Malkin, “if we took him home and got him a handkerchief.”
“Maybe he would, there’s something in that,” said Nibby.
“Then let’s do it,” said Malkin.