Fan

ing the streets, gardens, and squares of the larger houses. But she was apparently not good enough for even the humbler class of dwellings, for no one would so much as ask her what she could do, or

m she lived in, standing, as before, beside the lamp-post; and after a few words of greeting took her to her room. While preparing the tea she noticed the girl's weak and starved

w words, and those not very hopeful ones, and then presently they went to bed, and to sleep as s

back to your

in sudden fear and

rday, and couldn't git nothing to do. Didn'

said Fan; and then she added timidly, "Yo

g. The tea and bread ain't much, and I don't

ey went out together, sep

asked if she would clean the steps. She consented gladly enough, and received a penny in payment. Then she remembered that she had often seen poor girls, ill-dressed as herself, cleaning the steps of large houses, and had heard that the usual payment was one penny for the task. After walking about for some time she began timidly ringing the area bells of houses where the steps had not yet been cleaned, and asking if a girl was wanted to do them. Almost inv

account of her success, and exhibited the two remaining pe

And you a growing girl, and always hungry, you'd starve at it. Saturdays is not bad, because there's many houses where they only clean the steps once a week, an

uest as herself that day, and though all of them had a dirty draggled look, as was natural considering the nature of the work

it, why can't I? If I could make six

use you've got no home to go to, and must pay for a room; and no one to find you clothes and shoes, you must buy them. Them girls you see are stronger than you, and have homes to go to, and don't go about like you to find steps to clean, but go to the houses they know, where they always clean

simistic about it, and appeared to be so very familiar with the whole subject. People never beli

hing else for her to do, and it was ha

y just a few days?"

, and then what'll you do? It's rough work, and not fit for a girl like you. I don't mind, because your tea don'

often was with walking hour after hour, sometimes feeling so famished that she could hardly refrain from picking up the orange-peels from the street to appease the cruel pangs of hunger! And when she was more lucky and had steps to clean, then the wet and grime of the hearthstone made her poor gown more worn and soiled and evil-looking than ever, while her shoes were in such a state that it was hard, by

man, she had forsaken the neighbourhood of squares and big houses close to Hyde Park to go further afield into

pearance, and five or six broad white steps led up to the front door, which was painted deep blue. Fan, looking critically at the steps, could not make out whether they had been already cleaned or not, so white and clean, yet dry, did t

usly beautiful, but felt a little frightened in her presence, she was so tall and stately, and her face had such a frowning, haughty expression. Beautiful women-faces had always had a kind of fascination for her-the gentle, refined face, on which she would gaze with a secre

ere also black, and her eyes very dark, full and penetrating. Her skin was of that beautiful rich red colour not often seen in London ladies, and more common in Ireland than in England. Her features were fine, the n

perative tone-just the tone one would have

the steps cleaned?" F

le goose you must be to ask such a thin

st down, then shyly glanced up at that richly-coloured beautiful

e cook to pay you and give you something to eat." Then she walked away, but after going about a dozen

er apron; but she did not return at once to her kitchen,

eaking again. "Let her wait in the kitchen till I return.

the fine lady was going to say to her, and whether she would give her twopence instead of the usual penny. Or perhaps it was intended to present her with an old gown or pair of boots. Such things had happened, she knew, and the thought that such a thing might happen again, and to her, made her heart beat fast; and though it was so pleasa

chen, dusting-brush and dust-pan in her hands-a pretty girl with dar

for some time with a mocking smile playing about the corners of her pretty

s gave her the steps to clean, and to

iss Starbrow!" she exclaimed. "Where do you come from?" s

who scoffed at her extreme poverty; and that this pretty girl was mocking her she knew very well. Then the m

could I ask! I assure you it is most charmingly becoming. I shall try to get one like it, but I'm afraid

goaded beyond endurance, started up from her seat, determined to make her escape. Fortunately at that moment the lady of the house returned, and the maid scampered off to open the door to her

e in, stood waiting to see her. She looked keenly at the girl's flushed and tearful face, and turned to

impudent hussy, I know-they all are, and one has to put up with them. Now sit down here and tell me

an occasional question, while the girl in a timid, hesita

hand in hers. "How can you do that hard rough work with such poor thin little hands?" she said. "Let me look at your eyes

yes brightening, a red colour flushing

face-what do you wish

ill he

all help you. Then is something i

losing all

married mother. My father was a gen

ve it. Especially when

my father's," said Fan, with growi

own clouding her forehead. "In another way they are very different, I should thin

beautiful face, her eyes resting thoughtfully on the tessellated floo

, "and come again to-mo

ht and beautiful to Fan; even the face of George the Third on it, which had never been called beautiful, now really seemed so to her. But very soon she ceased thinking about the half-crown and all that it represented; it was not that which caused the strange happiness in her heart, but the gentle compa

she bought all the food she required. The half-crown she would not break into; that must be shown to the poor washer-woman just as she had received it. When the woman saw it in the evening she was very much astonished, and expressed the f

t the prospect of such happiness. And after a while she added,

; but next morning she consented to take charge of