Littlebourne Lock

.

one was likely to meet between Littlebourne and London. "Going to town" was rather an event in her li

are too grand to care for their country relations. But I don't think Mary is too grand to give me a welcome. I don't want a fuss made over me, I am sure; and if I run up unexpected she won't be able to make a fuss with the dinne

to start on her w

and his wife explained to him

Emma, if you were to take them a basketful of green stuff. I suppose Thomas Mitchell has his supper for breakfast when he gets up at night, and begins his day's work at bed-time. H

You be off, or you'll miss your train. Give them my love when they get up this evening. There's a call for the 'Lock a-hoy!' And h

ter-parties which are to be seen n but on the Thames,

on safely, took an omnibus into the city, and then walked t

s. She pulled the bell-handle which was second from the top in a row of handles at the side of the door, and put her basket down to rest herself, summoning up a kindly smile with which to greet her sister-in-law, Mary Mitchell. The air of London was heavy and the sunshin

was opened, and then a young woma

ear-oh, I declare

who you want?" The young

sister-in-law, Mary Mitchell. I beg your

n't live here," w

re! Whatever

deaf? Mrs. Mitchell left her

er thought of such a thing. Whatever shall I do

o her?" asked the yo

she has gone to. Aus

treet, No. 103. And when you can't pay your rent, and three wee

d agitated. Had the Mitchells been turned out by their landlord for not paying the

n the road; and do you think I would let my girl stand out bareheaded like that, gossiping with a lot of id

flower; windowpanes filled with brown paper instead of glass; doors standing half open; heaps of cinders and refuse lying at the edge of the pavement; girls almost without frocks nursing dirty, white-faced babies. It

without floorcloth or carpet; a narrow, dirty staircase led up to the rooms above. From the front room o

ocked on the d

's t

Mrs. Mitchel

plied the voice, and

back room a baby was wailing piteously. On the next floor one door stood open, revealing a bare room, with filthy and torn wall-paper, with paint brown from finger-marks, with cupboard-doors off their hinges, and the grate thick with ru

ery trying. From this point there was nothing in the way of hand-rail;

f the back ro

noise inside, and a few moment

oses, with her stout alpaca umbrella and her strong basket packed tight with vegetables, was an unaccustomed vision

ar

Rowles? However d

ittlebourne," said Mrs. Row

n if you care to,"

d, and was so much shocked at what she saw

materials. In strong contrast to this beautiful and expensive stuff was the sight which saddened the further corner of the small room. Close under the sloping, blackened ceiling was a mattress laid on the floor, and on it a wan, haggard man, whom Mrs. Rowles supposed to be Thomas Mitchell, though she hardly recognized him. There wa

began, "I'm afra

o months," he repl

the best chair to her sister-in-law, and

Tom was ill," s

t," answered

e sooner to see h

when one falls into misfortunes. It is the r

welcome," said Mrs. Rowle

t a place you were coming to you would have thought twice about it. Six months we have had of it. First there were the changes made at the printing-office

the children could be hiding. Not a ch

he asked, half fearing to h

rop of soup or something. They only make it for sick people now the hot weather has set in. Florry and Tommy and Willie and Neddy are all at school, because the school-

the b

t fractious with his teeth that Thomas

ket. She produced a piece of bacon, some beans, about a pec

lained. "He hoped you would not be too proud t

and Mrs. Mitchell

k man, with more interest in his tone. "They

one in the cupboard, began to fill it with the bacon and the broad beans. "We killed a

homas sniffed the reviving green odour of the fresh vegetables. This qui

d. "That is Juliet. T

cry, and they knew that somet

!" said the mother; while the

crouched on the lower half of the double flight, beside her the broken remains of a jug, and some sou

, Juliet?" s

t the soup and

et, how c

reat loss. And the bannisters was all broke away for lighting the fires, and that's how I came to fall ove

at had happened had been an injury to her-even he

have been so calm had the soup and the jug been her

re they lay, and came up to the room. She was a strange-looking child, with bro

Well, it was my own fault to send you for it. You are

?" retorted Juliet. "I did

speak so to your mother. Here is your aunt come from

t no dinner,

ry gently, "I thought you

t I should spill it and spoil it for you. If they'

o her sister; "and she ought to help her own p

. Rowles. "Everything is like

ty if they wore a pleasant expression. It seemed to Mrs. Rowles that life had latterly been too hard and sad for this girl, just beginning to grow out of the easy ign

e the feet of five more young Mitchells; and Amy's footsteps were very heavy, for she

the meal was thoroughly enjoyed; even Mitchell ate some of the beans, with a boiled egg, and said that they put new

wall, and took the baby on her knee and danced him about; and the little fellow

he door. A voice said "May I come in?" and a