made all the haste she could. Consequently, though she was very light, she was out of breath, and could not speak at first, as she stood panting, and wiping her arms, and looking quietly at us.
" O, here's Charley ! " said the boy.
The child he was nursing, stretched forth its arms, and cried out to be taken by Charley. The little girl took it, in a womanly sort of manner belonging to the apron and the bonnet, and stood looking at us over the burden that clung to her most affectionately.
" Is it possible," whispered my Guardian, as we put a chair for the little creature, and got her to sit down with her load : the boy keeping close to her, holding to her apron, " that this child works for the rest ? Look at this ! For God's sake look at this ! "
It was a thing to look at. The three children close together, and two of them relying solely on the third, and the third so young and yet with an air of age and steadiness that sat so strangely on the childish figure.
" Charley, Charley ! " said my Guardian. " How old are you ? "
" Over thirteen, sir," replied the child.
"O ! What a great age," said my Guardian. " What a great age, Charley ! "
I cannot describe the tenderness with which he spoke to her ; half playfully, yet all the more compassionately and mournfully.
" And do you live alone here with these babies, Charley ? " said my Guardian.
" Yes, sir," returned the child, looking up into his face with perfect confidence, "since father died."
"And how do you live, Charley? O! Charley," said my Guardian, turning his face away for a moment, " how do you live ? "
" Since father died, sir, I've gone out to work. I'm out washing to-day."
" God help you, Charley ! " said my Guardian. " You're not tall enough to reach the tub ! "
" In pattens I am, sir," she said quickly. " I've got a high pair as belonged to mother."
" And when did mother die ? Poor mother ! "
"Mother died, just after Emma was born," said the child, glancing at the face upon her bosom. "Then, father said I was to be as good a mother to her as I could. And so I tried. And so I worked at home, and did cleaning and nursing and washing, for a long time before I began to go out. And that's how I know how ; don't you see, sir? "
"And do you often go out? "
"As often as I can," said Charley, opening her eyes, and smiling, " because of earning sixpences and shillings ! "
" And do you always lock the babies up when you go out ? "
"To keep 'em safe, sir, don't you see? " said Charley. " Mrs. Blinder comes up now and then, and Mr. Gridley comes up sometimes, and perhaps I can run in sometimes, and they can play you know, and Tom an't afraid of being locked up, are you, Tom ? "
" No-o ! " said Tom, stoutly.
" When it comes on dark, the lamps are lighted down in the court, and they show up here quite bright—almost quite bright. Don't they, Tom ? "
