Captain Croome carried off Pollyooly and the Lump to Covent Garden for violets, and thence to Prince's Gate. She was less fortunate in the sale of the violets than she had been the day before, and had made but a paltry fourpence when Grizel and the dragon appeared.
Grizel no longer wore a despondent air; her eyes were shining; and she walked with a firm and eager step.
When she reached the children, she took the bunch of violets from Pollyooly with a radiant smile, saying: "You here again, you dear children! I am so pleased to see you!"
The dragon snorted more fiercely than ever, and growled: "Encouraging begging, I call it."
"You weren't asked to call it anything, Symons," said Grizel coldly.
She picked up the Lump again and kissed him, and asked his name. Then she gave him some chocolate creams which she had brought with her on the chance of their meeting. Then she kissed him again, gave Pollyooly a shilling, and went on her way with her dragon and her treasure.
Pollyooly had performed her task, but it was not
