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rocked in the warmth of her caressing arms； it soon recovered； though
when its blue eyes opened they were full of a bewildered pain； such as
may be seen in the eyes of a shot bird。
〃My pet！ my poor little darling！〃 she murmured over and over again；
kissing its wee white face and soft hands； I wish I was your mother
Lord knows I do！ As it is； you're all I've got to care for。 And you do
love me； baby； don't you？ just a little； little bit！〃 And as she
renewed her fondling embraces； the tiny； sad…visaged creature uttered
a low； crooning sound of baby satisfaction in response to her
endearmentsa sound more sweet to her ears than the most exquisite
music； and which brought a smile to her mouth and a pathos to her dark
eyes； rendering her face for the moment almost beautiful。 Holding the
child closely to her breast； she looked cautiously out of her narrow
window； and perceived that the connubial fight was over。 From the
shouts of laughter and plaudits that reached her ears； Joe Mawks had
evidently won the day； his wife had disappeared from the field。 She
saw the little crowd dispersing； most of those who composed it entered
the gin…shop； and very soon the alley was comparatively quiet and
deserted。 By…and…bye she heard her name called in a low voice： 〃Liz！
Liz！〃
She looked down and saw the old man who had promised her his
protection in case Mother Mawks should persecute her。 〃Is that you；
Jim？ Come upstairs； it's better than talking out there。〃 He obeyed；
and stood before her in the wretched room； looking curiously both at
her and the baby。 A wiry； wolfish…faced being was Jim Duds； as he was
familiarly called； though his own name was the aristocratic and
singularly inappropriate one of James Douglas。 He was more like an
animal than a human creature； with his straggling gray hair； bushy
beard； and sharp teeth protruding like fangs from beneath his upper
lip。 His profession was that of an area thief； and he considered it a
sufficiently respectable calling。
〃Mother Mawks has got it this time；〃 he said； with a grin which was
more like a snarl。 〃Joe's blood was up； and he pounded her nigh into a
jelly。 She'll leave ye quiet now； so long as ye pay the hire reg'lar
ye'll have Joe on yer side。 If so be as there's a bad day； ye'd better
not come home at all。〃
〃I know；〃 said Liz； 〃but she's always had the money for the child； and
surely it wasn't much to ask her to let me keep it warm on such a cold
night as this。〃
Jim Duds looked meditative。 〃Wot makes yer care for that babby so
much？〃 he asked。 〃 'T ain't yourn。〃
Liz sighed。
〃No；〃 she said； sadly。 〃That's true。 But it seems something to hold on
to； like。 See what my life has been！〃 She stopped； and a wave of
colour flushed her pallid features。 〃From a little girl； nothing but
the streetsthe long； cruel streets！ and I just a bit of dirt on the
pavementno more； flung here； flung there； and at last swept into the
gutter。 All darkall useless！〃 She laughed a little。 〃Fancy； Jim！
I've never seen the country！〃
〃Nor I；〃 said Jim； biting a piece of straw reflectively。 〃It must be
powerful fine； with naught but green trees an' posies a… blowin' an' a
growin' everywheres。 There ain't many kitching areas there； though；
I'm told。〃
Liz went on； scarcely heeding him： 〃The baby seems to me like what the
country must beall harmless and sweet and quiet； when I hold it so；
my heart gets peaceful somehowI don't know why。〃
Again Jim looked speculative。 He waved his bitten straw expressively。
〃Ye've had 'sperience； Liz。 Hain't ye met no man like wot ye could
care fur？〃
Liz trembled； and her eyes grew wild。。
〃Men！〃 she cried； with bitterest scorn〃no men have come my way； only
brutes！〃
Jim stared； but was silent； he had no fit answer ready。 Presently Liz
spoke again； more softly：
〃Jim； do you know I went into a great church to…day？〃
〃Worse luck！〃 said Jim； sententiously。 〃Church ain't no use nohow as
far as I can see。〃
〃There was a figure there； Jim；〃 went on Liz； earnestly； 〃of a Woman
holding up a Baby； and people knelt down before it。 What do you s'pose
it was？〃
〃Can't say！〃 replied the puzzled Jim。 〃Are ye sure 't was a church？
Most like 't was a mooseum。〃
〃No； no！〃 said Liz。 〃 'T was a church for certain； there were folks
praying in it。〃
〃Ah； well；〃 growled Jim； gruffly； 〃much good it may do 'em！ I'm not of
the prayin' sort。 A woman an' a babby； did ye say？ Don't ye get such
cranky notions into yer head； Liz！ Women an' babbies are common enough
too common； by a long chalk； an' as for prayin' to 'em〃 Jim's
utter contempt and incredulity were too great for further expression；
and he turned away； wishing her a curt 〃Good…night！〃
〃Good…night！〃 said Liz； softly； and long after he had left her she
still sat silent； thinking； thinking； with the baby asleep in her
arms； listening to the rain as it dripped； dripped heavily； like clods
falling on a coffin lid。 She was not a good womanfar from it。 Her
very motive in hiring the infant at so much a day was entirely
inexcusable； it was simply to gain money upon false pretencesby
exciting more pity than would otherwise have been bestowed on her had
she begged for herself alone； without a child in her arms。 At first
she had carried the baby about to serve as a mere trick of her trade；
but the warm feel of its little helpless body against her bosom day
after day had softened her heart toward its innocence and pitiful
weakness； and at last she had grown to love it with a strange； intense
passionso much that she would willingly have sacrificed her life for
its sake。 She knew that its own parents cared nothing for it； except
for the money it brought them through her hands； and often wild plans
would form in her poor tired brainplans of running away with it
altogether from the roaring； devouring city； to some sweet； humble
country village； there to obtain work and devote herself to making
this little child happy。 Poor Liz！ Poor； bewildered； heart…broken Liz！
Ignorant London heathen as she was； there was one fragrant flower
blossoming in the desert of her soiled and wasted existencethe
flower of a pure and guileless love for one of those 〃little ones；〃 of
whom it hath been said by an all…pitying Divinity unknown to her；
〃Suffer them to come unto Me； and forbid them not： for of such is the
kingdom of heaven。〃
The dreary winter days crept on apace； and； as they drew near
Christmas； dwellers in the streets leading off the Strand grew
accustomed of nights to hear the plaintive voice of a woman； singing
in a peculiarly thrilling and pathetic manner some of the old songs
and ballads familiar and dear to the heart of every Englishman〃The
Banks of Allan Water；〃 〃The Bailiff's Daughter；〃 〃Sally in our Alley；〃
〃The Last Rose of Summer。〃 All these well…loved ditties she sang one
after the other； and； though her notes were neither fresh nor
powerful； they were true and often tender； more particularly in the
hackneyed； but still captivating； melody of 〃Home； Sweet Home。〃
Windows were opened； and pennies freely showered on the street
vocalist； who was accompanied in all her wanderings by a fragile
infant； which she seemed to carry with especial care and tenderness。
Sometimes； too； in the bleak afternoons； she would be seen wending her
way through mud and mire； setting her weary face against the bitter
east wind； and patiently singing on； and motherly women； coming from
the gay shops and stores； where they had been purchasing Christmas
toys for their own children； would often stop to look at the baby's
pinched； white features with pity； and would say； while giving their
spare pennies； 〃Poor little thing！ Is it not very ill？〃 And Liz； her
heart freezing with sudden terror； would exclaim； hurriedly； 〃Oh； no；
no！ It is always pale； it is just a little bit weak； that's all！〃 And
the kindly questioners； touched by the large despair of her dark eyes；
would pass on and say no more。 And Christmas camethe birthday of the
Child Christa feast the sacred meaning of which was unknown to Liz；
she only recognized it as a sort of large and somewhat dull bank…
holiday； when all London devoted itself to church…going and the eating
of roast beef and plum…pudding。 The whole thing was incomprehensible
to her mind； but even her sad countenance was brighter than usual on
Christmas eve； and she felt almost gay； for had she not； by means of a
little extra starvation on her own part； been able to buy a wondrous
gold…and…crimson worsted bird suspended from an elastic string； a bird
which bobbed up and down to command in the most lively and artistic
manner？ And had not her hired baby actually laughed at the clumsy toy
laughed an elfish and weird laugh； the first it had ever indulged
in？ And Liz had laughed too； for pure gladness in the child's mirth；
and the worsted bird became a sort of uncouth charm to make them both
merry。