The mysteries of Paris

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Chapter II. The Ogress

HE White Rabbit, situated about the y| middle of the Rue du Feves, occu-

| pies the ground-floor of a lofty house,

the front of which is composed of two sash windows. Before the door of a dark arched passage hangs an oblong lamp, onthe cracked glass of which are the words, ‘“ Beds for Single Men, 13d.”

The Slasher, the stranger, and La Goualeuse entered a large, low room, with a smoked ceiling, crossed with black rafters, and lighted by the reddish fiame of a dismal

hanging lamp. The cracked walls, once coated with plaster, were covered here and there with odd and not very delicate designs and flash phrases. The trodden-clay floor was splashed with mud; a heap of straw, which did duty as a carpet, was strewed at the foot of the counter, situated on the right of the door beyond the lamp.

On each side of this apartment stood six tables, which, with their accompanying benches, were fastened at one end to the wall. At the far end of the room was a door leading to the kitchen ; on the right, near the counter, was another, opening on a passage comwunicating with the wretched room in which the Ogress lodged her customers at three halfpence per night.

few words will serve to describe the Ogress and her guests. Known by the name of Mother Ponisse, her triple profession consisted in letting lodgings, keeping a groggery, and lending clothes on hire. to the wretched street-walkers of this vile neighbourhood.

She was about forty years of age, tall, stoutbuilt, robust, ruddy-visaged, and gifted with a beard. Her hoarse and masculine voice, and huge arms and hands, announced uncommon strength ; an old red and yellow handkerchief

-was tied over her cap; a rabbit-skin shawl across her bosom was knotted behind her back; her green woollen gown did not conceal black wooden shoes, often burnt by the small stove which warmed her feet; and to complete the picture, her complexion was coppery, and inflamed by abuse of strong liquors.

The zinc-covered bar was ornamented with various pewter and tin measures, and on a shelf were several glass bottles fashioned to represent the Emperor at full length. These bottles contained liquors, coloured red and green, and known by the names of ‘ Drops for the Brave,” “Essence of Lily of the Valley,” and the like.

A huge black cat, with green eyes, sat near the Ogress, and seemed the familiar demon of the place ; while, by a contrast which would seem impossible, did we not know that the human soul is an impenetrable and mysterious abyss, a blessed palm branch, purchased at church by the Ogress, was stuck over the

_case of an old cuckoo clock.

Two marvellously ill-favoured fellows, with long beards, and almost in rags, scarcely touched the wine-measure they had been served with, and whispered together with an air of anxiety. One of them especially, very pale, almost livid, frequently pulled over his eye-brows the shabby Greek cap he wore, and kept his left hand almost constantly concealed, and, when obliged to use it, did so with a fearful caution.

Farther on sat a youth, barely sixteen years of age, with beardless, leaden, and haggard face, and a dead, dull glance; long black hair : straggled down his neck. This youth, the very type of precocious vice, was smoking à short black pipe. With his back against the wall, both hands in the pockets of his blouse, and his legs extended on the bench, he only ceased to smoke when he stopped to sip at the can of brandy before him. The other customers, men and women, presented nothing remarkable; their expression was ferocious or brutish, their mirth vulgar or licentious, their silence sullen or stupid.

Such were the guests of the White Rabbit, when the Slasher, La Goualeuse, and the Unknown entered.

These three personages play parts too important in this narrative not to be prominently brought before the reader’s eye.

The Slasher was a man of tall stature and athletic make, with light hair, approaching to white, bushy eyebrows, and enormous red whiskers. Exposure to the weather, poverty, and the rude labours of the prison ships had bronzed his countenance with that dark olive tint which is peculiar to convicts. Notwithstanding his terrible surname, the features of this man expressed rather brutal hardihood and unconquerable boldness, than ferocity.

We have already: said: that he wore a shabby blue serge shirt, and trousers of the same material, and one of those straw hats fancied by men employed in timber-yards, and as long-shoremen.

Sweet-throat was not over sixteen and a half years old. A forehead of the purest and whitest surmounted a face perfectly oval, and of angelic expression ; a fringe of eyelids, so long that they curled slightly, half veiled large blue eyes of a melancholy expression. The down of early youth graced her cheeks, lightly coloured with a blush-red tinge. Her small, rosy mouth, which hardly ever smiled —her nose, straight, and delicately chiselled —her rounded chin, formed, in their combined expression, an outline of that perfect beauty which we see in Raphael’s beauties. On each side of her fair temples was a band of hair of the most splendid auburn hue, which descended in luxuriant ringlets half way down her cheeks, and was then turned back behind the ear, a portion of which—ivory shaded with carnation—was thus visible, and then fost itself under the close folds of a broad blue-checkered cotton kerchief, its ends twisted round and round po as to avoid making a

THE MYSTERIES OF PARIS.

bulging knot. Her graceful neck, of dazzling whiteness, was encircled by a small necklace of grain coral. Her gown, of brown stuff, though much too large, could not wholly conceal a charming form, supple and round as a reed; a worn-out, small, orange-coloured shawl, with green fringe, was ‘crossed over her bosom.

The melodious voice of La Goualeuse had made a strong impression on her unknown defender. In truth, that voice, so gentle, so harmoniously modulated, had an attraction so irresistible, that even the gang of villains and ‘social evils,” among whom this unfortunate girl lived, would often beg her to sing, listening to her with rapture.

La Goualeuse had another name, given, doubtless, on.account of the maiden purity of her countenance; she wasalso called Flew de-Marie, which in slang signifies the Virgin.

We wish we could make our readers comprehend the singular impression given us, when, in the midst of this infamous vocas. bulary, in which the words signifying theft and murder are even more hideous and frightful than the things signified, we met with the metaphor, so softly, so sweetly, so tenderly pious—Flewr-de-Marie.

Js it not like a beauteous lily, uplifting the perfumed snow of its spotless chalice on a field of carnage ?

Strange contrast! marvellous accident ! The inventors of this horrid language heve thus risen to the elevation of poetry, and imparted another charm to the chaste thought which they wished to express: for is it not horrible, a thing to be reflected on by every man who thinks, that these outcasts are numerous and united enough to have a language, as well as customs, and a district of a town, peculiar to themselves?

The defender of La Goualeuse (we shall name this person Rudolph) appeared to be about thirty-six years of age; his figure, tall, : graceful, and perfectly proportioned, did not, however, betray the surprising vigour he had displayed in the struggle with the athletic Slasher.

It would be difficult to assign a decided character to the countenance. Certain wrinkles on his forehead betokened a man habitually contemplative, and yet the firm mould of his mouth, the haughty and imperious carriage of his head, indicated the man of action, whose physical strength and prompt boldness would always awe the mass.

In his struggle with the ruffian Rudolph had shown neither anger nor hatred. Confidin in his strength, address, and activity, he ha ee shown disdain for thé brutish animal he had vanquished.

We give the finishing touches to Rudolph’s physical portrait by saying, that his fine, regular features seemed too beautiful for a man’s; his eyes were large, soft, brown ones, his nose aquiline, his chin somewhat prominent, and his chestnut hair of tho same shade as his proudly arched brows and thin, silky moustache.

In other respects, the language and manners, which he sported with incredible ease, gave him a complete resemblance to the other guests of the Ogress. His slender neck, elegantly formed as that of the Indian Bacchus, was encircled by a black neck-cloth, negligently knotted, the ends of which fell upon the collar of a blue blouse. A double row of nails weighted his heavy shoes. In fact, nothing except his hands, which were of a most aristocratic shape, distinguished him from the ordinary cutsomers here; though, in a moral sense, his air of resolution and bold serenity placed an immense distance between them.

On entering, the Slasher, clapping one of his heavy hands on Rudolph’s shoulder, exelaimed—“ Three cheers for the chap that made the Slasher a mouse in the straw! Yes, friends, this youngster has mastered me, and no mistake, This is news for all who want broken ribs or cracked crowns, including the Schoolmaster and the Skeleton, who this time will find their match, and I'll back him for what you like !”

On these words, from the Ogress to the lowest frequenter . of the tap, all present contemplated the Slasher’s conqueror with a fearful respect. Some, moving their glasses and jugs to the end of the table at which they were seated, hastened to make room for Rudolph, if he should choose to sit beside them; others approached the Slasher to question him in whispers concerning this Unknown, who had made his entry into their world in so triumphant a manner.

At length the Ogress, directing on Rudolph one of her most gracious smiles, actually rose from the bar (a thing unheard of, and almost deemed fabulous in the annals of the White Rabbit) to take the orders of her guest, and know what he desired to have for the refreshment of his party—an attention which she did not bestow either on the Schoolmaster or the Skeleton, two dyed-in-the-wool ruffians, who made even the Slasher tremble.

One of the two men with the evil aspect, whom we have described (he with the very pale face, who hid his left-hand, and continually pulled his cap over his brows), leaned towards the Ogress, who was carefully wiping the table where Rudolph had taken his seat, and asked her, ina hoarse tone: I say, mother, did the Big Cripple look in to-day ?”

‘““No,” said Mother Ponisse.

“ Nor yesterday ?”

“Yes, he was here yesterday.”

“Was Calebasse with him—the daughter of Martial, who was guillotined ?. You know them Martials of Raker’s Island ?”

“What game are you up to to-day? D’ye think I’m in police pay, and act as spy on my customers ?” said the Ogress, in a brutal voice.

“JT have an appointment to-night with the

‘3 THE MYSUBWIES OF PARIS. @ bd

Big Cripple and the Schoolmaster,” repliea the fellow; “we have a job on.”

“That's your own look-out—a pack of leeches as you are!”

‘“‘Leeches !””-said the bandit, with an air of irritation; “it is by such bloodsuckers that you get your living.”

“You'd better hold your tongue, my leary cove,” cried the Ogress, with a menacing air, lifting, as she spoke, the pitcher she held in her hand. The man went grumbling to his seat.

“Perhaps the Big Cripple stayed to settle his score with young Germain, who lives in the Rue du Temple,” said he to his companion.

“What! do they mean to see it out with him ?”.

“No, not quite, only to give him a lesson. It seems he has been blowing the gaff in the Nantes job, so Red Arm says.”

“That isthe Big Cripple’s luck! he’s only just left prison, and has his hands full already.” :

Fleur-de-Marie had followed the Slasher into the tavern. Responding to a friendly nod given to him by the young scamp with a jaded appearance, the Slasher said,

“Why, Barbillon! soaking your clay with the old stuff ?”

“To be sure! I would rather starve, and go bare-foot any day, than be without a rinse for my throttle, and weed for my pipe,” said the young man, in a cracked, worn-out voice, without changing his position, and puffing out immense clouds of tobacco smoke.

“Good evening, Fleur-de-Marie,” said the Ogress, drawing near La Goualeuse, and scanning with a prying eye the young girl’s clothes which she had lent her, After this scrutiny, she said, with an air of coarse satisfaction : “Its quite a treat to lend things to you; you are as clean asa kitten; indeed, I would never have trusted that pretty orange shawl to such dirty creatures as Draggletail and Fatty;

but then haven’t I brought you up since you came here six weeks ago? I must say for you, there is not a tidier piece in all the City, though you are too dumpish, too dismal, and too shame-faced, Miss Icicle. You are such a fresh ’un as yet, that that’s not to be wonderedat. Lord! wait till we see you three or four years hence! when you're an old stager; then there won’t be such a dasher in the whole Rue aux Feves.”

Goualeuse sighed, hung down her head, and said nothing.

“Hollo!”” said Rudolph to the Ogress, “split me, if you hain’t got a holy bough over your cuckoo, mother!” pointing with his finger to the consecrated branch behind the old clock.

“You heathen, would you have us live like dogs?” coolly replied this horrible woman. Then, addressing Fleur-de-Marie, she added : “ Come, now, Sweet-throat, ain’t you going to sweeten us one of your little squalls?”

“We're first going to haye supper, Mother Poniss¢4 said the Slasher, 4

“Well, my brick, what can 1 serve you with ?” said the Ogress to Rudolph, whose favour she was desirous to obtain, and whose support she might, perhaps, require.

‘ Ask the Slasher : he sings out, and I pay.”

“Well then,” said the Ogress, turning to the other, “what will you have for supper, you bad lot?”

“Two tanners of wine, three slack-baked busters (small loaves), and a bag of mystery,” answered the Slasher, after luxuriously feasting his mind by mentally turning over the items of the White Rabbit’s bill of fare.

“By George, you've a jolly sweet tooth, anybody can see, and never get tired of punch’s puzzles.” |

“Now then, Sweet-throat,’’ said the Slasher, ‘are you peckish yet?”

‘No, Slasher.”

“Would you like anything better than a sassinger, my girl?” said Rudolph.

Oh, no, thank you; I have no appetite.”

“Why don’t you look at my master, girl?” said the Slasher, with a broad grin. ‘ What!

-daren’t you look at him between the eyes?”

The poor girl blushed, but did not lock at Rudolph.

After a few moments the Ogress herself placed on the table a pitcher of wine, bread, and a huge bag of mystery, of which we will not attempt to give an idea to the reader, but which appeared to be highly relished by the Slasher, who exclaimed—

“Hookey Walker! what a dish! what a glorious dish! it’s a regular bus. There is something in it to everybody’s taste: Sprat’s wife, who likes fat, can have it ; so can Jack, who likes lean ; as well as those who choose

sugar, and those who prefer pepper—drumsticks of fowls, biscuit, fish-tails, chop-bones, pastry-crust, fried eels, vegetables, woodcocks’ heads, cheese, and salad! Why don’t you eat, La Goualeuse ? it is capital! You don’t mean for to say you’ve been to a wedding-feast to-day ?”’

“No more than on other days. I ate this morning, as usual, my ha’porth of milk and ha’porth of bread.”

The entrance of another person into the cabaret interrupted the conversation, and caused all to look up in the direction of the new comer. He was a middle-aged man, active and robust, wearing a loose jacket and a close-fitting cap. Quite at home to the usages of the place, he ordered supper in the familiar slang. Thenew comer so placed himself as to be able to watch the two ill-looking fellows who had asked after the Big Cripple and the Schoolmaster. He did not take his eyes off them; but, in consequence of their position, the latter could not observe the marked attention of which they were the subject.

* “Bags of mystery,” alias “ Punch's pussies in English cant, are the kind of sausages whose skins are filled with the various remnants left from the servants’ table ia noblemen’s and rich men’s | Mansions, :

THE MYSTERIES OF PARIS.

The conversation, momentarily interrupted, was resumed. In spite of Sis boldness, the Slasher showed a kind of deference to Rudolph, and did not dare to treat him with familiarity.

‘Upon my soul!” said he to Rudolph, “although I have had a cheap (unprofitable) trip for it, I am glad to have met with you.”

‘ Because you relish the sassidge ?”

“Wery like; but still more because I long to see you take down the Schoolmaster. To see the bounce shaken out of him who has always crowed:over me would do my heart good.”

“Oh, that’s your little game, is it? Do you suppose that for your sport I shall jump at the Schoolmaster like a bull-dog ?”

“No, but he’ll be at you in a jiffy when he is told that you are a better man than he,” chuckled the Slasher, rubbing his hands.

“Well, I have brads enough left to give him full change,” said Rudolph, in a careless tone. Then, he added: “It is not weather fit for a dog: what say you to a pot of brandy, with a stir of sugar ?”

“That’s your sort !”’ said the Slasher.

“And, that we may be better acquainted, we will let on to each other who we are,” added Rudolph.

“The Albino, otherwise the Slasher, returned convict, lighterman on the rafts at St. Paul’s Quay ; frozen in the winter, roasted in the summer, from twelve to fifteen hours a day in the water; half man, half frog ; that’s my picter,” said Rudolph’s companion, making him a military salute with his left hand. ‘ Well, now, and you, my master, being your first turn-out in the City—I don’t mean anything offensive; but you ran at me likea bull, and made a drum of my hide. Blazes! what a devil’s tattoo you did beat! and above all, those smacks in the eye as a wind-up! I shall never forget them—what a rattling peal !—ding-dong, one-two! But you have some other trade besides hammering.”

“T am a fan-painter, and my name is Rudolph.”

“A fan-painter! Oh! that accounts for your having such white hands,” said the other. “Not that that matters; if you are a specimen of your comrades, it would not be a bad spec to learn your trade. But, as you are a workman, what brings you to a flash-ken in the City, where there are only prigs and kinchens and jailbirds like me, who cannot show anywhere else? This is no place for you; workmen have their own resorts, and don’t know man’s talk.”

“I come here because I like good company.”

‘“ At-chou!” sneezed the Slasher, shaking his head with a doubtful air. ‘I met you in Red Arm’s court; butthat’s neither here nor there. You say you don’t know him?”

“What do you mean by sticking your Red Arm under my nose ? Confound Red Arm!” .

‘“ Hold, master! Perhaps you distrust me : but you are wrong. If you like, I will tell you my history ; but it must be on condition that you teach me how to use my fists after the fashion you tackled me. What say you ?”

“Tis a bargain, Slasher ; you shall tell mo your history, and La Goualeuse shall tell us hers aiso.”

“Very well,” replied the Slasher. “It is not fit weather to keep a cop (policeman) out besides, it will amuse us. Are you agreeable, Goualeuse P”

“Oh, yes: but my story will not take long to tell,” said Fleur-de-Marie.

“ And you will also tell us’ your history, friend Rudolph ?” added the Slasher.

“ Yes, for Ill lead off!”

“ Fan-painter !” said La Goualeuse ; “that . must be a very pretty trade!”

* How much can you earn at the crank if you stick close to it ?” asked the Slasher.

“Tam on piece-work,” responded Rudolph ; “my best days are worth three francs, sometimes four ; but that is in summer, when the days are long.”

“And you take it easy sometimes—eh, lazy-bones ?”

“Yes, so long as I have money, though I don’t chuck it away. First, I pay fivepence for my night’s furnished lodging.”

“Excuse me, your highness, who'd a’thought I'd set eyes on a price of a fippenny rope ?” said the Slasher, raising his hand to his cap.

The words, spoken in anironical tone, caused Rudolph to smile imperceptibly; and he y “Yes! Ilike to be clean and comfortable.”

“ Here’s a lord of the land for you! a swell for the Bank!” exclaimed the Slasher, ‘‘ who pays a tizzy a night for his bed!”

“Then,” continued Rudolph, “there’s two penny screws of ’bacca, that’s neves yennips (sevenpence) ; early coffee and loaf an’ butter, ninepence ; grub about a tanner; pennorth of brandy, and there you are; it stands me about one-and-six a day. I don’t have to keep up steam all the week, but take my layoff as much as I like.”

“ But your family ?” said La Goualeuse.

“The choleradowned’em,” replied Rudolph.

“ And what were your parents ?” asked La Goualeuse.

‘ Dealers in old clo’ and marine stores, under the pillars of the Market-place.”

“And what did you get, when you sold what they left you ?” asked the Slasher.

“I was too young, so my keeper did that: and when I came of age, he brought me in his debtor thirty francs ; that was my inheritance.”’

“And who do you work for?” demanded the Slasher.

“His name is Gauthier, in the Rue des Bourdonnais—a beastly, stingy thief: a miser! who would almost as soon lose his eyes as pay his workmen fair. That’s the best character I can give him; if it is lost don’t come to my office again for it! I learned _ my trade under him from the age of fifteen ; Fhave a good number in the conscription and my name is Rudolph Durand. That is my history.” :

“ And now it is your turn, Goualeuse,” said the Slasher. ‘I keep my story for the last,” as a sort o’ tit-bit !”’

Chapter III. -sweet-throat’s Story

SIEGIN with the beginning,” said the Slasher, not to be “ choused.”

“Yes, with your parents,” added Rudolph.

“I never knew them,” said Fleur-de-Marie.

“Ha, ha! Goualeuse, that is rich,” said the Slasher. “ You and I come of the same family.”

* What, you too, Slasher, lone 2”

“Yes; an orphan of the streets of Paris, the same as you were, my girl.”

“ Who brought you up, then, Goualeuse ?” asked Rudolph.

‘TI do not eae sir; as far back as I can recollect, when I think I was about seven or eight years of age, I lived with an old one-eyed woman, whom they call Screech-Owl, because she had a hooked nose, a very round green eye, and altogether resembled an owl who had lost an eye.”

Ha! ha! ha! [ think I see her now, the old owl!” laughed the Slasher.

“This old one-eyed woman,” resumed Fleur-de-Marie, “ sent me to sell barley-sugar at night on the Pont Neuf; but that was only a cloak for begging: and when I did not bring her at least sixpence, she gave me a beating instead of my supper.”

‘“ And are you certain that the female was not your mother ?” inquired Rudolph.

“Yam quite certain ; for she often taunted me with having neither father nor mother, and always said that she picked me up in the street.”

“50,” said the Slasher, “you danced instead of eating, when you did not pick up & tizzy P”

“Yes, and afterwards had to lie upon straw spread upon the ground, where I almost perished with bitter cold.”

I don’t doubt it” cried the Slasher ; “straw is a regular freezer ! a dung heap is a hundred times better; but then people don’t like the smell of you, and have the cheek to say, Oh, the nasty brute! kick him out some’ un !”

“This joke made Rudolph smile, while Fleur-de-Marie resumed : “ The next morning the Screech-Owl gave me the same allowance for breakfast as for supper, and sent me to Montfaucon to look for worms or fish-bait ; for during the day she kept her stall for selling fishing-tackle by the bridge of Notre Dame. For a child seven years old, half dead with hunger and cold, if is a long war from the Rue de la Mortellerie to Montfaucon.”

“ But the exercise has made you grow as straight as a lamp-post, my girl, so you must not complain of that,” said the Slasher, striking a match to light his pipe.

“ Well,” said Goualeuse, ‘ I used to return very, very tired; then about noon Screech-Owl would give me a little piece of dry bread.”

“ There, again, short commons has made you as slender as a wasp, my girl; so you must not find fault with that either,” said the Slasher, taking some hasty whiffs at his pipe. “But what ails you, comrade ?—I mean to say, Master Rudolph ? you look allover-ish. Is it because this girl has seen hard times ? Oh, we all know what it is to get a rub down.”

“ Oh! it is impossible you could ever have been as wretched as I was, Slasher?” said Fleur-de-Marie. >

‘ What! not I, Goualeuse ? Why, my girl, you were a queen compared to me! At least, when you were little, you had straw to sleep on and bread to eat; for my part, I used to spend my most comfortable nights in the Clichy-kilns, like a gipsy tramp, and fed upon cabbage-stumps and such-like dainties, which I picked up when and where I could; but as I was often too tired, after my day’s dance, to go so far as the Clichy-kilns, I slept under the dark arches of the Louvre, and had beautiful white sheets—whenever the snow fell !”

“Oh! a man is hardy; but I was a poor little girl,’ said Fleur-de-Marie. ‘“ Yet for all that, I was as plump as a robin.”

‘ Do you remember that ?”

“© Oh, I remember well ! When Screech-Owl beat me, the first blow always knocked me down ; then she stamped upon me, muttering, Oh, the nasty little beast! she hasn’t a farthing’s-worth of strength; she can’t even bear a couple of thumps without falling! She called me the Nimming Kid: I never had any other appellation; that was my baptismal name.”

‘ Just like me; I had the same baptism they give to stray dogs. I was called ‘little hound !’ ‘pup,’ or the ‘ Albino.’ It was astonishing how much we are like one another, my girl,” said the Slasher.

‘ That is true, in our misery,” said Fleurde-Marie, addressing the ruffian ; for in spite of herself she almost always felt a sort of shame before Rudolph, scarcely venturing to lift up her eyes, although he seemed to belong to the class with whom she had usually lived.

‘ And when you had fetched the worms for your Owl, what did you do next?” asked the Slasher.

“Then the hag would send me to beground where she kept her stall till night; for in the evening she went to the Pont Neuf, to sell fried fish. Heavens! I used to thinkita long time to wait for a morsel of bread; butif Iwasunlucky enough to ask for something to eat, Sereech- Owl would beat me and say, ‘Get sixpence, and you shall have your supper, kid. Oh, me!

THE MYSTERIES OF PARIS.

then, being hungry, and sore from thethumps and kicks she gave me, I cried as if my heart would break; but the old woman hung my tray of barley-sugar about my neck, and placed me on the Pont Neuf, where in winter my teeth chattered with cold. Yet sometimes, in spite of myself, I slept as I stood, butnotlong, for Screech-Owl kicked me till I awoke. Then I remained on the bridge till eleven o’clock, my tray of. barley-sugar hanging round my neck, and often crying bitterly. On seeing me cry, the passengers would sometimes give me a trifle, and I often obtained eight or ten pence, which I gave to my mistress, who searched me all over, and even examined my mouth, to see if I had concealed anything.”

‘ Faith, tenpence was a taking round the hat for a little-un like you.”

- ** Ttwas; and the one-eyed woman, seeing—” ‘With one eye?” said the Slasher, laughing, To be sure, for she had but one. Well, when

she discovered the secret of my success, she always beat me severely before she took me to my post on the bridge, in order that I might cry and sob as people passed by, and by that means get more money.”

(i ee was brutal, but deuced sharp of the

old gal.”

‘It was, indeed. Atlast I got hardened to blows. I saw that Screech-Owl was very angry when I did not cry, so to be revenged upon her, the more she ill-used me the more I laughed, though the pain brought the tears into my eyes.”