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〃W'y not？ Wants a babby to cuddle？ All right！ Let 'er 'ave itw'y not？〃
At these words Liz looked up hopefully through her tears； but Mother
Mawks darted forward in raving indignation。
〃Yer great drunken fool！〃 she yelled to her besotted spouse； 〃aren't yer
ashamed of yerself？ Wot！ let out babby for a whole night for nuthin'？ It's
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lucky I've my wits about me； an' I say Liz sha'n't 'ave it！ There； now！〃
The man looked at her； and a dogged resolution darkened his repulsive
countenance。 He raised his big fist； clinched it； and hit straight out； giving
his infuriated wife a black eye in much less than a minute。 〃An' I say she
shall 'ave it。 Where are ye now？〃
In answer to the query Mother Mawks might have said that she was
〃all there；〃 for she returned her husband's blow with interest and force； and
in a couple of seconds the happy pair were engaged in a 〃stand…up〃 fight；
to the intense admiration and excitement of all the inhabitants of the little
alley。 Every one in the place thronged to watch the combatants； and to
hear the blasphemous oaths and curses with which the battle was
accompanied。
In the midst of the affray a wizened； bent old man； who had been
sitting at his door sorting rags in a basket； and apparently taking no heed
of the clamour around him； made a sign to Liz。
〃Take the kid now；〃 he whispered。 〃Nobody'll notice。 I'll see they don't
cry arter ye。〃
Liz thanked him mutely by a look； and rushing to the house where the
child still lay； seemingly inanimate； on the floor among the soiled clothes；
she caught it up eagerly； and hurried away to her own poor garret in a
tumble…down tenement at the farthest end of the alley。 The infant had been
stunned by its fall； but under her tender care； and 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
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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
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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！〃 repli