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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。
But after Christmas had come and gone； and the melancholy days； the
last beating of the failing pulse of the Old Year； throbbed slowly and
heavily away； the baby took upon its wan visage a strange expression
the solemn expression of worn…out and suffering age。 Its blue eyes
grew more solemnly speculative and dreamy； and after a while it seemed
to lose all taste for the petty things of this world and the low
desires of mere humanity。 It lay very quiet in Liz's arms； it never
cried； and was no longer fretful； and it seemed to listen with a sort
of mild approval to the tones of her voice as they rang out in the
dreary streets； through which； by day and night； she patiently
wandered。 By…and…by the worsted bird； too； fell out of favour； it
jumped and glittered in vain； the baby surveyed it with an unmoved air
of superior wisdom； just as if it had suddenly found out what real
birds were like； and was not to be deceived into accepting so poor an
imitation of nature。