'She is a bit taller, and, I should say, thinner, which comes of restlessness, and not for want of food. But she ain't changed otherwise, except as she is getting too much for me, and I have been wishing for some time to see you. I ain't no ways a good woman, Warbles, but the gal is fifteen now, and a gal of fifteen is nigh a woman in these courts, and I have made up my mind as I won't have her go wrong while she is on my hands, and if I had not seen you soon I should just have taken her by the shoulder and gone off to the workhouse with her.' 'They would not have taken her in without you,' the man said with a hard laugh. 'I would have gone in, too, for the sake of getting her in. I know I could not have stood it for many days, but I would have done it. However, the first time I got leave to come out I would have taken my hook altogether and got a room at the other end of the town, and left her there with them. I could not have done better for her than that, but that would have been a sight better than her stopping here, and if she went wrong after that I should not have had it on my conscience.' 'Well, that is all right, Kitty; I agree with you this is not the best place in the world for her, and I think it likely that I may take her away altogether.' 'I am glad to hear it. I have never been able to make out what your game was. One thing I was certain of--that it was no good. I know a good many games that you have had a hand in, and there was not a good one among them, and I don't suppose this differs from the rest. Anyhow, I shall be glad to be shot of her. I don't want to lose the five bob a week, but I would rather shift without it than have her any longer now she is a-growing up.' The man muttered something between his teeth, but at the moment a step was heard coming up the stairs. 'That's Sal,' the woman said; 'you are in luck this time, Warbles.' The door opened, and a girl came in. She was thin and gaunt, her eyes were large, her hair was rough and unkempt, there were smears of dirt on her face and an expression of mingled distrust and defiance. 'Who have you got here?' she asked, scowling at Mr. Warbles. 'It is the gent as you saw a year ago, Sally; the man as I told you had put you with me and paid regular towards your keep.' 'What does he want?' the girl asked, but without removing her glance from the man. 'He wants to have a talk with you, Sally. I do not know exactly what he wants to say, but it is for your good.' 'I dunno that,' she replied; 'he don't look like as if he was one to do anyone a good turn without getting something out of it.' Mr. Warbles shifted about uneasily in his chair.