“Stop a moment,” he said to his friend. “Don't be afraid, I'm not going to pay. But, I say, just look at her eyes--good eyes, aren't they?” The other turned round laughing, and stared hard at her face. Fan reddened and dropped her eyes. Finally he took a penny from his pocket and held it up before her. “Take,” he said. She took the penny, thanking him with a grateful glance, whereupon he laughed and turned away, remarking that he had got his money's worth. She was nearly back to her own street again before anyone else noticed her; then she met a very large important-looking gentleman, with a lady at his side--a small, thin, meagre woman, with a dried yellow face, wearing spectacles. The lady stopped very deliberately before Fan, and scrutinised her face. “Come along,” said her husband or companion. “You are not going to stop to talk to that wretched little beggar, I hope.” “Yes, I am, so please be quiet.--Now, my girl, are you not ashamed to come out begging in the streets--do you not know that it is very wrong of you?” “I'm not begging--I'm selling matches,” answered Fan sullenly, and looking down. “You might have known that she'd say that, so come on, and don't waste more time,” said the impatient gentleman. “Don't hurry me, Charles,” returned the lady. “You know perfectly well that I never bestow alms indiscriminately, so that you have nothing to fear.--Now, my girl, why do you come out selling matches, as you call it? It is only a pretext, because you really do not sell them, you know. Do your parents send you out--are they so poor?” Then Fan repeated the words she had been instructed to use on occasions like the present, which she had repeated so often that they had lost all meaning to her. “Father's out of work and mother's ill, and I came out because we're starving.” “Just so, of course, what did you think she would say!” exclaimed the big gentleman. “Now I hope you are satisfied that I was right.” “That's just where you are mistaken, Charles. You know that I never give without a thorough investigation beforehand, and I am now determined to look narrowly into this case, if you will only let me go quietly on in my own way.--And now, my girl,” she continued, turning to Fan, “just tell me where you live, so that I can call on your mother when I have time, and perhaps assist her if it is as you say, and if I find that her case is a deserving one.” Fan at once gave the address and her mother's name.