"Bridgetticks," she replied, "was in behind the palin's at 'Acker's, and was for biting Aunt Stingy if she laid 'ands. And Jimmy 'Acker's granny she come out, and 'Leave the child alone' she says. But the two gentleman come down out of the hansom scab and said there was no spremises, but I was a nice little girl and should have a trep'ny bit. Yass!" "And then your aunt she looked round after you, I'll go bail. Wasn't _she_ in it, little lass?" "Then Aunt Stingy she giv' over, 'cos of Jimmy 'Acker's granny, and come to see. And the tall gentleman, he needn't trouble her, he says, and she kep' a little way off. And I kep' the threp'ny bit in my mouf, I did." "So she mightn't get it?" Lizarann nodded. "And where was Bridgetticks?" "Over acrost, feelin' up like, 'cos of Aunt Stingy." An image passes through Jim's mind of a powerful rodent working stealthily round, clear of its enemy, to join the colloquy, and perhaps secure another threepence. His image of Bridgetticks is not a pleasing one. He doesn't believe in her sex or her girlhood--classes her with the fiendish boy at the fish-shop, and rather wishes he could let her loose on him to run him down, as one slips a dog from a leash. She would do it. "And how came she to cut in? It was my little lassie's cake." But Lizarann felt hurt on her friend's account. "She giv' me two apples," she said, and left the point, as one sure to be understood. Then she continued: "The gentlemen wanted for to know our names, and Bridgetticks said not if took down. So the gentleman put the pencil away and she says Bridgetticks and I says Lizarann Toopland." "Right you were! And then what did the gentleman say?" "Not to shout both at once." "Which did ye like best, little lass--which gentleman?" But the child is uncertain on this point. Being pressed, she admits a _tendresse_ for the one called Scipio; but it appears that Bridgetticks has condemned him on account of his jaw, pointing to a certain sententiousness of style, which has already been in evidence in this story. Her discrimination of him as a Cure, too, will show those who are familiar with the use of this term that she placed a low value on his reflections. Her father, having certainly spoken with these two gentlemen, felt some curiosity about what they could want in Tallack Street. His having spoken with them himself had, of course, given them an interest for him he had not felt before. But inquiry of a child not seven years old has to be conducted cautiously. If too hard pushed, she will invent. "What did ye make out they came for, lassie?" he asked. "Spremises," was the reply, given with confidence. But this seemed ill-grounded when she added, "What does spremises mean, daddy?" "Houses with bills in the winder, lass. Sure! But didn't they never say where they come from, nor what they wanted?" "Bridgetticks she knew." "Where did she say they came from?"