"What she buys is mostly things for the little 'uns: shimmys and pinafores, and that," replied Dovey. "Letty Bird's one o' them that's more improvidenter than a body of any sense 'ud believe, Master Stirling; she never has a coin by the Wednesday night, she hasn't. The little 'uns 'ud be a-rolling naked in the gutter, but for what she gets on tick off Jellico; and Bird, seeing 'em naked, might beat her for that. That don't mend the system; the score's a-being run up, and it'll bring trouble sometime as sure as a gun. Beside that, if there was no Jellico to serve her with his poison, she'd _have_ to save enough for decent clothes. Don't you see how the thing works, sir?" "Oh, I see," carelessly answered Stirling. "D'ye call the pack's wares poison, Dovey?" "Yes, I do," said Dovey, stoutly, as he handed Frank his iron. "They'll poison the peace o' many a household in this here Cut. You two young gents just look out else, and see." We came away with the iron. At the end of Piefinch Lane, Frank Stirling took the road to the Court, and I turned into Reed's. The wife was by herself then, giving the children their early tea. "Reed shall come up to the Manor as soon as he gets home, sir," she said, in answer to Tod's message. "I was here before this afternoon, Mrs. Reed, and couldn't get in. You were too busy to hear me at the door." The knife halted in the bread she was cutting, and she glanced up for a moment; but seemed to think nothing, and finished the slice. "I've been very busy, Master Ludlow. I'm sorry you've had to come twice, sir." "Busy enough, I should say, with Jellico's pack emptied on the table, and you and the rest buying up at steam pace." The words were out of my lips before I saw her startled gesture of caution, pointing to the children: it was plain they were not to know anything about Jellico. She had an honest face, but it turned scarlet. "Do you think it is a good plan, Mrs. Reed, to get things upon trust, and have to make up money for them weekly?" I could not help saying to her as she came to the door. "I'm beginning to doubt whether it is, sir." "If Reed thought he had a debt hanging over him, that might fall at any moment----" "For the love of mercy, sir, don't say nothing to Reed!" came the startled interruption. "You won't, will you, Master Johnny?" "Not I. Don't fear. But if I were you, Mrs. Reed, for my own sake I should cut all connection with Jellico. Better deal at a fair shop." She nodded her head as I went through the gate; but her face had now turned to a sickly whiteness that spoke of terror. Was the woman so deep in the dangerous books already? Reed came up in the evening, and Tod showed him what he wanted done. As the man was measuring the trellis-work, Hannah happened to pass. She asked him how he was getting on. "Amongst the middlings," answered Reed, shortly. "I was a bit put out just now."