As soon as everyone was thoroughly tired and disposed to sit quiet for half an hour or so, a girl (a stranger from the West End like myself) was asked by the hostess to play something, and accordingly, thinking as I should have done, that they preferred lively tunes, sat down and began to rattle off some "catchy" popular airs. She was unceremoniously stopped by Belinda Ann-- "'Ere, we don't want that rot!" "Oh," mildly replied the unfortunate pianist, not quite knowing what to say; "I thought you liked variety?" "No, we don't," retorted the other, misunderstanding her and thinking she meant the music hall close by; "the V'riety costs tuppence an' we can't 'ford it." "Well, what would you like?" was the inquiry. "Give us 'We are rout on the ocean syling,' or 'God be with you till we meet agyne,'" and this request being complied with, these favourite hymns were shouted out at the top of their voices, Belinda Ann's in particular being like a clarion. After this a diversion was created by one of the "pickles" volunteering a recitation which she gave with a good deal of dramatic power; then another girl sang a little song, and Belinda Ann followed with a second, and so the evening wore away to its close; but I felt dissatisfied, for I seemed no nearer attaining my object than before. Taking the opportunity, I forcibly detained Belinda Ann as she was drifting by, and diffidently observed-- "You've told me what you work at, but how do you amuse yourself?" "'Ow? There ain't much difficulty 'bout that!" she returned scornfully. "There's this sort o' thing, an' bank 'ollerdys, an' weddins, an' funerals, an' launchin' ships, an'-----" "I wish you'd let me go with you to some of these!" I eagerly interrupted. She looked dubiously at me for a minute, thinking I was joking, but seeing I was in earnest, remarked casually-- "Well, I don't mind ef I do, but it's a bit rough sometimes fer the likes o' you." "Oh, I sha'n't mind," I joyfully replied. "When can I begin?" "A friend o' mine's goin' to be married the dy after ter-morrer," she said graciously. "I could get yer an invite, if yer liked." "Do!" was my ecstatic response. "Where shall we meet?" "'Ere," she returned. "Yer can't go wanderin' about these streets by yerself, an' it wouldn't do fer your grand friends to see me a-knockin' at your door!" I was trying in vain to assure her that she was quite wrong, when she suddenly rammed her hat viciously down on her head, slung her shawl round her like a woollen whirlwind, and with the brief remark, "G'night," was gone. I also soon afterwards took my leave, having first told my hostess about the proposed expedition. She looked a little anxious, but her face cleared when she heard that Belinda Ann was coming with me. "That's all right," she observed, with a sigh of relief. "She's to be trusted to see that you come to no harm; but don't leave her for a minute, and don't wear jewellery or carry much money."