"But Sophy, firing up, diverged a moment. 'Jest look 'ere, aunty,' she said, with spirit. 'Don't yer be so fast with yer sluts and yer 'uzzies. I'm gitting tired of it, I am. I ain't told one lie yet, and if yer don't mind what yer about I'll keep my mouth shut.' "'No, Sophy, my girl,' said our reporter, 'you will do nothing of the sort. You will tell me all you know about this man.' "'Jest you make 'er be civil, then,' said Sophy. 'She does nothink but bully me day and night. She don't pay me no wages, and I ain't going to stand it.' "'Be reasonable Sophy,' said our reporter. 'Your aunt is worried, and you must make excuses for her.' "'Ain't I flesh and blood the same as she is?' continued the irate girl. 'I've a good mind to run away from 'er, that I am, and never come back no more. I'll do it. Tata, aunty, and thank yer for nothink.' "Had it not been for our reporter, she would have run out of the house. He laid his hand gently on her arm, and said: "'Don't forget your promise to me, Sophy.' "'I won't; I'll keep it, never fear. I'll wear myself to skin and bone for yer--yes, I will, if it'll do yer any good; but I won't be bullied by 'er no more.' "Sophy's threat terrified Mrs. Middlemore; the prospect of being left in the house alone was appalling, and she straightway fell to on humble pie. "'I'm sorry for what I sed, Sophy, and I beg yer parding, and I'll give yer sixpence a week. There, now, be a good gal. But yer did tell us yer couldn't git into the 'ouse.' "'No more I could. I knocked and rattled and kicked the door, and nobody come. 'Ow should I know that a tall, thin man, with a long face and thick black eyebrows, was the feller as took yer in?' "'You saw him, then?' said our reporter, observing that Mrs. Middlemore's apology and, the promise of sixpence a week had mollified the girl. "'Yes, I sor 'im before I got to the 'ouse, but I didn't know he come out of it. He was jest what aunty sed he was, and what's more, he 'ad large flat feet.' "'If you saw him again you could swear to him?' "'I'd pick 'im out of a thousan.' He run agin me, he did, and I sed, "Who are yer pushing of?" He didn't say nothink, but walked off forty to the dozen.' "'Looking as if he did not wish to attract notice?' "'Yes, he did look like that.' "'Was he carrying anything?' "'Not that I sor. He 'ad 'is coat buttoned up.' "'When he come to me,' said Mrs. Middlemore, 'it was unbuttoned.' "'Proving that he took something away with him. Anything else Sophy?' "'Nothink else.' "'You and your aunt are friends now, are you not?' "'Oh, I don't bear no malice.' "Mrs. Middlemore kissed Sophy, and her anger was entirely dispelled. Once more our reporter, having made peace between them, attempted to leave, but Mrs. Middlemore said, imploringly: "'Would yer mind looking all over the 'ouse fust? He might be 'iding in it to murder us in the night.'