"'Gammon! It'd take more than that to frighten Sophy.' She added, with a sly look, 'Aunty's easily kidded, she is.' "'Ah,' said reporter, somewhat mystified, 'then you came down and went to bed?' "'Yes, I did, and precious glad to get there.' "'You like your bed, Sophy?' "'Rather.' "'And you sleep well?' "'You bet!' "'Did you sleep better or worse than usual last night?' "'No better, and no wus.' "'Did you wake up in the night?' "'Not me!' "'Then you heard no noise?' "'Where?' "'Anywhere.' "'I didn't 'ear nothink. 'Ow could I?' "'Thank you, Sophy. That is all for the present.' "'I say,' cried Sophy, as our reporter was about to leave the kitchen, 'you'll take my pickcher, won't you?' "'I'll think about it. I'll see you another time, Sophy; and look here,' added our reporter, who is never known to throw a chance away, 'here's my card; take care of it, and if you find out anything that you think I'd like to know about M. Felix, come and tell me, and you shall be well paid for it. You'll not forget?' "'No, I won't forgit. Anythink about M. Felix, do you mean?' "'Yes, anything.' "'All right, old 'un. I'll choo it over.' Here Sophy dropped her voice, and asked, 'Is Aunt outside?' "'Yes. Can you keep a secret?' "'Try me,' said Sophy, holding out the little finger of her left hand. "'What am I to do with this?' "'Pinch my nail as 'ard as you can. Never mind 'urting me. As 'ard as ever you can. "Our reporter complied, and Sophy went audibly through the entire alphabet, from A to Y Z. "'There,' said Sophy, 'did I scream when I came to O?' "'You did not,' said our reporter, remembering the child's game. 'You bore it like a brick.' "'Don't that show I can keep a secret?' "'It does. Well, then, don't tell your aunt that I gave you my card, or asked you to come and see me.' "'I'm fly.' "Giving him a friendly wink, Sophy went on her knees, and made a pretence of being very hard at work cleaning the grate. The last words he heard were: "'Pickcher of Sophy wearin' 'erself to skin and bone. Ain't I busy?'" CHAPTER X. OUR REPORTER GIVES MRS. MIDDLEMORE SOME SENSIBLE ADVICE. "Rejoining Mrs. Middlemore, our reporter informed her that he was satisfied that Sophy had heard nothing in the night. "'Of course she didn't,' said Mrs. Middlemore. 'Once she's in bed she lays like a log.' "'She's a sharp little thing,' observed our reporter. "'Sharp ain't the word, sir. What's going to be the end of her is more than I can fathom.' "'Has she a mother?' "'No.' "'Father?' "'If he can be called one. Drunk half his time, in trouble the other half.' "'So that poor Sophy has to look after herself?'