They had dropped from her hands when she was falling, and the friends had not stopped to pick them up. "Never mind your matches." "But father'll wollup me if I don't sell 'em before I go 'ome! I can't go 'ome till I've got a shilling!" "You shall have the shilling. Here it is. We will take care of it till we get to Roxy's Rents, and you shall give it to your mother. What is your name, child?" "Prue, sir; Little Prue." Robert Grantham laid his hand on Rathbeal's arm. "Little Prue!" he said. "That is poor Billy's sweetheart, that he spoke of with his dying breath." He addressed the child: "Did you know a poor boy called Billy?" "Oh, yes, sir; we used to play together. He sed he'd marry me when he grew up, if he could get a suit of clothes. What's become of Billy, sir? I ain't seen 'im for a long time." "He is happier than he was, my child," said Grantham; "all his troubles are over." "I'm glad to 'ear that, sir. I wish mine and mother's was." "They will be, one day. Now, child, we must be moving." Little Prue rose and put her hand in Grantham's and they left the restaurant. They rode to Lambeth by 'bus and tram, and then, being in streets familiar to her, Little Prue conducted them to Roxy's Rents. Her mother's room was in darkness. "Are yer coming in, sir?" "Yes; we will see your mother before we leave you." "Mother, mother!" cried Prue, opening the door. Mrs. Flower started up and, running to the door, caught her child in her arms. "O Prue, Prue! where have you been? I was afraid you were lost!" "I should 'ave been, mother, if it 'adn't been for the gentlemen." "The gentlemen?" She could not see them. "Do not be alarmed," said Robert Grantham. "Your little one was not well, and we brought her home. She is all right now." "You're very good, sir; I'm ever so much obliged to you." "Oh, mother, I've 'ad sech a supper! Did yer get the money for the washing?" She was accustomed to take her part in these domestic matters, which were, in a sense, vital. "Don't worry, child, before the gentlemen." "But did yer, mother?" persisted Little Prue, thinking of the chances of food for to-morrow. "No. There, child, let me alone." "Have you a candle in the place?" asked Grantham, suspecting the state of affairs. "No, sir. I am really ashamed----" "We owe your little one a shilling for some matches," said Grantham, pitying her confusion, and slipping the money into her hand. "Is it too late to buy some candles?" He would have taken his departure under these awkward circumstances, but he considered it his duty to tell Mrs. Flower of the accident that had happened to her husband. "One of the lodgers will sell me one, sir, if you don't mind waiting." "We will wait." "Martha!" called Mrs. Flower; but Martha was asleep, and did not speak. "It's my sister, sir; I thought she might be awake. I won't be gone a minute."