appearance of the questioner, and, with the vulgar instinct, looked
about for someone to share her amusement.

'Better inquire at the 'ouse at the corner,' she added, as the man
was moving away. 'They've been here a long time, I b'lieve.'

He accepted her advice. But the people at the public-house could not
aid his search. He thanked them, paused for a moment with his eyes
down, then again sighed slightly and went forth into the gathering
gloom.

Less than five minutes later there ran into the same house of
refreshment a little slight girl, perhaps thirteen years old; she
carried a jug, and at the bar asked for 'a pint of old six.' The
barman, whilst drawing the ale, called out to a man who had entered
immediately after the child:

'Don't know nobody called Snowdon about 'ere, do you, Mr. Squibbs?'

The individual addressed was very dirty, very sleepy, and seemingly
at odds with mankind. He replied contemptuously with a word which,
in phonetic rendering may perhaps be spelt 'Nay-oo.'

But the little girl was looking eagerly from one man to the other;
what had been said appeared to excite keen interest in her. She
forgot all about the beer-jug that was waiting, and, after a brief
but obvious struggle with timidity, said in an uncertain voice:

'Has somebody been asking for that name, sir?'