"I dunno," she said; "I was 'ere first thing I remember. I lived with a
old woman in another 'ouse in the court. One mornin' when I woke up she
was dead. Sometimes I've begged an' sold matches. Sometimes I've took
care of women's children or 'elped 'em when they 'ad to lie up. I've
seen a lot--but I like to see a lot. 'Ope I'll see a lot more afore I'm
done. I'm used to bein' 'ungry an' cold, an' all that, but--but I
allers like to see what's comin' to-morrer. There's allers somethin'
else to-morrer. That's all about ME," and she chuckled again.

Dart picked up some fresh sticks and threw them on the fire. There was
some fine crackling and a new flame leaped up.

"If you could do what you liked," he said, "what would you like to do?"

Her chuckle became an outright laugh.

"If I 'ad ten pounds?" she asked, evidently prepared to adjust herself
in imagination to any form of un-looked-for good luck.

"If you had more?"

His tone made the thief lift his head to look at him.

"If I 'ad a wand like the one Jem told me was in the pantermine?"

"Yes," he answered.

She sat and stared at the fire a few moments, and then began to speak in
a low luxuriating voice.