the care of Holy Mother Church."

"Yes'm, he thrives well," replies Mrs. Ginx, repeating no more of
Sister Suspiciosa's sentence, "an' I've 'ad more milk than ever
for the darlin' this time, thank God."

"And the Holy Virgin."

"I dunno about her," cries Mrs. Ginx emphatically, perhaps not
seeing congruity between a virgin and the subject of
thankfulness.

"And the Holy Virgin," repeated the nun, "who interests herself
in all mothers. She has thus blessed you that your child may be
made strong for the work of the Church. Do you not see a miracle
is worked within you to prove Her goodness? This, no doubt, is
an evidence to you of Her wish to bless you and take you for Her
own. I beseech you listen to Her voice, and come and enter Her
fold."

"If you mean the Virgin Mary, mum, I ain't a idolater, beggin'
yer parding," says Mrs. Ginx; "an' tho' I wouldn't for the world
offend them as has been so kind to my child, an' saved it from
that deer little creetur bein' thrown over Wauxhall Bridge--an'
Ginx ought to be ashamed of hisself, so he ought-- I ain't
Papish, mum, and I ain't dispoged, with twelve on 'em there at
home all Protestant to the back bone, to turn Papish now, an' so
I 'ope an' pray, mum," says Mrs. Ginx, roaring and crying, "you
ain't agoin' to make Papish of my flesh an' blood. O dear! O
dear!"