It took a great deal to quench the spirit of the audacious Granger
twins, but they looked subdued now. Their thin little faces grew a
shade whiter. The two pairs of eyes gave a rapid glance towards the
door, and the little figures pressed closer to Bet as if for protection.

"You know, and so do I," she continued, putting her strong arm round
them with a most protecting gesture; "and so--and so--boys, I'm going
to take you away from father. And the only thing you ha' got to obey
me in is when I say 'hide!' you are to hide; and when I ha' to lock
you up, as I may have to do now and then, you won't play no larks on
me, nor try to get away."

"No--no!" they both vociferated eagerly. "We promise, we promise true.
Hurrah for Bet--the best gel in Liverpool!"

"That'll do; now let's pack. We must be out of this room in ten
minutes."

The three flew about, Bet putting her own small possessions and the
boys' scanty wardrobe into an old shawl of her mother's. It took far
less than ten minutes to make a bundle of the poor possessions. At the
last moment Bet went over to the bed, laid her head face downwards on
her mother's pillow, and reverently kissed the place where the dead
cold head had rested.

"That's a seal to my promise," she whispered; and then, slinging the
bundle across her shoulder, she again took the boys' hands and went
downstairs.

At the entrance to the house she met her landlord, a man of the name