there.

"This is a rum go," whispered the general under his breath; but the
little blue-eyed captain was silent, drawing himself up very erect,
and trying to imitate his sister's stately carriage.

Presently Bet paused at a door, and went in.

"Is Mother Bunch in her room?" she asked a red-haired unkempt-looking
boy, who, with a short pipe in his mouth, was leaning against the
doorway. He did not trouble himself to remove the pipe, but pointed
in the direction of a certain door. Bet went forward, and opened it
without knocking. A very stout woman of between fifty and sixty was
standing before a wash-tub. Her arms were bare to the elbows, and
covered with suds. Her blue winsey petticoat was tucked up above her
ankles; her large feet were destitute of shoes and stockings. She had
a broad face, a snub nose, and two twinkling good-humored eyes.
Notwithstanding her dirt-and she was very dirty-the first glance into
her face gave one a certain feeling of comfort and confidence. This
was curious; for Mother Bunch had the loudest tongue and the most
stalwart arm in Paradise Row; she was, in short, the terror of the
place and the adjacent neighborhood. Bet, however, approached her
without a particle of fear; she knew that Mother Bunch was a good
friend as well as a good foe.

"I ha' come," she said, going straight up to her. "And here are the
boys. This one is Cap'n, and this one is Gen'ral. They're rare 'uns
for fighting, poor lads; and they ain't cowards. Have you got the room
for us, Mother Bunch?"