Yes, I suppose that is cheap, Jessie White. I don't know anything
about prices, but it does not sound dear. We will go to your lodgings
if you will tell us the right street, and I hope it is not far away,
for Maurice is very tired."

"No, it ain't far, but you can't go without me; you would not get in
nohow. Now, I works in the factory close by, and I'm just out for an
hour for my dinner. I'll call for you yere, ef you like, at five
o'clock, and take you straight off, and you can get into bed at once.
And now s'pose as we goes and has a bit of dinner? I has tuppence for
my dinner. I did mean to buy a beautiful hartificial flower for my
hat instead, but somehow the sight of you three makes me so starved
as I can't stand it. Will you come to my shop and have dinner too?"

To this proposition Cecile, Maurice (who had awakened), and Toby all
eagerly agreed; and in a moment or two the little party found
themselves being regaled at the ragged girl's directions with great
basins of hot soup and hunches of bread. She took two basins of soup,
and two hunches of bread herself. But though Maurice and Cecile
wished very much for more, Cecile--even though it was to be paid for
with their own money--felt too timid to ask again, and the strange
girl appeared to think it impossible they could want more than one
supply.

"I'm off now," she said to Cecile, coming up to her and wiping her
mouth.

"Yes; but where are we to meet you for the lodging?" asked the
little girl anxiously--"Maurice is _so_ tired--and you promised
to show us. Where shall we get the lodging for the night?"