"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.
"I'd get a better room," she said,
revelling. "There 's one in the
next 'ouse. I'd 'ave a few sticks o'
furnisher in it--a bed an' a chair
or two. I'd get some warm petticuts
an' a shawl an' a 'at--with
a ostrich feather in it. Polly an'
me 'd live together. We'd 'ave
fire an' grub every day. I'd get
drunken Bet's biby put in an 'ome.
I'd 'elp the women when they 'ad to
lie up. I'd--I'd 'elp 'IM a bit,"
with a jerk of her elbow toward the
thief. "If 'e was kept fed p'r'aps 'e
could work out that thing in 'is 'ead.
I'd go round the court an' 'elp them
with 'usbands that knocks 'em about.
I'd--I'd put a stop to the knockin'
about," a queer fixed look showing
itself in her eyes. "If I 'ad money
I could do it. 'Ow much," with
sudden prudence, "could a body 'ave
--with one o' them wands?"
"More than enough to do all you
have spoken of," answered Dart.
"It 's a shime a body couldn't 'ave
it. Apple Blossom Court 'd be a
different thing. It'd be the sime as
Miss Montaubyn says it's goin' to
be." She laughed again, this time as
if remembering something fantastic,
but not despicable.
Pages:
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56