van is maintained at Her Majesty's expense: having been
originally started for the exclusive accommodation of ladies and
gentlemen under the necessity of visiting the various houses of call
known by the general denomination of 'Her Majesty's Gaols.'

The van drew up at the office-door, and the people thronged round the
steps, just leaving a little alley for the prisoners to pass through.
Our friend the cobbler, and the other stragglers, crossed over, and we
followed their example. The driver, and another man who had been seated
by his side in front of the vehicle, dismounted, and were admitted into
the office. The office-door was closed after them, and the crowd were on
the tiptoe of expectation.

After a few minutes' delay, the door again opened, and the two first
prisoners appeared. They were a couple of girls, of whom the
elder--could not be more than sixteen, and the younger of whom had
certainly not attained her fourteenth year. That they were sisters, was
evident, from the resemblance which still subsisted between them, though
two additional years of depravity had fixed their brand upon the elder
girl's features, as legibly as if a red-hot iron had seared them. They
were both gaudily dressed, the younger one especially; and, although
there was a strong similarity between them in both respects, which was
rendered the more obvious by their being handcuffed together, it is
impossible to conceive a greater contrast than the demeanour of the two
presented. The younger girl was weeping bitterly--not for display, or in
the hope of producing effect, but for very shame: her face was buried in
her handkerchief: and her whole manner was but too expressive of bitter
and unavailing sorrow.

'How long are you for, Emily?' screamed a red-faced woman in the crowd.
'Six weeks and labour,' replied the elder girl with a flaunting laugh;
'and that's better than the stone jug anyhow; the mill's a deal better
than the Sessions, and here's Bella a-going too for the first time. Hold
up your head, you chicken,' she continued, boisterously tearing the other
girl's handkerchief away; 'Hold up your head, and show 'em your face. I
an't jealous, but I'm blessed if I an't game!'--'That's right, old gal,'
exclaimed a man in a paper cap, who, in common with the greater part of
the crowd, had been inexpressibly delighted with this little
incident.--'Right!' replied the girl; 'ah, to be sure; what's the odds,
eh?'--'Come! In with you,'