ance, and when I left the
eating-house I had made up my mind to walk straight there. I started
from Hoxton, and went on and on, till I had left the big streets
behind. I kept asking my way, but often went long distances in the
wrong direction. I knew that Tottenham was quite in the country, and my
idea was to find a sleeping-place in some field, then to begin my
search on the next day. It was summer, but still I began to feel cold,
and this drew me away out of my straight road to a fire which I saw
burning a little way off. I thought it would be nice to sit down by it
and rest. I found that the road was being mended, and by the fire lay a
watchman in a big tub. Just as I came up he was eating his supper. He
was a great, rough man, but I looked in his face and thought it seemed
good, so I asked him if he'd let me rest a little. Of course he was
surprised at seeing me there, for it must have been midnight, and when
he asked me about myself I told him the truth, because he spoke in a
kind way. Then he stopped eating and gave me what was left; it was a
bit of fat bacon and some cold potatoes; but how good it was, and how
good _he_ was! To this moment I can see that man's face. He got out of
his tub and made me take his place, and he wrapped me up in something
he had there. Then he sat by the fire, and kept looking at me, I
thought, in a sad sort of way; and he said, over and over again, 'Ay,
it's bad to be born a little girl; it's bad to be born a little girl;
pity you wasn't a boy.' Oh, how well I can hear his voice this moment!
And as he kept saying this, I went off to sleep."

She stopped, and played with the pebbles.

"And in the morning?" asked Waymark.

"Well, when I woke up, it was light, and there were a lot of other men
about, beginning their work on the road. I crept out of the tub, and
when they saw me, they laughed in a kind sort of way, and gave me some
breakfast. I suppose I thanked them, I hope I did; the watchman was
gone, but no doubt he had told the others my story, for they showed me
the way to Tottenham, and wished me luck."

"And you found your friend Jane!"

"No, no; how was it likely I should? I wandered about till I could
stand no longer, and then I went up to the door of a house which stood
in a garden, and begged for something to eat. The servant who opened
was sending me away, when her mistress heard, and came to the door. She
stood looking at me for some time, and then told me to come in. I