ie's hand,
they turned off into the park. Bob brought some bread-and-cheese from his
pocket, and with a drink of water from the fountain, they made their
evening meal.

"I wonder if father'll try to find us," said Willie. "You won't ever let
me go back, will yer, Bob?"

"Not if I knows it," said Bob. "Yer'll 'ave to be my kid now, Willie; some
day yer shall 'ave a broom o' yer own. I'll 'ave to teach yer the
bizness."

Willie clapped his hands delightedly.

"That'll be jolly! Then I shall be able to earn some money."

That night, and many succeeding ones, were spent by the children in the
open air. Sometimes under archways or on doorsteps, and sometimes in the
friendly shelter of the old barrels. While the summer lasted, and the
nights were dry and warm, Bob did not mind, he thought it would not hurt
Willie, but when the cold weather began it made him very anxious.

"Why don't yer try my place where I sleep?" said another crossing-sweeper
to him one day, when he told him his trouble. "The little 'un 'ud keep
warm there." And he painted in glowing colours the glories of the cheap
lodging-house where he had slept the night before.

"'Ow much?" asked Bob.

"Tuppence a 'ead," was the reply.

So Bob determined if he could possibly earn money that Willie should have a
roof over his head that night. By the time the day's work was ended he
found he had just sixpence in his pocket. He thought he would spend two of
the pennies for their supper and send Willie into the lodging-house alone.
Then he would have two pennies left for their breakfast.

But little Willie would not hear of any such arrangement. "No, Bob,"
he said piteously, "don't make me go away from yer. Let me stay with yer
to-night; I don't mind bein' cold."

But to this Bob would not consent. If Willie would not go in alone, why,
he must go with him. Perhaps he would get a job early to-morrow, and that
would pay for their breakfast. But it was a wretched night the children
spent; the place was with men, some of whom crowding round the fire were
trying to cook their suppers, while others were quarrelling in different
parts of the room. The children lay locked in each other's arms too
frightened to move, as the loud, angry voices fell upon their ears, and it
was late at night before the noise ceased and they were able to sleep.

They were wakened early in the morning, for some of the men were up and off
almost before daybreak; and Bob tho