oduced her big purse and handed the boy one
shilling. He stuck his hands in his pockets and grinned at her.

'I ain't goin' to take a bob for that!' he said.

Margot put back her shilling, the policeman moved away.

'Come along, Master Bobby, we had best go home; if that boy likes to
follow us he can, and I'll give him an old pair of trousers that your
father gave me to give away. If he's too high and mighty to take them
he can go his own way. Many of these London boys dress themselves in
rags on purpose to excite pity.'

'Do come home with us,' said Bobby, turning to Curly appealingly.

He grinned, made a dart in the opposite direction, and was soon lost to
view. The children walked home soberly, but their astonishment was
great when they were going up the flight of steps that led indoors to
turn and find Curly standing behind them.

'You are a funny boy,' said Bobby; 'I finked you had gone home.'

'I wish he had,' muttered Margot; 'there's no trusting these sort.'

But she told him he might come in and sit in the hall, and told the
children to stay with him while she went to get what she had promised
him. True made her way to the landlady to get a piece of cake for him.
Bobby stayed by his side and talked, as only Bobby could talk.

'Tell me where you reely lives. I am so very glad you saved Nobbles'
life; he's my dearest, bestest friend in the world!'

'He's a rum 'un!' said Curly, regarding Nobbles' little head with some
interest. 'Well, when I lives at 'ome it's 7 Surrey Court. Now you
ain't no wiser, I bet!'

'I could find it if I wanted to. I'd ask a policeman to take me,' said
Bobby confidently. 'Do you go to school, or are you too grown-up?'

'Much too grown-up by long shakes!' said Curly with his broad grin; 'no
school for me if I know it.'

'And what do you do all day long?'

Curly winked his eye at him, then said grandly: 'My occypations are
warious. Tomorrer I sweeps my crossin' in the High Street.'

'High Street Kensington?' questioned Bobby. 'Oh, I'll come and see
you, and walk across your crossing.'

'The day hafter,' went on Curly, 'if it be fine I may be a hawkin'
horinges. I likes a change o' work, and another pal takes my crossin'
when I'm elsewhere. Day follerin' I may be out o' town.'

'In the country? I wish you'd take me. How do you go?'

'I rides mostly,' said the boy, with another wink. 'I ain't perticlar
as to my wehicle!'

'And when you get into the coun