olour of youth; and her finely
modelled chin was disfigured by a piece of plaster covering some injury.
She was little and thin; her worn and scanty clothing showed her frail
youthful figure still waiting for its perfection of growth. Her pretty
little bare hands were reddened by the raw night air. She trembled as
Amelius looked at her in silence, with compassionate wonder. But for the
words in which she had accosted him, it would have been impossible to
associate her with the lamentable life that she led. The appearance of
the girl was artlessly virginal and innocent; she looked as if she had
passed through the contamination of the streets without being touched
by it, without fearing it, or feeling it, or understanding it. Robed in
pure white, with her gentle blue eyes raised to heaven, a painter might
have shown her on his canvas as a saint or an angel; and the critical
world would have said, Here is the true ideal--Raphael himself might
have painted this!

"You look very pale," said Amelius. "Are you ill?"

"No, sir--only hungry."

Her eyes half closed; she reeled from sheer weakness as she said the
words. Amelius held her up, and looked round him. They were close to
a stall at which coffee and slices of bread-and-butter were sold. He
ordered some coffee to be poured out, and offered her the food. She
thanked him and tried to eat. "I can't help it, sir," she said faintly.
The bread dropped from her hand; her weary head sank on his shoulder.

Two young women--older members of the sad sisterhood--were passing at
the moment. "She's too far gone, sir, to eat," said one of them. "I know
what would do her good, if you don't mind going into a public-house."

"Where is it?" said Amelius. "Be quick!"

One of the women led the way. The other helped Amelius to support the
girl. They entered the crowded public-house. In less than a minute, the
first woman had forced her way through the drunken customers at the bar,
and had returned with a glass of port-wine and cloves. The girl revived
as the stimulant passed her lips. She opened her innocent blue eyes
again, in vague surprise. "I shan't die this time," she said quietly.

A corner of the place was not occupied; a small empty cask stood there.
Amelius made the poor creature sit down and rest a little. He had only
gold in his purse; and, when the woman had paid for the wine, he offered
her some of the change. She declined to take it. "I've got a shilling or
two, sir," she s