DIAMOND JUBILEE JONES 61

The ragged little urchin began to howl. If he
had really been much afraid he would probably
have run away, but this did not strike Emmeline,
and her heart softened towards him, especially

when he sobbed : ‘ I ain't had nothing to eat since

yesterday morning.’

Kitty, who was looking on with wide-open
pitying eyes, gave Emmeline’s hand a sudden
squeeze.

‘ May I give him the money I've got left?’ she
whispered.

‘Not till we know more about him,’ said Em-
meline. ‘ Is your father out of work P’ she added
to the boy, with some vague idea that it was the
correct thing to ask questions of that kind before
giving alms.

‘l ain't got no father nor mother neither,’ he
replied, still in his professional whine.

‘Who looks after you, then ?' asked Emmeline,
more gently.

‘Old Sally Grimes,’ was the answer, ‘but she
ain't give me nothing to eat since yesterday
morning, and she beat me something awful!’

‘ Come along with me,’ said Emmeline. A
sudden idea had taken possession of her.

‘What for P’ asked the boy half suspiciously.

‘ I’m going to give you something to eat,’ said
Emmeline.

The boy's eyes glistened. It bad been a