Insidetheshopmoredanglingspectreshungandtheplacewasalmostdark。Itwasashabbypawnshop，andthemanloungingbehindthecounterwasashabbymanwithanunshaven，unamiableface。
　　"Iwanttolookatthatpistolintheright—handcornerofyourwindow，"
　　AntonyDartsaid。
　　Thepawnbrokerutteredasoundsomethingbetweenahalf—laughandagrunt。Hetooktheweaponfromthewindow。
　　AntonyDartexamineditcritically。
　　Hemustmakequitesureofit。Hemadenofurtherremark。
　　Hefelthehaddonewithspeech。
　　Beingtoldthepriceaskedforthepurchase，hedrewouthispurseandtookthemoneyfromit。Aftermakingthepaymenthenotedthathestillpossessedafive—poundnoteandsomesovereigns。Therepassedthroughhismindawonderastowhowouldspendit。Themostdecentthing，perhaps，wouldbetogiveitaway。Ifitwasinhisroom——to—morrow——theparishwouldnotburyhim，anditwouldbesaferthattheparishshould。
　　Hewasthinkingofthisashelefttheshopandbegantocrossthestreet。Becausehismindwaswanderinghewaslesswatchful。Suddenlyarubber—tiredhansom，movingwithoutsound，appearedimmediatelyinhispath——thehorse’sheadloomedupabovehisown。Hemadetheinevitableinvoluntarywhirlasidetomoveoutoftheway，thehansompassed，andturningagain，hewenton。Hismovementhadbeentooswifttoallowofhisrealizingthedirectioninwhichhisturnhadbeenmade。Hewaswhollyunawarethatwhenhecrossedthestreethecrossedbackwardinsteadofforward。Heturnedacornerliterallyfeelinghisway，wenton，turnedanother，andafterwalkingthelengthofthestreet，suddenlyunderstoodthathewasinastrangeplaceandhadlosthisbearings。
　　Thiswasexactlywhathadhappenedtopeopleonthedayofthememorablefogofthreeyearsbefore。
　　Hehadheardthemtalkingofsuchexperiences，andofthecuriousandbafflingsensationstheygaverisetointhebrain。Nowheunderstoodthem。Hecouldnotbefarfromhislodgings，buthefeltlikeamanwhowasblind，andwhohadbeenturnedoutofthepathheknew。
　　Hehadnottheresourceofthepeoplewhosestorieshehadheard。Hewouldnotstopandaddressanyone。
　　Therecouldbenocertaintyastowhomhemightfindhimselfspeakingto。Hewouldspeaktonoone。
　　Hewouldwanderaboutuntilhecameuponsomeclew。Evenifhecameuponnone，thefogwouldsurelyliftalittleandbecomeatriflelessdenseincourseoftime。Hedrewupthecollarofhisovercoat，pulledhishatdownoverhiseyesandwenton——hishandonthethinghehadthrustintoapocket。
　　Hedidnotfindhisclewashehadhoped，andinsteadofliftingthefoggrewheavier。Hefoundhimselfatlastnolongerstrivingforanyend，butramblingalongmechanically，feelinglikeamaninadream——anightmare。Onceherecognizedaweirdsuggestioninthemysteryabouthim。To—morrowmightonebewanderingaboutaimlesslyinsomesuchhaze。Hehopednot。
　　HislodgingswerenotfarfromtheEmbankment，andheknewatlastthathewaswanderingalongit，andhadreachedoneofthebridges。
　　Hismoodledhimtoturninuponit，andwhenhereachedanembrasuretostopnearitandleanupontheparapetlookingdown。Hecouldnotseethewater，thefogwastoodense，buthecouldhearsomefaintsplashingagainststones。Hehadtakennofoodandwasratherfaint。
　　Whatastrangethingitwastofeelfaintforwantoffood——tostandalone，cutofffromeveryotherhumanbeing——everythingdonefor。
　　Nowonderthatsometimes，particularlyonsuchdaysasthese，therewereplungesmadefromtheparapet——nowonder。Heleanedfartheroverandstrainedhiseyestoseesomegleamofwaterthroughtheyellowness。Butitwasnottobedone。Hewasthinkingtheinevitablething，ofcourse;butsuchaplungewouldnotdoforhim。Theotherthingwoulddestroyalltraces。
　　Ashedrewbackheheardsomethingfallwiththesolidtinklingsoundofcoinontheflagpavement。
　　Whenhehadbeeninthepawnbroker’sshophehadtakenthegoldfromhispurseandthrustitcarelesslyintohiswaistcoatpocket，thinkingthatitwouldbeeasytoreachwhenhechosetogiveittoonebeggaroranother，ifheshouldseesomewretchwhowouldbethebetterforit。Somemovementhehadmadeinbendinghadcausedasovereigntoslipoutandithadfallenuponthestones。
　　Hedidnotintendtopickitup，butinthemomentinwhichhestoodlookingdownatitheheardclosetohimashufflingmovement。
　　Whathehadthoughtabundleofragsorrubbishcoveredwithsacking——sometramp’sdesertedorforgottenbelongings——wasstirring。Itwasalive，andashebenttolookatitthesackingdivideditself，andasmallhead，coveredwithashockofbrilliantredhair，thrustitselfout，ashrewd，smallfaceturningtolookupathimslylywithdeep—setblackeyes。
　　Itwasahumangirlcreatureabouttwelveyearsold。
　　"Areyergoin’todoit？"shesaidinahoarse，street—strainedvoice。
　　"Yerwouldbeafoolifyerdid——
　　withasmuchasthatonyer。"
　　Shepointedwithareddened，chapped，anddirtyhandatthesovereign。
　　"Pickitup，"hesaid。"Youmayhaveit。"
　　Herwildshuffleforwardwasanactualleap。Thehandmadeasnatchingclutchatthecoin。Shewasevidentlyafraidthathewaseithernotinearnestorwouldrepent。Thenextsecondshewasonherfeetandreadyforflight。
　　"Stop，"hesaid;"I’vegotmoretogiveaway。"
　　Shehesitated——notbelievinghim，yetfeelingitmadnesstoloseachance。
　　"MORE！"shegasped。Thenshedrewnearertohim，andasingularchangecameuponherface。Itwasachangewhichmadeherlookoddlyhuman。
　　"Gawd，mister！"shesaid。"Yercangiveawayaquidlikeitwasnothin’——an’yer’vegotmore——an’
　　yergoin’todoTHAT——jescosyer’adabittoomuchlarsnightan’there’safogthismornin’！Youtakeitstraightfromme——don’tyerdoit。
　　Igiveyerthattipforthesuvrink。"
　　Shewas，forheryears，souglyandsoancient，andhardenedinvoiceandskinandmannerthatshefascinatedhim。NotthatamanwhohasnoTo—morrowinviewislikelytobeparticularlyconsciousofmentalprocesses。Hewasdonefor，buthestoodandstaredather。WhatpartofthePowermovingtheschemeoftheuniversestoodnearandthrusthimoninthepathdesignedhedidnotknowthen——perhapsneverdid。Hewasstillholdingontothethinginhispocket，buthespoketoheragain。
　　"Whatdoyoumean？"heaskedglumly。
　　Shesidlednearer，hersharpeyesonhisface。
　　"Ibinwatchin’yer，"shesaid。
　　"Isatdownandpulledthesackoverme’eadtobreatheinsideitan’
　　getabitwarm。An’Iseeyercome。
　　Iknowedwotyerwasafter，Idid。
　　Iwatchedyerthrougha’oleinmesack。Iwasn’tgoin’tocallacopper。
　　Ishouldn’twantterbestoppedmeselfifImadeupmemind。I
　　seedagaldraggedoutlas’weekan’
　　it’dabrokeyer’arttosee’ertear’erclothesan’scream。Wotbusiness’adtheypreventin’’ergoin’offquiet？Iwouldn’t’a’stoppedyer——butw’enthequidfell，thatmadeitdifferent。"
　　"I——"hesaid，feelingthefoolishnessofthestatement，butmakingit，nevertheless，"Iamill。"
　　"Courseyerill。It’syer’ead。
　　Comealongermean’getacupercawfeeatastand，an’buckup。Ifyer’vegivemethatquidstraight——
　　wish—yer—may—die——I’llgowithyeran’getacupmyself。Iain’t’adabitesinceyesterday——an’’twa’n’tnothin’
　　butasliceo’polonysossidgeIfoundonadust—’eap。Comeon，mister。"
　　Shepulledhiscoatwithhercrackedhand。Heglanceddownatitmechanically，andsawthatsomeofthefissureshadbledandtheroughenedsurfacewassmearedwiththeblood。Theystoodtogetherinthesmallspaceinwhichthefogenclosedthem——heandshe——themanwithnoTo—morrowandthegirlthingwhoseemedasoldashimself，withhersharp，smallnoseandchin，hersharpeyesandvoice——andyet——perhapsthefogsenclosingdidit——somethingdrewthemtogetherinanuncannyway。
　　Somethingmadehimforgetthelostclewtothelodging—house——
　　somethingmadehimturnandgowithher——athingledinthedark。
　　"Howcanyoufindyourway？"
　　hesaid。"Ilostmine。"
　　"Thereain’tnofogcanloseme，"
　　sheanswered，shufflingalongbyhisside;"’sides，it’sgoin’tolift。
　　Lookatthatmancomin’to’ardsus。"
　　Itwastruethattheycouldseethroughtheorange—coloredmisttheapproachingfigureofamanwhowasatayard’sdistancefromthem。
　　Yes，itwasliftingslightly——atleastenoughtoallowofone’smakingaguessatthedirectioninwhichonemoved。
　　"Whereareyougoing？"heasked。
　　"AppleBlossomCourt，"sheanswered。"Thecawfee—stand’sinastreetnearit——andthere’sashopwhereIcanbuythings。"
　　"AppleBlossomCourt！"heejaculated。"Whataname！"
　　"Thereain’tnoapple—blossomsthere，"chuckling;"nornosmellof’em。’Tain’tasniceasitsnimeis——AppleBlossomCourtain’t。"
　　"Whatdoyouwanttobuy？A
　　pairofshoes？"Theshoeshernakedfeetwerethrustintowereleprous—lookingthingsthroughwhichnearlyallhertoesprotruded。Butshechuckledwhenhespoke。
　　"No，I’mgoin’tobuyadi’mondtirarertogototheoperyin，"shesaid，draggingheroldsackcloserroundherneck。"Iain’tadanoounsinceIwenttothelastDrorin’—
　　room。"
　　Itwasimpudentstreetchaff，buttherewascheerfulspiritinit，andcheerfulspirithassomeocculteffectuponmorbidity。AntonyDartdidnotsmile，buthefeltafaintstirringofcuriosity，whichwas，afterall，notabadthingforamanwhohadnotfeltaninterestforayear。
　　"Whatisityouaregoingtobuy？"
　　"I’mgoin’tofillmestummickfust，"withagrinofelation。"Threethicksliceso’breadan’drippin’an’
　　amugo’cawfee。An’thenI’mgoin’togetsumethin’’eartytocarrytoPolly。Sheain’tnogood，porething！"
　　"Whoisshe？"
　　Stoppingamomenttodraguptheheelofherdreadfulshoe，sheansweredhimwithanunprejudiceddirectnesswhichmighthavebeenappallingifhehadbeeninthemoodtobeappalled。
　　"Ain’teighteen，an’tryin’toearn’erlivin’onthestreet。Sheain’tmadeforit。Littlecountrything，allusfrightenedtodeathan’readytobustoutcryin’。Gentsain’tgoin’
　　tostandthat。Alotof’emwantscheerin’upasmuchasshedoes。
　　Gentaswasinliquorlastnightknocked’erdownan’give’erablackeye。’Twan’tillfeelin’，buthelosthistemper，an’give’eraknockcasual。Shecan’tgooutto—night，an’she’sbeen’uddledupalldaycryin’for’ermother。"
　　"Whereishermother？"
　　"Inthecountry——onafarm。
　　Pollytookaplaceinalodgin’—’ousean’gotintrouble。Thebibywasdead，an’whenshecomeouto’
　　QueenCharlotte’sshewastookinbyawomanan’kep’。Shekicked’eroutinaweek’cosofhercryin’。
　　Thelifedidn’tsuit’er。Ifound’ercryin’fittosplit’erchistonenight——cornero’AppleBlossomCourt——
　　an’Itookcareof’er。"
　　"Where？"
　　"Mechambers，"grinning;"toploftofa’ouseinthecourt。Ifanyoneelse’d’aveitIshouldbeturnedout。It’san’ole，Icantellyer——
　　butit’sbetterthansleepin’underthebridges。"
　　"Takemetoseeit，"saidAntonyDart。"Iwanttoseethegirl。"
　　Thewordsspokethemselves。Whyshouldhecaretoseeeithercockloftorgirl？Hedidnot。Hewantedtogobacktohislodgingswiththatwhichhehadcomeouttobuy。
　　Yethesaidthisthing。Hiscompanionlookedupathimwithanexpressionactuallyrelieved。
　　"Wouldyertikeupwith’er？"
　　witheagersharpness，asifconfrontingasimplebusinessproposition。
　　"She’sprettyan’clean，an’shewon’tdrinkadropo’nothin’。Ifshewastreatedkindshe’dbecheerfler。She’sgotaroundficean’
　　light’airan’eyes。’Er’air’scurly。
　　P’rapsyer’dlike’er。"
　　"Takemetoseeher。"
　　"She’dlookbetterto—morrow，"
　　cautiously，"whentheswellin’sgonedownround’ereye。"
　　Dartstarted——anditwasbecausehehadforthelastfiveminutesforgottensomething。
　　"Ishallnotbehereto—morrow，"
　　hesaid。Hisgraspuponthethinginhispockethadloosened，andhetightenedit。
　　"Ihavesomemoremoneyinmypurse，"hesaiddeliberately。"I
　　meanttogiveitawaybeforegoing。
　　Iwanttogiveittopeoplewhoneeditverymuch。"
　　Shegavehimoneofthesly，squintingglances。
　　"Deservin’cases？"Sheputittohiminbrazenmockery。
　　"Idon’tcare，"heansweredslowlyandheavily。"Idon’tcareadamn。"
　　Herfacechangedexactlyashehadseenitchangeonthebridgewhenshehaddrawnnearertohim。
　　Itsuglyhardnesssuddenlylookedhuman。Andthatshecouldlookhumanwasfantastic。
　　"’Owmuch’aveyer？"sheasked。
　　"’Owmuchisit？"
　　"Abouttenpounds。"
　　Shestoppedandstaredathimwithopenmouth。
　　"Gawd！"shebrokeout;"tenpounds’dsendAppleBlossomCourtto’eving。Leastways，it’dtakesomeofitouto’’ell。"
　　"Takemetoit，"hesaidroughly。
　　"Takeme。"
　　Shebegantowalkquickly，breathingfast。Thefogwaslighter，anditwasnolongerablindingthing。
　　AquestionoccurredtoDart。
　　"Whydon’tyouaskmetogivethemoneytoyou？"hesaidbluntly。
　　"Dunno，"sheansweredasbluntly。
　　Butaftertakingafewstepsfarthershespokeagain。
　　"I’mcheerflerthanmostof’em，"
　　sheelaborated。"Ifyerborncheerfleyercanstandthings。WhenI
　　getsajobnussin’women’sbibiestheydon’tcrywhenI’andles’em。
　　Igetsmanyabitean’acopper’coso’that。Folkslikesyer。IshallgetonbetterthanPollywhenI’moldenoughtogoonthestreet。"
　　Theorganofwhoselagging，sickpumpingsAntonyDarthadscarcelybeenawareformonthsgaveasuddenleapinhisbreast。Hisbloodactuallyhasteneditspace，andranthroughhisveinsinsteadofcrawling——adistinctphysicaleffectofanactualmentalcondition。Itwasproduceduponhimbythemerematter—of—factordinarinessofhertone。Hehadneverbeenasenti—
　　mentalman，andhadlongceasedtobeafeelingone，butatthatmomentsomethingemotionalandnormalhappenedtohim。
　　"Youexpecttoliveinthatway？"
　　hesaid。
　　"Ain’tnothin’elsefermetodo。
　　WishtIwasbetterlookin’。ButI’vegotalotof’air，"clawinghermop，"an’it’sred。Oneday，"
　　chuckling，"agentsestome——heses:`Oh！yer’lldo。Yeranuglylittledevil——butyeAREadevil。’"
　　Shewasleadinghimthroughanarrow，filthybackstreet，andshestopped，grinningupinhisface。
　　"Isay，mister，"shewheedled，"let’sstopatthecawfee—stand。
　　It’supthisway。"
　　Whenheaccededandfollowedher，shequicklyturnedacorner。
　　Theywereinanotherlanethickwithfog，whichflaredwiththeflameoftorchesstuckincosters’
　　barrowswhichstoodhereandthere。
　　barrowswithfriedfishuponthem，barrowswithsecond—hand—lookingvegetablesandotherspiledwithmorethansecond—hand—lookinggarments。