"
"And may we come back again here to-night, ma'am?" asked Cecile
eagerly.
But here a disappointment awaited them. Mrs. Hodge, against her
will, was obliged to shake her head. Her house was a popular one.
The little room the children had occupied was engaged for a month from
to-night. No--she was sorry--but she had not a corner of her house to
put them in. It was the merest chance her being able to take them in
for that one night.
"It is a pity you can't have us, for I don't think you're a wicked
woman," said Maurice, raising his brown eyes to scan her face solemnly.
Mrs. Hodge laughed.
"Oh! what a queer, queer little baby boy!" she said, stooping down
to kiss him. "No, my pet; it 'ud be a hard heart as 'ud be wicked to
you."
But though Mrs. Hodge was sorry, she could not help the children,
and soon after ten o'clock they once more stepped out into the
streets. The sun was shining, and Maurice's spirits were high. But
Cecile, who had the responsibility, felt sad and anxious. She was
footsore and very tired, and she knew no more than yesterday where or
how to get a night's lodging. She saw plainly that it would not do,
with all that money about her, to venture into a penny lodging; and
she feared that, even careful as they were, the ten shillings would
soon be spent; and as to her other gold, she assured herself that she
would rather starve than touch it until they got to France. The aim
and object then of her present quest must be to get to France.
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