“We’ve bought a geat big boom, gan-pa,” shouted Dolly, as she came through the shop, and before she perceived the presence of a stranger; “and Tony and Dolly made a great big crossing, and dot ever so much money—­”

She was suddenly silent as soon as her eye fell upon the stranger; but Aunt Charlotte had heard enough.  She rose with great dignity from her chair, and was about to address herself vehemently to Tony, when old Oliver interrupted her.

“Charlotte,” he said, “the boy’s a good boy, and he’s a help to me.  I couldn’t send him away.  He’s one of the Lord’s poor little ones as are scattered up and down in this great city, without father or mother, and I must do all I can for him.  It isn’t much; it’s only a bed under the counter, and a crust now and then, and he more than pays for it.  You musn’t come betwixt me and Tony.”

Old Oliver spoke so emphatically, that his sister was impressed and silenced for a minute.  She took the little girl away from Tony, and glared at him with a sternness which made him feel very uncomfortable; but her eye softened a little, and her face grew less harsh.

“You can’t read or write?” she said, in a sharp voice.

“No,” he answered.

“And you’ve not got any manners, or boots, or a cap on your head.  You are ragged and ignorant, and not fit to live with this little girl,” she continued, with energy.  “If this little girl’s mother saw her going about with a boy in bare feet and a bare head, it ’ud break her heart I know.  So if you wish to stay here with my brother, Mr. Oliver, and this little girl, Miss Dorothy Raleigh, as I suppose her name is, you must get all these things.  You must begin to learn to read and write, and talk properly.  I shall come here again in a month’s time—­I shall come every month now—­and if you haven’t got some shoes for your feet, and a cap for your head, before I see you again, I shall just take the little girl away down into the country, where I live, and you’ll never see her again.  Do you understand?”

“Yes,” answered Tony, nodding his head.

“Then you may take yourself away now,” said the sharp old woman, “I don’t want to be too hard upon you; but I’ve got this little girl to look after for her mother, and you must do as I say, or I shall carry her right off to be out of your way.  Take your broom and go; and never you think of such a thing as taking this little girl to sweep a crossing again.  I never heard of such a thing.  There, go!”

Tony slunk away sadly, with a sudden down-heartedness.  He returned so joyous and triumphant, in spite of his weariness, that this unexpected and unpleasant greeting had been a very severe shock to him.  With his broom over his shoulder, and with his listless, slouching steps, he sauntered slowly back to his crossing; but he had no heart for it now.

CHAPTER XI.

Among thieves.