Tradewasnotdriving，butnearoneortwoofthemdirty，ill—
usedlookingwomen，amanorso，andafewchildrenstood。Atacornerwhichledintoablackholeofacourt，acoffee—standwasstationed，inchargeofaburlyruffianincorduroys。
\"Comealong，\"saidthegirl。
\"Thereitis。Itain’tstrong，butit’s’ot。\"
Shesidleduptothestand，drawingDartwithher，asifgladofhisprotection。
\"’Ello，Barney，\"shesaid。\"’Ere’sagentwarntsamugo’yerbest。
I’ve’adabito’luck，an’Iwantsonemesself。\"
\"Garn，\"growledBarney。\"Youan’yerluck！Gentmaywantamug，buty’dshowyermoneyfust。\"
\"Strewth！I’vegotit。Y’aintgotthechingeferwotI’aveinme’and’ere。’As’e，mister？\"
\"Showit，\"tauntedtheman，andthenturningtoDart。\"Yerwantsamugo’cawfee？\"
\"Yes。\"
Thegirlheldoutherhandcautiously——thepieceofgoldlyinguponitspalm。
\"Look’ere，\"shesaid。
Thereweretwoorthreemenslouchingaboutthestand。Suddenlyahanddartedfrombetweentwoofthemwhostoodnearest，thesovereignwassnatched，ascreamedoathfromthegirlrentthethickair，andaforlornenoughscarecrowofayoungfellowsprangaway。
ThebloodleapedinAntonyDart’sveinsagainandhesprangafterhiminawhollynormalpassionofindignation。Athousandyearsago——asitseemedtohim——hehadbeenagoodrunner。Thismanwasnotone，andwantoffoodhadweakenedhim。
Dartwentafterhimwithstrideswhichastonishedhimself。Upthestreet，intoanalleyandoutofit，adozenyardsmoreandintoacourt，andthemanwheeledwithahoarse，baffledcurse。Theplacehadnooutlet。
\"Hell！\"wasallthecreaturesaid。
Darttookhimbyhisgreasycollar。
Eventhebriefrushhadlefthimfeelinglikealivingthing——whichwasanewsensation。
\"Giveitup，\"heordered。
Thethieflookedathimwithahalf—laughandobeyed，asifhefelttheuselessnessofastruggle。Hewasnotmorethantwenty—fiveyearsold，andhiseyeswerecavernouswithwant。Hehadthefaceofamanwhomighthavebelongedtoabetterclass。Whenhehadutteredtheexclamationinvokingtheinfernalregionshehadnotdroppedtheaspirate。
\"I’mashungryassheis，\"heraved。
\"Hungryenoughtorobachildbeggar？\"saidDart。
\"Hungryenoughtorobastarvingoldwoman——orababy，\"withadefiantsnort。\"Wolfhungry——
tigerhungry——hungryenoughtocutthroats。\"
Hewhirledhimselflooseandleanedhisbodyagainstthewall，turninghisfacetowardit。Suddenlyhemadeachokingsoundandbegantosob。
\"Hell！\"hechoked。\"I’llgiveitup！I’llgiveitup！\"
Whatafigure——whatafigure，asheswungagainsttheblackenedwall，hisscarecrowclotheshangingonhim，theironcedecentmaterialmakingtheirpinningtogetherofbuttonlessplaces，theirloosenessandrentsshowingdirtylinen，moreabjectthananyothersqualorcouldhavemadethem。
AntonyDart’sblood，stillrunningwarmandwell，wasdoingitsnormalworkamongthebrain—cellswhichhadstirredsoevillythroughthenight。
Whenhehadseizedthefellowbythecollar，hishandhadlefthispocket。Hethrustitintoanotherpocketanddrewoutsomesilver。
\"Goandgetyourselfsomefood，\"
hesaid。\"Asmuchasyoucaneat。
ThengoandwaitformeattheplacetheycallAppleBlossomCourt。I
don’tknowwhereitis，butIamgoingthere。Iwanttohearhowyoucametothis。Willyoucome？\"
Thethieflurchedawayfromthewallandtowardhim。Hestaredupintohiseyesthroughthefog。Thetearshadsmearedhischeekbones。
\"God！\"hesaid。\"WillIcome？
LookandseeifI’llcome。\"Dartlooked。
\"Yes，you’llcome，\"heanswered，andhegavehimthemoney。\"I’mgoingbacktothecoffee—stand。\"
Thethiefstoodstaringafterhimashewentoutofthecourt。Dartwasspeakingtohimself。
\"Idon’tknowwhyIdidit，\"hesaid。\"Butthethinghadtobedone。\"
Inthestreetheturnedintohecameupontherobbedgirl，running，panting，andcrying。Sheutteredashoutandflungherselfuponhim，clutchinghiscoat。
\"Gawd！\"shesobbedhysterically，\"IthortI’dlostyer！IthortI’dlostallofit，Idid！Strewth！I’mgladI’vefoundyer——\"andshestopped，chokingwithhersobsandsniffs，rubbingherfaceinhersack。
\"Hereisyoursovereign，\"Dartsaid，handingittoher。
Shedroppedthecornerofthesackandlookedupwithaqueerlaugh。
\"Didyerfindacopper？Didyergivehimincharge？\"
\"No，\"answeredDart。\"Hewasworseoffthanyou。Hewasstarving。
Itookthisfromhim;butIgavehimsomemoneyandtoldhimtomeetusatAppleBlossomCourt。\"
Shestoppedshortanddrewbackapacetostareupathim。
\"Well，\"shegaveforth，\"y’AREaqueerone！\"
Andyetintheamazementonherfaceheperceivedaremotedawningofanunderstandingofthemeaningofthethinghehaddone。
Hehadspokenlikeamaninadream。Hefeltlikeamaninadream，beingledinthethickmistfromplacetoplace。Hewasledbacktothecoffee—stand，wherenowBarney，theproprietor，waspouringoutcoffeeforahoarse—voicedcostergirlwithadraggledfeatherinherhat，whogreetedtheirarrivalhilariously。
\"Hello，Glad！\"shecriedout。
\"Gotyersuvrinkback？\"
Glad——itseemedtobethecreature’swildname——nodded，butheldclosetohercompanion’sside，clutchinghiscoat。
\"Let’sgointherean’changeit，\"
shesaid，noddingtowardasmallporkandhamshopnearby。\"An’thenyercantakecareofitforme。\"
\"Whatdidshecallyou？\"AntonyDartaskedherastheywent。
\"Glad。Don’tknowasIever’adanimeo’meown，butalittlecoveaswentoncetothepanterminetoldmeaboutayoungladyaswasFairyQueenan’’ernamewasGladysBeverlySt。John，soIcalledmesselfthat。
Nooneneversaiditallatonct——
theydon’tneversaynothin’butGlad。I’mgladenoughthismornin’，\"
chucklingagain，\"’avin’thelucktocomeupwithyou，mister。
Neverhadlucklikeit’afore。\"
Theywentintotheporkandhamshopandchangedthesovereign。
Therewascookedfoodinthewindows——
roastporkandboiledhamandcornedbeef。Sheboughtslicesofporkandbeef，andofsuet—puddingwithafewcurrantssprinkledthroughit。
\"Willyer’elpmetocarryit？\"
sheinquired。\"I’ll’avetogetafewpen’wortho’coalan’woodan’
ascrewo’teaan’sugar。Mywig，wotafeedmean’Polly’ll’ave！\"
Astheyreturnedtothecoffee—
standshebrokemorethanonceintoahopofglee。Barneyhadchangedhismindconcerningher。Asolidsovereignwhichmustbechangedandacompanionwhoseshabbygentilitywasabsolutegrandeurwhencomparedwithhispresentsurroundingsmadeadifference。
Shereceivedhermugofcoffeeandthicksliceofbreadanddrippingwithagrin，andswallowedthehotsweetliquiddowninecstaticgulps。
\"Ain’tIinluck？\"shesaid，handinghermugbackwhenitwasempty。
\"Gi’meanother，Barney。\"
AntonyDartdrankcoffeealsoandatebreadanddripping。Thecoffeewashotandthebreadanddripping，dashedwithsalt，quiteeatable。Hehadneededfoodandfeltthebetterforit。
\"Comeon，mister，\"saidGlad，whentheirmealwasended。\"IwanttogetbacktoPolly，an’there’scoalandbreadandthingstobuy。\"
Shehurriedhimalong，breakingherpacewithhopsatintervals。Shedartedintodirtyshopsandbroughtoutthingsscrewedupinpaper。Shewentlastintoacellarandreturnedcarryingasmallsackofcoaloverhershoulders。
\"Boughtsackan’all，\"shesaidelatedly。\"Asack’sagoodthingto’ave。\"
\"Letmecarryitforyou，\"saidAntonyDart\"Spileyercoat，\"withhersidelongupwardglance。
\"Idon’tcare，\"heanswered。\"I
don’tcareadamn。\"
Thefinalexpletivewastotallyunnecessary，butitmeantathinghedidnotsay。Whatsoeverwasthrustinghimthiswayandthat，speakingthroughhisspeech，leadinghimtodothingshehadnotdreamedofdoing，shouldhaveitswillwithhim。
Hehadbeenfastenedtotheskirtsofthisbeggarimpandhewouldgoontotheendanddowhatwastobedonethisday。Itwaspartofthedream。
ThesackofcoalwasoverhisshoulderwhentheyturnedintoAppleBlossomCourt。Itwouldhavebeenablackholeonasunnyday，andnowitwaslikeHades，litgrimlybyagas—jetortwo，smallandflickering，withtheorangehazeaboutthem。Filthy，flagging，murkydoorways，brokenstepsandbrokenwindowsstuffedwithrags，andthesmellofthesewersletloosehadAppleBlossomCourt。
Glad，withthewealthoftheporkandhamshopandotherrichesinherarms，enteredarepellentdoorwayinaspiritofgreatgoodcheerandDartfollowedher。Pastaroomwhereadrunkenwomanlaysleepingwithherheadonatable，achildpullingatherdressandcrying，upastairwaywithbrokenbalustersandbreakingsteps，throughalanding，upstairsagain，andupstillfartheruntiltheyreachedthetop。Gladstoppedbeforeadoorandshookthehandle，cryingout:
\"’Sonlyme，Polly。Youcanopenit。\"SheaddedtoDartinanundertone:\"She’astokeepitlocked。
Noknowin’who’dwanttogetin。
Polly，\"shakingthedoor—handleagain，\"Polly’sonlyme。\"
Thedooropenedslowly。Ontheothersideofitstoodagirlwithadimpledroundfacewhichwasquitepale;underoneofherchildishlyvacantblueeyeswasadiscoloration，andhercurlyfairhairwastuckeduponthetopofherheadinaknot。
AsshetookinthefactofAntonyDart’spresenceherchinbegantoquiver。
\"Iain’tfitto——toseenoone，\"
shestammeredpitifully。\"Whydidyou，Glad——whydidyou？\"
\"Ain’tno’armin’IM，\"saidGlad。
\"’E’soneo’thefriendlyones。’E
givemeasuvrink。LookwotI’vegot，\"hoppingaboutassheshowedherparcels。
\"Youneednotbeafraidofme，\"
AntonyDartsaid。Hepausedasecond，staringather，andsuddenlyadded，\"Poorlittlewretch！\"
Herlookwassoscaredanduncertainathingthathewalkedawayfromherandthrewthesackofcoalonthehearth。Asmallgratewithbrokenbarshunglooselyinthefireplace，abatteredtinkettletilteddrunkenlynearit。Amattress，fromtheholesinwhosetickingstrawbulged，layonthefloorinacorner，withsomeoldsacksthrownoverit。
Gladhad，withoutdoubt，borrowedhershouldercoveringfromthecollection。Thegarretwasascoldasthegrave，andalmostasdark;thefoghunginitthickly。Therewerecrevicesenoughthroughwhichitcouldpenetrate。
AntonyDartkneltdownonthehearthanddrewmatchesfromhispocket。
\"Weoughttohavebroughtsomepaper，\"hesaid。
Gladranforward。
\"Wotagentyeare！\"shecried。
\"Y’ain’tnevergoin’tolightit？\"
\"Yes。\"
Sheranbacktothericketytableandcollectedthescrapsofpaperwhichhadheldherpurchases。
Theyweresmall，butuseful。
\"Thatwotwasroundthesausagean’thepuddin’sgreasy，\"sheexulted。
Pollyhungoverthetableandtrembledatthesightofmeatandbread。Plainly，shedidnotunderstandwhatwashappening。Thegreasedpapersetlighttothewood，andthewoodtothecoal。Allthreeflaredandblazedwithasoundofcheerfulcrackling。Theblazethrewoutitsglowasfinelyasifithadbeensetalighttowarmabetterplace。
Thewonderofafireislikethewonderofasoul。Thisonechangedthemurkandgloomtobrightness，andthedeadlydampandcoldtowarmth。ItdrewthegirlPollyfromthetabledespiteherfears。
Sheturnedinvoluntarily，madetwostepstowardit，andstoodgazingwhileitslightplayedonherface。
Gladwhirledandrantothehearth。
\"Ye’veputonalot，\"shecried;
\"but，oh，myGawd，don’titwarmyer！Comeon，Polly——comeon。\"
Shedraggedoutawoodenstool，anemptysoap—box，andbundledthesacksintoaheaptobesatupon。Shesweptthethingsfromthetableandsetthemintheirpaperwrappingsonthefloor。
\"Let’sallsitdownclosetoit——
close，\"shesaid，\"an’getwarman’
eat，an’eat。\"
Shewastheleavenwhichleavenedthelumpoftheirhumanity。Whatthisleavenis——whohasfoundout？
Butshe——littleratofthegutter——
wasformedofit，andhermerepureanimaljoyinthetemporaryanimalcomfortofthemomentstirredandupliftedthemfromtheirdepths。
III
Theydrewnearandsatuponthesubstitutesforseatsinacircle——andthefirethrewupflameandmadeaglowinthefoghangingintheblackholeofaroom。
ItwasGladwhosetthebatteredkettleonandwhenitboiledmadetea。Theothertwowatchedher，beingunderherspell。Shehandedoutslicesofbreadandsausageandpuddingonbitsofpaper。Pollyfedwithtremuloushaste;Gladherselfwithrejoicingandexultinginflavors。
AntonyDartatebreadandmeatashehadeatenthebreadanddrippingatthestall——acceptinghisnormalhungeraspartofthedream。
SuddenlyGladpausedinthemidstofahugebite。
\"Mister，\"shesaid，\"p’rapsthatcove’swaitin’feryer。Let’s’ave’imin。I’llgoandfetch’im。\"
Shewasgettingup，butDartwasonhisfeetfirst。
\"Imustgo，\"hesaid。\"Heisexpectingmeand——\"
\"Aw，\"saidGlad，\"lemmegoalongo’yer，mister——jesttoshowthere’snoillfeelin’。\"
\"Verywell，\"heanswered。
Itwasshewholed，andhewhofollowed。Atthedoorshestoppedandlookedroundwithagrin。
\"Keepupthefire，Polly，\"shethrewback。\"Ain’titwarmandcheerful？It’lldothecovegoodtoseeit。\"
Sheledthewaydowntheblack，unsafestairway。Shealwaysled。
Outsidethefoghadthickenedagain，butshewentthroughitasifshecouldseeherway。
Attheentrancetothecourtthethiefwasstanding，leaningagainstthewallwithfevered，unhopefulwaitinginhiseyes。Hemovedmiserablywhenhesawthegirl，andshecalledouttoreassurehim。
\"Iain’tuptono’arm，\"shesaid;\"Ion’ycomewiththegent。\"
AntonyDartspoketohim。
\"Didyougetfood？\"
Themanshookhishead。
\"Iturnedfaintafteryouleftme，andwhenIcametoIwasafraidI
mightmissyou，\"heanswered。\"I
daren’tlosemychance。Iboughtsomebreadandstuffeditinmypocket。I’vebeeneatingitwhileI’vestoodhere。\"
\"Comebackwithus，\"saidDart。
\"Weareinaplacewherewehavesomefood。\"
Hespokemechanically，andwasawarethathedidso。Hewasapawnpushedaboutupontheboardofthisday’slife。
\"Comeon，\"saidthegirl。\"Yercangetenoughtolastferthreedays。\"
Sheguidedthembackthroughthefoguntiltheyenteredthemurkydoorwayagain。Thenshealmostranupthestaircasetotheroomtheyhadleft。
Whenthedooropenedthethieffellbackapaceasbeforeanunex—
pectedthing。Itwastheflareoffirelightwhichstruckuponhiseyes。
Hepassedhishandoverthem。
\"Afire！\"hesaid。\"Ihaven’tseenoneforaweek。Comingoutoftheblacknessitgivesamanastart。\"
ImprovidentjoygleamedinGlad’seyes。
\"We’llbewarmonct，\"shechuckled，\"ifweain’tneverwarmagaen。\"
Shedrewhercircleaboutthehearthagain。Thethieftooktheplacenexttoherandshehandedoutfoodtohim——abigsliceofmeat，bread，athicksliceofpudding。
\"Fillyerselfup，\"shesaid。\"Thenye’llfeellikeyercantalk。\"
Themantriedtoeathisfoodwithdecorum，somerecollectionofthehabitsofbetterdaysrestraininghim，butstarvednaturewastoomuchforhim。Hishandsshook，hiseyesfilled，histeethtore。Therestofthecircletriednottolookathim。