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。