Meade L. T. - A London Baby: The Story of King Roy стр 12.

Hannah resolved to seek for coarse needlework, which she could do at home, but to obtain such she must be absent several hours, and during those hours was the time of danger.

On the evening of the second day, after putting her baby boy to bed, she went out, locking the door carefully behind her. She meant to visit a neighbour who lived in the opposite side of the court. This woman too occupied a cellar, but it was a far worse one than Hannahs, smaller, dirtier, and crowded with children, from ten years of age to a baby of six months. This baby now lay in profound sleep on the bed. Hannah went over to look at the little colourless, waxen face.

How sound she ha gone off, Jane Martin! she exclaimed. My Davie now ud never lie as still as that, and wid hall them others makin sech a din, too.

Tis hall along o them blessed

drops, replied Mrs Martin. Afore I knew of them there wornt a more worriting baby in the world.

What drops? asked Hannah.

Some as a neighbour give me, I dunno the name. She give me a big bottle full, and I drops three or four into her milk, and shell never wake now till mornin, and then shell be drowsy like and I can hush her off any minute.

They must be a real comfort, answered Hannah, and it darted into her head that it would be very nice to put Roy to sleep in the same way.

Theyre a blessing to over-worked mothers, and that I will say, replied Mrs Martin. Heres the stuff, it looks innercent, dont it? like a drop o water; but fur all that, its wonderful how it soothes off a fretful baby.

Hannah took the bottle in her hand and looked at its contents with greedy eyes.

I know a oman, she said presently, as have a baby, a baby a deal and a sight bigger nor yourn. It must be two year old. But shes wore to a shadow wid him, he wont sleep not fur nobody. The poor thing is like to drop, but he hardly hever will close his eyes, the monkey.

Them drops ud settle him fast enough, replied Mrs Martin.

But how much ought she to give to a lad as big as that?

Well, let me see. I gives baby sometimes three drops, or four, ef I wants to keep her extra quiet; I should say fur a wakeful lad o two years as ten drops ud do the business.

Thank yer, neighbour, replied Hannah, and now ef yerll be so good-natured as to give me the name o the bottle, why Ill run to the chemists and get a little and run wid it to the poor worn-out critter this werry night.

Ah! but you cant get it at no chemists, answered Mrs Martin with a laugh; the woman wot give it to me makes it her own self, she had the receipt from her mother afore her. You cant get it at no chemists, Hannah Searles, and the neighbour wot give it me ha gone to Ameriky; but see yere, fur I real feels for disturbed and worrited mothers, Ill give yer a tiny drop in this yere bottle, and you can take it to her; ten drops ull settle that baby off as sound as a nut.

Hannah thanked her warmly for this offer and went back to her cellar with the precious sleeping drops in her pocket. Now she had a remedy for little Roy. Soundly and peacefully asleep, he would not miss her during the few hours she must be absent the next day. She rose accordingly with a light heart, and having prepared his breakfast, put carefully into his milk ten drops from her bottle. She noticed how fresh and rosy he looked after his healthful, unbroken slumbers, and she said to herself that a little more sleep would do him still greater good. He ate his breakfast with appetite, sitting on her lap. And now she watched anxiously for the effect of the drops. It came almost sooner than she had dared to hope. The blue eyes became languid and heavy, the little golden head fell wearily on her shoulder, another moment and Roy was sound asleep. She placed him on her bed, covered him up tight and warm, and went out with an easy heart. As she walked quickly down the street which led directly from the court, she was met by two girls, one of whom she knew, and paused for a moment to accost.

So you and yer mother ha left Spiller Court, Meg Harris?

Oh, yes, answered Meg brightly; Im on my hown spec now, I and this yere gal; were purwiding fur one another. I wor thinking, Hannah, she continued, as you might make us a shake-down in yer cellar; wed pay yer two pence a night, thats a penny each. I know as you ha plenty o room, for yer hall alone.

The other and younger girl had shrunk a trifle away from the bold, coarse-looking woman, but Meg had come up and laid her hand on Hannahs arm.

Youll let us in to-night, wont yer, Hannah? said Meg again.

Now Hannah was rather fond of Meg, and would gladly have nearly paid the rent of her cellar by admitting these two little lodgers, but the presence of Roy of course made this impossible. To hide her real disappointment she spoke a little more roughly than usual.

I cant no how, she said; I ha a job on hand as ull take hup all my spare room, and I cant ha no gals a loitering around. You look further afield, Meg Harris.

The younger girl seemed perceptibly relieved, and Meg, with a good-natured nod, walked on. But Hannah felt a vague sense of uneasiness. That youngest girl, had she seen her before? Her face puzzled, nay more, it annoyed her; she was an anxious, thin, dark-eyed child; her dress was as ragged as Megs, but somehow she looked far above Meg in respectability. Where had Hannah Searles seen her before? She turned a corner: she was now passing a police station, and yes, there was what she dreaded, a full description of little Roy; she stopped fascinated, to read it.