Page:The Rejuvenation Of Miss Semaphore.pdf/97

 "Yes 'm," replied the beaming mother. "My third 'e is, just six months old, bless 'is little 'eart; but 'e ain't looking well now, not 'e, 'e's teething, and that do so pull a hinfant down."

"He is a beauty," said Miss Prudence. "Should you be disposed to undertake the care of another child—a—a little younger, if you were well paid for it?"

"No'm, that I shouldn't," said the young woman promptly. "My own three is enough for me, an' my old man I know he wouldn't like it, nohow."

"Could you recommend any careful, respectable woman who would?"

"I can't say as I do. Ain't the child's parents living, or is it yer own?"

"Oh, no!" said Miss Prudence, blushing to the eyes, "the child is an orphan."

"Poor little thing. Sorry I carn't 'elp you, 'm, but I don't know a suitable party."

A second application, this to a decent-looking body who was sweeping out a particularly dingy chapel, met with no better success.

A third woman did know of someone whose child had died and who might, perhaps, be willing to care for a baby, but on looking for the street where the person was said to