"What's the matter, child?" asked Robert Grantham.
"Father'll be the death of me!" she replied.
"Don't be frightened; he will not hurt you."
"Are you sure, sir? You don't know father!"
This satisfied Little Prue, and the look of terror changed to one of gratitude.
"Thank yer kindly, sir," she said. "I think I should 'ave died if I 'adn't 'ad somethink to eat. It's a long time since I had sech a tuck-out. I couldn't eat another mouthful if I tried."
"And now, child, tell us where you live, and whether you have a mother."
"Oh, yes, sir, I've got a mother; and I live in Roxy's Rents."
"I've heard of the place," said Rathbeal; "it's in Lambeth. We will see the little one home."
"Thank yer, sir. I don't think I could find my way without father. Oh!" she cried, looking about distressfully, "where's my matches?"
They had dropped from her hands when she was falling, and the friends had not stopped to pick them up.
"But father'll wollup me if I don't sell 'em before I go 'ome! I can't go 'ome till I've got a shilling!"
"You shall have the shilling. Here it is. We will take care of it till we get to Roxy's Rents, and you shall give it to your mother. What is your name, child?"
Robert Grantham laid his hand on Rathbeal's arm.
"Little Prue!" he said. "That is poor Billy's sweetheart, that he spoke of with his dying breath."
"Oh, yes, sir; we used to play together. He sed he'd marry me when he grew up, if he could get a suit of clothes. What's become of Billy, sir? I ain't seen 'im for a long time."
"He is happier than he was, my child," said Grantham; "all his troubles are over."
"I'm glad to 'ear that, sir. I wish mine and mother's was."
"They will be, one day. Now, child, we must be moving."
Little Prue rose and put her hand in Grantham's and they left the restaurant. They rode to Lambeth by 'bus and tram, and then, being in streets familiar to her, Little Prue conducted them to Roxy's Rents. Her mother's room was in darkness.
"Yes; we will see your mother before we leave you."
"Mother, mother!" cried Prue, opening the door.
Mrs. Flower started up and, running to the door, caught her child in her arms.
"O Prue, Prue! where have you been? I was afraid you were lost!"
"I should 'ave been, mother, if it 'adn't been for the gentlemen."