Doin, the slut! ejaculated the woman, a short, bloated, revolting creature, with scarcely anything human in her face. Doin, did ye say? Its nothin shes been doin, the lazy, trapsing huzzy! Whos that intrudin herself in here? she added fiercely, as she saw Pinky, making at the same time a movement toward the girl. Get out o here, or Ill spile yr pictur!
Keep quiet, will you? said Norah, putting her hand on the woman and pushing her back as easily as if she had been a child. Now come here, Nell, and let me look at you.
Out of the far corner of the cellar into which Flanagan had thrown her when she heard Norahs voice, and into the small circle of light made by a single tallow candle, there crept slowly the figure of a child literally clothed in rags. Norah reached out her hand to her as she came upthere was a scared look on her pinched faceand drew her close to the light.
Gracious! your hands like an ice-ball! exclaimed Norah.
Pinky looked at the child, and grew faint at heart. She had large hazel eyes, that gleamed with a singular lustre out of the suffering, grimed and wasted little face, so pale and sad and pitiful that the sight of it was enough to draw tears from any but the brutal and hardened.
Are you sick? asked Norah.
No, shes not sick; shes only shamming, growled Flanagan.
You shut up! retorted Norah. I wasnt speaking to you. Then she repeated her question:
Are you sick, Nell?
Yes.
Where?
I dont know.
Norah laid her hand on the childs head:
Does it hurt here?
Oh yes! It hurts so I cant see good, answered Nell.
Its all a lie! I know her; shes shamming.
Oh no, Norah! cried the child, a sudden hope blending with the fear in her voice. I aint shamming at all. I fell down ever so many times in the street, and most got run over. Oh dear! oh dear! and she clung to the woman with a gesture of despair piteous to see.
I dont believe you are, Nell, said Norah, kindly. Then, to the woman, Now mind, Flanagan, Nells sick; dye hear?
The woman only uttered a defiant growl.
Shes not to be licked again to-night. Norah spoke as one having authority.
I wish yed be mindin yr own business, and not come interfarin wid me. Shes my gal, and Ive a right to lick her if I plaze.
Maybe she is and maybe she isnt, retorted Norah.
Who says she isnt my gal? screamed the woman, firing up at this and reaching out for Nell, who shrunk closer to Norah.
Maybe she is and maybe she isnt, said the queen, quietly repeating her last sentence; and I think maybe she isnt. So take care and mind what I say. Nell isnt to be licked any more to-night.
Oh, Norah, sobbed the child, in a husky, choking voice, take me, wont you? Shell pinch me, and shell hit my head on the wall, and shell choke me and knock me. Oh, Norah, Norah!
Pinky could stand this no longer. Catching up the bundle of rags in her arms, she sprang out of the cellar and ran across the street to the queens house, Norah and Flanagan coming quickly after her. At the door, through which Pinky had passed, Norah paused, and turning to the infuriated Irish woman, said, sternly,
Go back! I wont have you in here; and if you make a row, Ill tell John to lock you up.
I want my Nell, said the woman, her manner changing. There was a shade of alarm in her voice.
You cant have her to-night; so thats settled. And if theres any row, youll be locked up. Saying which, Norah went in and shut the door, leaving Flanagan on the outside.
The bundle of dirty rags with the wasted body of a child inside, the body scarcely heavier than the rags, was laid by Pinky in the corner of a settee, and the unsightly mass shrunk together like something inanimate.
I thought youd had enough with old Sal, said Norah, in a tone of reproof, as she came in.
Couldnt help it, replied Pinky. Im bad enough, but I cant stand to see a child abused like thatno, not if I die for it.
Norah crossed to the settee and spoke to Nell. But there was no answer, nor did the bundle of rags stir.
Nell! Nell! She called to deaf ears. Then she put her hand on the child and raised one of the arms. It dropped away limp as a withered stalk, showing the ashen white face across which it had lain.
The two women manifested no excitement. The child had fainted or was deadwhich, they did not know. Norah straightened out the wasted little form and turned up the face. The eyes were shut, the mouth closed, the pinched features rigid, as if still giving expression to pain, but there was no mistaking the sign that life had gone out of them. It might be for a brief season, it might be for ever.
A little water was thrown into the childs face. Its only effect was to streak the grimy skin.
Poor little thing! said Pinky. I hope shes dead.
Theyre tough. They dont die easy, returned Norah.
She isnt one of the tough kind.
Maybe not. They say Flanagan stole her when she was a little thing, just toddling.
Dont lets do anything to try to bring her to, said Pinky.
Norah stood for some moments with an irresolute air, then bent over the child and examined her more carefully. She could feel no pulse beat, nor any motion of the heart,
I dont want the coroner here, she said, in a tone of annoyance. Take her back to Flanagan; its her work, and she must stand by it.
Is she really dead? asked Pinky.
Looks like it, and serves Flanagan right. Ive told her over and over that Nell wouldnt stand it long if she didnt ease up a little. Flesh isnt iron.
Again she examined the child carefully, but without the slightest sign of feeling.
Its all the same now who has her, she said, turning off from the settee. Take her back to Flanagan.
But Pinky would not touch the child, nor could threat or persuasion lead her to do so. While they were contending, Flanagan, who had fired herself up with half a pint of whisky, came storming through the door in a blind rage and screaming out,
Wheres my Nell? I want my Nell!
Catching sight of the childs inanimate form lying on the settee, she pounced down upon it like some foul bird and bore it off, cursing and striking the senseless clay in her insane fury.
Pinky, horrified at the dreadful sight, and not sure that the child was really dead, and so insensible to pain, made a movement to follow, but Norah caught her arm with a tight grip and held her back.
Are you a fool? said the queen, sternly. Let Flanagan alone. Nells out of her reach, and Im glad of it.
If I was only sure! exclaimed Pinky.
You may be. I know deathIve seen it often enough. Theyll have the coroner over there in the morning. Its Flanagans concern, not yours or mine, so keep out of it if you know when youre well off.
Ill appear against her at the inquest, said Pinky.
Youll do no such thing. Keep your tongue behind your teeth. Its time enough to show it when its pulled out. Take my advice, and mind your own business. Youll have enough to do caring for your own head, without looking after other peoples.
Im not one of that kind, answered Pinky, a little tartly; and if theres any way to keep Flanagan from murdering another child, Im going to find it out.
Youll find out something else first, said Norah, with a slight curl of her lip.
What?
The way to prison.
Pshaw! Im not afraid.
Youd better be. If you appear against Flanagan, shell have you caged before to-morrow night.
How can she do it?
Swear against you before an alderman, and hell send you down if its only to get his fee. She knows her man.
Suppose murder is proved against her?
Suppose! Norah gave a little derisive laugh.
They dont look after things in here as they do outside. Everybodys got the screws on, and things must break sometimes, but it isnt called murder. The coroner understands it all. Hes used to seeing things break.
CHAPTER VII
FOR a short time the sounds of cruel exultation came over from Flanagans; then all was still.
Sals put her mark on you, said Norah, looking steadily into Pinkys face, and laughing in a cold, half-amused way.
Pinky raised her hand to her swollen cheek. Does it look very bad? she asked.
Spoils your beauty some.
Will it get black?
Shouldnt wonder. But what cant be helped, cant. Youll mind your own business next time, and keep out of Sals way. Shes dangerous. Whats the matter?
Got a sort of chill, replied the girl, who from nervous reaction was beginning to shiver.
Oh, want something to warm you up. Norah brought out a bottle of spirits. Pinky poured a glass nearly half full, added some water, and then drank off the fiery mixture.
None of your common stuff, said Norah, with a smile, as Pinky smacked her lips. The girl drew her handkerchief from her pocket, and as she did so a piece of paper dropped on the floor.
Oh, there it is! she exclaimed, light flashing into her face. Going to make a splendid hit. Just look at them rows.
Norah threw an indifferent glance on the paper.
Theyre lucky, every one of them, said Pinky. Going to put half a dollar on each rowsure to make a hit.
The queen gave one of her peculiar shrugs.
Going to break Sam McFaddon, continued Pinky, her spirits rising under the influence of Norahs treat.
Soft heads dont often break hard rocks, returned the woman, with a covert sneer.
Thats an insult! cried Pinky, on whom the liquor she had just taken was beginning to have a marked effect, and I wont stand an insult from you or anybody else.
Well, I wouldnt if I was you, returned Norah, coolly. A hard expression began settling about her mouth.
And I dont mean to. Im as good as you are, any day!
You may be a great deal better, for all I care, answered Norah. Only take my advice, and keep a civil tongue in your head. There was a threatening undertone in the womans voice. She drew her tall person more erect, and shook herself like a wild beast aroused from inaction.
Pinky was too blind to see the change that had come so suddenly. A stinging retort fell from her lips. But the words had scarcely died on the air ere she found herself in the grip of vice-like hands. Resistance was of no more avail than if she had been a child. In what seemed but a moment of time she was pushed back through the door and dropped upon the pavement. Then the door shut, and she was alone on the outsideno, not alone, for scores of the denizens who huddle together in that foul region were abroad, and gathered around her as quickly as flies about a heap of offal, curious, insolent and aggressive. As she arose to her feet she found herself hemmed in by a jeering crowd.