The Little Princess of Tower Hill
Page 23
CHAPTER IV.
WHAT IT MEANT.
Poor Billy! After all, Tom had told him a story, for there was no cabwhatever waiting in the long and dreary street, into which he ran soeagerly. He ran up and down its entire length, and even stopped at the verynumber Tom had indicated. A little girl was coming slowly down the steps,and Billy could not help saying to her, "Oh, missy, am I too late, and haveall the boxes been stowed away afore I come?"
"There have been no boxes stowed away," said the little girl, stopping andstaring in astonishment at the ragged boy.
"Oh, but, missy, out of the two cabs, yer knows."
"There have been no cabs here for many a day," replied the child in asorrowful, dull kind of tone, which seemed to say that she only wishedanything half so nice and interesting would arrive.
Billy saw then that the whole thing had been a hoax, and he flew back downthe long street, with a great terror in his heart. Oh! what did Tom mean,and was the baby safe?
There was no Tom anywhere in sight when the poor little boy returned to themore crowded thoroughfare; but a policeman was stooping down and lookingcuriously at something on the pavement, and one or two people werebeginning to collect round him.
Billy arrived just in time to see the policeman pick up a little shivering,crying, half-naked baby. Yes, this baby was his own Sarah Ann, but herwoolen comforter, and mother's old Paisley shawl, and even a little brownwinsey frock had all disappeared.
"Oh! give her to me, give her to me," sobbed poor Billy; "oh, Sairey Ann,Sairey Ann, yer'll have brownchitis and hinflammation now, sure andcertain; oh, wot a wicked boy Tom Jones is."
The policeman asked a few leading questions, and then finding that the babywas Billy's undoubted property, he was only too glad to deliver her intohis arms. The poor baby was quiet at once, and laid her little headcaressingly against Billy's cheek. Billy tore off his own ragged jacket andwrapped it round her, and then flew home, with the energy and terror ofdespair. A pitiless sleet shower overtook him, however, and the two werewet to the skin when they arrived at their attic.