CHAPTER IX.
A NEW BROOM AND A CROSSING.
The morning was a fine soft, sunny December day, such as comes sometimesafter a long season of rain and fog, and Tony proposed taking Dolly outfor a walk through the streets, to which Oliver gladly consented, as itwould give to him exactly the undisturbed leisure he needed for writinghis letter to Charlotte. But Dolly was not in her usual spirits; on thecontrary, she was grave and sober, and at length Tony, thinking she wastired, sat down on a door-step, and took her upon his knee, to tell herhis dream of the wonderful broom which swept beautifully all by itself.Dolly grew more and more pensive after hearing this, and sat silent for along time, with her small head resting thoughtfully upon her hand, as shelooked up and down the street.
"Dolly 'ud like to buy a boom," she said, at last, "a great, big boom;and gan-pa 'ill smoke his pipe again to-night. Dolly's growing a biggirl; and me must be a good girl till mammy comes back. Let us go and buya big boom, Tony."
For a few minutes Tony tried to shake her resolution, and persuade herto change her mind. He even tempted her with the sight of a doll in ashop-window; but she remained steadfast, and he was not sorry to give inat last. Since the idea had entered his head that the money had beengiven to him for the purpose of buying a broom, he had rather regrettedparting with it, and he felt some anxiety lest he should not be alloweda second chance. Dolly's light-heartedness had returned, and shetrotted cheerfully by his side as they walked on in search of a shopwhere they could make their purchase. It was some time before theyfound one, and they had already left behind them the busierthoroughfares, and had reached a knot of quieter streets where therewere more foot-passengers, for the fine morning had tempted many peopleout for pleasure as well as business. Tony was particular in his choiceof a broom, but once bought, he carried it over his shoulder, and wenton his way with Dolly in triumph.
They were passing along chattering busily, when Tony's eyes fell upon achild about as old as Dolly, standing on the kerb-stone with a lady, wholooked anxiously across to the other side of the broad and very dirtyroad, for the day before had been rainy. They were both finely dressed,and the little girl had on new boots of shining leather, which it wasevident she was very much afraid of soiling. For a minute Tony onlylooked on at their perplexity, but then he went up to them, holding Dollyby the hand.
A NEW BROOM AND A CROSSING]
"If you'll take care of my little girl," he said, "I'll carry yourlittle girl across the road. I'm wery clean for a street-boy, all but myfeet, 'cos I've got this little girl to take care of; and I'll do itwery gentle."
Both the lady and the child looked very searchingly into Tony's face. Itwas pale and meagre; but there was a pleasant smile upon it, and hiseyes shone down upon the two children with a very loving light in them.The lady took Dolly's hand in hers, nodding permission for him to carryher little child over to the other side, and she waited for him to comeback to his own charge. Then she took out her purse, and put twopenceinto his hand.
"Thank ye, my lady," said Tony; "but I didn't do it for that. I'm onlylooking out for a crossing. Me and Dolly have bought this broom, and I'mlooking out for a place to make a good crossing in."
"Why not make one here?" asked the lady.
It seemed a good place to try one in; there were four roads meeting, anda cab-stand close by. Plenty of people were passing to and fro, and themiddle of the road was very muddy. Tony begged a wisp of straw from acabman, to make a seat for Dolly in the sunshine under a blank bit ofwall, while he set to work with a will, feeling rather pleased than notthat the broom would not sweep of itself. A crossing was speedily made,and for two or three hours Tony kept it well swept. By that time it wastwelve o'clock, and Dolly's dinner would be ready for her before theycould reach home, if old Oliver had not forgotten it. It seemed a greatpity to leave his new post so early. Most passers-by, certainly, hadappeared not to see him at all; but he had already received fivepencehalfpenny, chiefly in halfpence, from ladies who were out for theirmorning's walk; and Dolly was enjoying herself very much in the sunshine,receiving all the attention which he could spare from his crossing.However a beginning was made. The broom and the crossing were hisproperty; and Tony's heart, beat fast with pride and gladness as hecarried the weary little Dolly all the way home again. He resolved to putby half of his morning's earnings towards replacing the fourpenny-pieceshe had given back to him; or perhaps he would buy her a beautiful doll,dressed like a real lady.