OUR SENTIMENTAL GARDEN 



manner, out of the grimy window. The visitor perceives 

 there is nothing for it : she must hear the details, Wisely 

 she resigns herself. 

 "What happened?" 



" Well, it was all along of two suet dumplings and some 

 chops, Miss, which wasn't as they ought to have been, 

 having been kept in the 'ouse too long, you see. Wasn't 

 that it, Mrs. Tosher, my dear ? " 

 " Yes, my dear, and some 'ard bits of parsnip/' 

 " But it was mostly the chops, Miss, they'd been kept, 

 you see. The doctors, they couldn't do nothing for her." 

 Mrs. Mutton sighs and lifts the fringe of her shawl to the 

 damaged eye. Tragic as the tale is, Loki's Mother visibly 

 brightens : 



" But then the poor thing was poisoned," she cries cheer- 

 fully. 



" Yes, Miss, potomaine poison along of her condition, 

 being the same as mine, Miss." 

 " But, Mrs. Mutton, anyone" 



" No, Miss." Mrs. Tosher intervenes : she cannot allow 

 this foolish attempt at consolation to proceed. "The 

 doctor said it was along of her condition." 

 " yes, Miss, it's the condition as done it all along of a 

 bit of chop kept like and 'ard parsnips." 



110 



