SOOSIE 141 



human cry, which everywhere and always quickened the 

 pulse, stirred pity to its depths. I seized the stained 

 bag (it was a desperate deed) and, breaking down its 

 worn sides, displayed its contents — a girl in all the 

 infam}^ of neglect, starvation, and dirt — a panting 

 mummy reeking with offence. 



Spreading out a handkerchief, I put the awful atom 

 on it gingerly, while the foster-mother reiterated her 

 counsel to "tchuck'm alonga scrub." 



In the guise of a frail bundle at arm's-length was 

 Soosie conducted to a civilised home. 



Dismay tempered wnth pity greeted her. 



"How horrible ! How dirty !" 



"Is it really a little girl? It looks like a wild 

 animal." 



"Do let me nurse it." 



Thus was crinkled-faced Soosie welcomed. 



Many successive baths did she endure, faintly w^ailing, 

 until dirt soaked off and the wails ceased for the time 

 being as Soosie sucked ravenously at a tiny sugar-bag. 



What a frail little life it was — feeble beyond expres- 

 sion, and ugly with the ugliness of savagery. She 

 wriggled and screwed up her skinny features with inane 

 ferocity. A motherless wallaby would have submitted 

 to human solace and ministrations w^th daintier mien ; 

 but the w^hole household thrilled with excitement. 

 Could the spluttering spark of life be made to glow ? 

 That was the all-absorbing topic for days. Gradually 

 some sort of a human rotundity became manifest, and 

 on the occasion of the bath it was more and more 

 apparent that instead of being impenetrably black the 

 skin-tint was a mingling of pale brown and pink; and as 

 regular nourishment began to be effective the features 

 changed, losing their gross animalism. 



Just because of the waif's helplessness was repugnance 



