224 SPORTING REMINISCENCES 



Mrs. jumped at the chance of a good 



bargain. A hungry man is easily dealt with. 

 She whispered this proudly to Anastasia her 

 daughter, and to her husband. 



She would get the things for the " valley." 



There was a petticoat of homespun woollen 

 stuff, a waistcoat of the same and some stout and 

 serviceable skirts, trimmed with excellent crochet. 



Mrs. fingered and sniffed, she bargained 



and beat down. 



She got the things for a breakfast and a shilling 

 over, produced in pennies from various mugs and 

 cups and given unwillingly. 



The little tailor gulped down a cup of tea, he 

 had bargained for two eggs, but these he put in 

 his pocket together with half a loaf of bread, and 

 he said he must get on to catch some train, so 

 moved off at his shuffling trot. 



A little later a piercing shriek rang from the 

 room which he had slept in. 



The blankets were snipped and slashed into 

 pieces, the sheets gone. A pin-cushion trimmed 

 with crochet done at her convent by Anastasia, 

 lay upon the floor now a bare red lump. 



The little tailor had sat up all night converting 

 his landlady's goods into the garments which he 

 had sold to her and so paid two reckonings, that 

 of a hungry man and a guest. 



The police searched for him — half-heartedly. 



