]
We took a cab and were soon in Primrose Court.
The front door was wide open--fastened back. Entering the narrow
common passage, we rapped at a dingy inner door. It was opened by a
pretty girl, whose thick chestnut hair and eyes to match contrasted
richly with the dress she wore--a dirty black dress, with great
patches of lining bursting through holes like a whity-brown froth.
'Meg Gudgeon?' said the girl in answer to our inquiries; and at first
she looked at us rather suspiciously, 'upstairs, she's very bad--like
to die--I'm a-seein' arter 'er. Better let 'er alone; she bites when
she's in 'er tantrums.'
'We's friends o' hern,' said Sinfi, whose appearance and decisive
voice seemed to reassure the girl.
'Oh, if you're friends that's different,' said she. 'Meg's gone off
'er 'ead; thinks the p'leace in plain clothes are after 'er.'
We went up the stairs. The girl followed us. When we reached a low
door, Sinfi proposed that she should remain outside on the landing,
but within ear-shot, as 'the sight o' both on us, all of a suddent,
might make the poor body all of a dither if she was very ill.
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