She smiles. The cry comes again, I hear it and hasten down the shadowy stairs—my limbs aching and cracking as I do it, and my breath coming quick. Dainty waits at the bottom. The hall is small, she seems to fill it. ''In here,'' she says. She has opened the door to the kitchen. There is a street-door behind her, I think, with bolts across it. I slow my step. But then Mrs Sucksby comes and touches my shoulder. ''That''s right, dear girl. This way.'' I step again, and almost stumble.
The kitchen is warmer than I recall, and darker. Richard and the boy, John Vroom, are sitting at the table playing at dice. They both look up when I appear, and both laugh. John says, ''Look at the face on that! Who bruised the eyes, then? Dainty, say it was you and I''ll kiss you.''◤本◤作◤品◤由◤思◤兔◤網◤提◤供◤線◤上◤閱◤讀◤
''I''ll bruise your eyes, get my hands on you,'' says Mrs Sucksby. ''Miss Lilly is only tired. Get out of that chair, you little waster, and let her sit down.''
She says this, locking the door at her back, pocketing the key, then crossing the kitchen and trying the other two doors, making sure they are fast.—''Keep the draughts out,'' she says, when she sees me watching her.
John throws the dice again, and reckons up his score, before he rises. Richard pats the empty seat. ''Come, Maud,