When she came round, the servants fed her, and she began to cry
for the children. "Children if you like, but never him," said Billiter;
and he at once drove off to bring his darling's ragged little ones home.
Devine was snoring on the floor when the old tradesman entered the
lodging. There was no fire, no furniture, no food, and the half-naked
children were huddled together for warmth. The youngest two screamed
when a rough man came in, for they thought it was the brokers once more.
Billiter sent the eldest out for a candle, which he stuck in an empty
gin-bottle. He looked at the snoring drunkard, and gave him a
contemptuous push with his foot; but the one little boy screamed, "You
not touch my dada, you bad man!" and the old fellow was instantly
ashamed. He said, "Now, my little dears, I want you to come to your
mamma. She sent me for you. We'll all go away in a warm carriage, and
you'll have something warm and nice to eat. Put the youngsters' clothes
on, my gal."
"We've none of us got any clothes, sir.
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