"Oh!" ejaculated Calton, in dismay.
"It will be all right, sir," said Kilsip, reassuringly; "I've been
there dozens of times, and I'm all right."
"I dare say," retorted the barrister; "but I may go there once and
catch it, whatever it is."
"Take my word, sir, it's nothing worse than old age and drink."
"Has she a doctor?"
"Won't let one come near her--prescribes for herself."
"Gin, I suppose? Humph! Much more unpleasant than the usual run of
medicines."
In a short time they found themselves in Little Bourke Street, and
after traversing a few dark and narrow lanes--by this time they were
more or less familiar to Calton--they found themselves before Mother
Guttersnipe's den.
They climbed the rickety stairs, which groaned and creaked beneath
their weight, and found Mother Guttersnipe lying on the bed in the
corner. The elfish black-haired child was playing cards with a
slatternly-looking girl at a deal table by the faint light of a tallow
candle.
They both sprang to their feet as the strangers entered, and
the elfish child pushed a broken chair in a sullen manner towards Mr.
Calton, while the other girl shuffled into a far corner of the room,
and crouched down there like a dog. The noise of their entry awoke the
hag from an uneasy slumber into which she had fallen. Sitting up in
bed, she huddled the clothes round her. She presented such a gruesome
spectacle that involuntarily Calton recoiled.
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