"No! no!" said the old man, who lingered on the step before
springing into the boat, and to whom she mutely offered the shawl.
"Keep it! we donnot want it. It were only for to try you,--some
folks say they've no more blunt, when all the while they've getten a
mint."
"Thank you," said she, in a dull, low tone.
"Where are you bound to? I axed that question afore," said the
gruff old fellow.
"I don't know. I'm a stranger," replied she quietly, with a strange
absence of anxiety under the circumstances.
"But you mun find out then," said he sharply: "pier-head's no
place for a young woman to be standing on, gapeseying."
"I've a card somewhere as will tell me," she answered, and the man,
partly relieved, jumped into the boat, which was now pushing off to
make way for the arrivals from some steamer.
Mary felt in her pocket for the card, on which was written the name
of the street where she was to have met Mr. Bridgnorth at two
o'clock; where Job and Mrs. Wilson were to have been, and where she
was to have learnt from the former the particulars of some
respectable lodging.
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