20

and there's no choosing. – besides, it an't like given up an
innocent girl like. – Shes [2 words crossed out] ruinated already, without
our help – [three lines crossed out - Not one of her [?] of our
will take her in and she
[?] any work and she must come to it, whether she
will or no, so we might as well get something by her –"

"Why thats true," said the old man –" There's a main
difference certinly between giving up an innocent child and
just letting this poor thing keep in the path we found her –
She must [perish in - crossed out] [go - on - written above] the streets as you say, at any rate - so to
be sure, it will only be doing her a kind turn, to get her
into any kind of service. – Tho' poor thing, she took on so
A'other night – my heart misgives me." –

"And mine too [daddy - crossed out] - I do pity her – but as for the sin of the
matter, it won't lay at our doors – we would willing enough
be honest if the quality would be honest – We might
be rich now – so be, they were–"

"Well," said the old man with a sigh –" if it must be it must be

Lucy had heard enough to banish sleep from her eyes that
night and needed no awakening to be up and dressed before