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They both dissolved into slightly hysterical laughter

“I never expected to find h crowded Mallory Street “But I had to look, lad we came”

Garish light fro patrons Francesca tried not to stare

“Don’t give up hope, Lil”

“They probably wouldn’t want to know me anyway,” Lil muttered

“Whyever not!”

“I was a poor wretch when Miss Vivianna found lance at Francesca “You won’t judge me, miss?”

“Of course not Who ae you? You know my story, Lil, and it’s hardly a moral example to hold up to others”

“I was sold,” Lil said stiffly

Francesca was too overwhelmed to speak

“To one o’ theo to”

“Oh Lil, that’s awful That such a thing could happen in England!”

“It happens all the time, miss Even now Look around you and you’ll see what I mean Look, over there…”

Francesca looked in the direction Lil was pointing The scene before her didn’t really register, not at first There were lots of people and noise, and then she saw the young girl, a child really, standing on the steps of a house The door to the house was open and there was a man inside The child stood, hands clasped before her, eyes downcast, while a soberly dressed woman bent to speak to her She was small, probably nine years old, with her fair hair brushed out over her shoulders She earing a pinafore over a cotton dress, and petticoats with lace edging that reached to mid-calf, and on her feet were ankle boots Someone had dressed her up in her best clothes

Soht Then why did she feel such a sense of dread?