He explained to us that the maiden could not wait, and that he had taken her place; and he winked at us and laughed when he saw how our faces fell, so that we had nothing for it but to laugh also-- "Where are you going ?" said he to Dick.
"To Bloomsbury," said Dick.
"If you two don't want to be alone, I'll come with you," said the old man.
"All right," said Dick, "tell me when you want to get down and I'll stop for you.

Let's get on." So we got under way again; and I asked if children generally waited on people in the markets.

"Often enough," said he, "when it isn't a matter of dealing with heavy weights, but by no means always.

The children like to amuse themselves with it, and it is good for them, because they handle a lot of diverse wares and get to learn about them, how they are made, and where they come from, and so on.

Besides, it is such very easy work that anybody can do it.