Respectable women as well did an afternoon's shopping there.

In no haste to be gone, they sat about on empty boxes or upturned barrels exchanging confidences, while weary children plucked at their skirts.

A party of youngsters entered, the tallest of whom could just see over the counter, and called for shandygaffs.

The assistant was for chasing them off, with hard words.
But the storekeeper put, instead, a stick of barley-sugar into each dirty, outstretched hand, and the imps retired well content.

On their heels came a digger and his lady-love to choose a wedding-outfit; and all the gaudy finery the store held was displayed before them.