Diamond stood still for a while, for he could see next to nothing, but he heard the moaning plainly enough now, When he got used to the darkness, he discovered his friend lying with closed eyes and a white suffering face on a heap of little better than rags in a corner of the den.

He went up to her and spoke; but she made him no answer.

Indeed, she was not in the least aware of his presence, and Diamond saw that he could do nothing for her without help.

So taking a lump of barley-sugar from his pocket, which he had bought for her as he came along, and laying it beside her, he left the place, having already made up his mind to go and see the tall gentleman, Mr.Raymond, and ask him to do something for Sal's Nanny, as the girl was called.
By the time he got up the area-steps, three or four women who had seen him go down were standing together at the top waiting for him.

They wanted his clothes for their children; but they did not follow him down lest Sal should find them there.