She had, in fact, starved herself in her infatuation, spending day after day in policies what she should have spent for food.

Pinky's strange remark was but too true.

She had become a policy-drunkard--a vice almost as disastrous in its effects as its kindred, vice, intemperance, though less brutalizing and less openly indulged.
"Where now ?" was the question of Pinky's friend as they came down, after spending in policies all the money they had received from the sale of Flora Bond's clothing.

"Any other game ?" "Yes." "What ?" "Come along to my room, and I'll tell you." "Round in Ewing street ?" "Yes.

Great game up, if I can only get on the track." "What is it ?" "There's a cast-off baby in Dirty Alley, and Fan Bray knows its mother, and she's rich." "What ?" "Fan's getting lots of hush-money." "Goody! but that is game!" "Isn't it?
The baby's owned by two beggar-women who board it in Dirty Alley.