Mothers were out fishing for their bairns.

The Haggerty-Taggertys had straggled home hoarse as crows; every one of them went to bed that night with a stocking round his throat.

Of Monypenny boys, Tommy could find none in the square but Corp, who, with another tooth missing, had been going about since six o'clock with his pockets hanging out, as a sign that all was over.

An awkward silence had fallen on the trio; the reason, that Tommy had only threepence left and the smallest of them cost threepence.
The reference of course is to the wondrous gold-paper packets of sweets (not unlike crackers in appearance) which are only seen at the Muckley, and are what every girl claims of her lad or lads.

Now, Tommy had vowed to Elspeth--But he had also said to Grizel--In short, how could he buy for both with threepence?
Grizel, as the stranger, ought to get--But he knew Elspeth too well to believe that she would dry her eyes with that.
Elspeth being his sister--But he had promised Grizel, and she had been so ill brought up that she said nasty things when you broke your word.
The gold packet was bought.