Lavinia glided to the woman and touched one of the outstretched hands.

Hannah gave a little "squark" when she felt the girl's cold fingers.
"It's only me Hannah," whispered Lavinia.
"Only me--an' who's me ?...

Bless us an' save us child, what do you go about like a churchyard ghost for?
Where in 'eaven's name have ye sprung from?
I never come across anybody like you, Miss Lavvy, for a worryin' other people.

I've been a-crying my eyes out over ye." "And mother, has she been crying too ?" "Your mother?
Not she," returned Hannah with a sniff of contempt.

"Catch her a-cryin' over anything 'cept when she hasn't won a prize in a lottery.