Georgiana bent down and opened the sack. Inside were three very small kittens, mewling piteously, but their tiny cries could not be heard over Betsey’s choaking tears and the crowds in the street. “Betsey, can you tell me where you live?”

“B-be-be’ind, n’ up-up-s-stairs,” pointing to the backs of the garrets of Jermyn Street. Betsey, being thoroughly fagged, out of breath, and out of tears, had stopt crying for the present. Georgiana imagined the squalor and the noise rising upon noise, the disorder, and the brutality—brutality to whip a child!

“I think we can see to the kittens safely,” said Georgiana. “I will take the sack, whilst you take me to your house to collect Tabby and see your Mamma.”

“What will you d-do wif’ T-Tabby, ma’am?” she cried with a remarkable terror and suspicion for one so young. Georgiana could only just imagine what kind of life would raise a child to such fear and distrust. Betsey had shewn a remarkable independence of spirit and courage to defy such parents! And, with such unflinching determination did she anticipate the punishment sure to come!

“We will return her kittens to her, as they are far too young to leave their mamma, and then we will ask your mamma if you, and Tabby, and all of her kittens can come with me to my house. Would you like that?”

“W-Where is y’r house, ma’am?” she asked, much mollified by Georgiana’s answer.

“Not far, Betsey, from your house,” and picking up the dirty sack carefully, and cradling it in her shawl, she kept Betsey’s tiny hand firmly in her own. They walked along slowly to Jermyn Street, as quickly as Betsey’s little legs would allow, to the tenements above the gaming houses. Betsey well knew where she lived; Georgiana could only wonder how many times this child had been left with no-one to mind her, roaming the streets of London. As she led Georgiana timidly up the many narrow, filthy, rickety stairs, a thin, dirty cat came running up and calling loudly to the kittens in the sack, trying desperately to use her paws to drag it down. Georgiana set the sack on the soiled floor of the landing and handed Tabby gently inside. There was an immediate cessation of all sounds from the sack, as the kittens were reunited with their mother.

Georgiana tied the top of the sack securely, and taking Betsey’s hand, entered a door that was open. There appeared to be no-one inside. “Where is your mamma, Betsey?” “She goes away to meet th’ gen’mum.” “What about your papa?”

“He p’b-bly stil’ ‘sleep. He won’ wake up un’les Mamma com’ home wif’ his sup’r.”

“Please go and wake your papa, Betsey.” These words produced such a terror in the child that Georgiana immediately recalled them.