bustled in again。 Children's voices were heard。 A thin blue
smoke ascended from the cabin chimney； there was a smell of
cooking。
Ursula； white as a moth； lingered to look。 Skrebensky
lingered by her。 The man glanced up。
〃Good evening；〃 he called； half impudent； half attracted。 He
had blue eyes which glanced impudently from his grimy face。
〃Good evening；〃 said Ursula； delighted。 〃Isn't it
nice now？〃
〃Ay；〃 said the man； 〃very nice。〃
His mouth was red under his ragged； sandy moustache。 His
teeth were white as he laughed。
〃Oh； but……〃 stammered Ursula； laughing； 〃it is。 Why do
you say it as if it weren't？〃
〃'Appen for them as is childt…nursin' it's none so rosy。〃
〃May I look inside your barge？〃 asked Ursula。
〃There's nobody'll stop you； you e if you like。〃
The barge lay at the opposite bank； at the wharf。 It was the
Annabel； belonging to J。 Ruth of Loughborough。 The man
watched Ursula closely from his keen； twinkling eyes。 His fair
hair was wispy on his grimed forehead。 Two dirty children
appeared to see who was talking。
Ursula glanced at the great lock gates。 They were shut； and
the water was sounding； spurting and trickling down in the gloom
beyond。 On this side the bright water was almost to the top of
the gate。 She went boldly across； and round to the wharf。
Stooping from the bank； she peeped i