It was not until she was in the act of getting down the cup, and drawing a long breath after the exertion of causing its contents to disappear, that the lady of the caravan beheld an old man and a young child walking slowly by, and glancing at her proceedings with eyes of modest but hungry admiration.
'Hey!' cried the lady of the caravan, scooping the crumbs out of her lap and swallowing the same before wiping her lips.

'Yes, to be sure--Who won the Helter-Skelter Plate, child ?' 'Won what, ma'am ?' asked Nell.
'The Helter-Skelter Plate at the races, child--the plate that was run for on the second day.' 'On the second day, ma'am ?' 'Second day! Yes, second day,' repeated the lady with an air of impatience.

'Can't you say who won the Helter-Skelter Plate when you're asked the question civilly ?' 'I don't know, ma'am.' 'Don't know!' repeated the lady of the caravan; 'why, you were there.
I saw you with my own eyes.' Nell was not a little alarmed to hear this, supposing that the lady might be intimately acquainted with the firm of Short and Codlin; but what followed tended to reassure her.
'And very sorry I was,' said the lady of the caravan, 'to see you in company with a Punch; a low, practical, wulgar wretch, that people should scorn to look at.' 'I was not there by choice,' returned the child; 'we didn't know our way, and the two men were very kind to us, and let us travel with them.
Do you--do you know them, ma'am ?' 'Know 'em, child!' cried the lady of the caravan in a sort of shriek.
'Know them! But you're young and inexperienced, and that's your excuse for asking sich a question.

Do I look as if I know'd 'em, does the caravan look as if it know'd 'em ?' 'No, ma'am, no,' said the child, fearing she had committed some grievous fault.

'I beg your pardon.' It was granted immediately, though the lady still appeared much ruffled and discomposed by the degrading supposition.