moved. She felt uncomfortable at the thought. When she looked about, she saw Beth curled in a ball in a bed across the room from her. Then she realized there was another bed in the room, but it was empty.
The sun coming in the window was pale, and Charity sensed it must be early morning. There was no way of knowing how long she had slept.
She tossed the covers aside and walked to the one
window. Using the tips of her fingers she cleaned a circle in the thick dust so she could look out.
The center court bustled with activity. There were children of all ages, urchins in ragged clothes, grown men and women who looked extremely strange to Charity until she realized that they were dressed in everything from rags to rather fine-looking clothes. They looked like a hodgepodge of people thrown together by accident.
Charity could hear the sound of muffled voices coming from a nearby room and she threw a blanket about herself and crossed to the half-open door. When she pushed it open she found Amiee, Tiny, Minnow, and several others seated at a table, eating and talking.
It was Minnow who saw her first, but soon they were all gazing at her. This was the first time Charity had really looked at Amiee. She was pretty in a gypsy kind of way. She had even features, a generous mouth, and a thick mass of black curly hair that hung below her shoulders.
Charity was invited to join them for breakfast, and soon she found she was relaxing and truly enjoying the openness of these people. They seemed to have no roots, and to have come from every walk of life, yet after a while she realized their roots were that this hodgepodge of people made up a kind of family. And this collection of rough buildings that they had lovingly called "the Round" was their home.
They supported each other by any means at their disposal, and she was sure most were a bit shady. She knew one thing for certain: This was a communal af-
fair, and one day, if she and Beth wanted to stay, they would have to find a way to contribute.
Charity and Beth had been in the Round for over two weeks, and both knew quite well that Amiee and all the others watched every move they made. Charity had a feeling that Amiee was assessing them much as she would if she were intending to hire them. Beth and Charity wondered whether or not they would pass inspection. Both rather wished they would, because they felt a sense of peace and contentment . . . and acceptance here.
It was early in the morning several days later as Charity was dressing that Amiee approached her.
"Good morning."
Charity spun about, startled at the sound of her voice. Amiee stood in the doorway, one shoulder braced against it and her arms folded across her chest. Charity wondered how long she had stood watching her before she had spoken.
Actually, Amiee had been there from the moment Charity had gotten up from the bed. She had watched her closely. Always an excellent judge of people, she had no trouble characterizing Charity, an excellent actress, a girl who could look and act like a lady of culture and exude an aura of sweet innocence. She was perfect for what Amiee had in mind.
Of course, her plans depended on Charity's being persuaded to agree. Aimee knew that Charity was wary and careful.
"Good morning," Charity replied. "I've never really had the chance to thank you, Amiee."
''That's all right."
"And Minnow and Tiny have been so protective."
"Minnow is a gentle giant."
"Minnow." Again Charity stifled a laugh.
"I would not let him find you laughing at his name. We don't know what his real name is. It seems he was chucked into the river when he was a babe, and a friend of mine pulled him out while he was fishing. He called him Minnow, and it stuck. But he tends to get violent if the wrong person laughs at his name."
"You are all so very special and you've created your own world here. I admire that. Compared to you all, I'm nobody."
"Everyone is someone. Why did we find you and Beth in an alley
The sun coming in the window was pale, and Charity sensed it must be early morning. There was no way of knowing how long she had slept.
She tossed the covers aside and walked to the one
window. Using the tips of her fingers she cleaned a circle in the thick dust so she could look out.
The center court bustled with activity. There were children of all ages, urchins in ragged clothes, grown men and women who looked extremely strange to Charity until she realized that they were dressed in everything from rags to rather fine-looking clothes. They looked like a hodgepodge of people thrown together by accident.
Charity could hear the sound of muffled voices coming from a nearby room and she threw a blanket about herself and crossed to the half-open door. When she pushed it open she found Amiee, Tiny, Minnow, and several others seated at a table, eating and talking.
It was Minnow who saw her first, but soon they were all gazing at her. This was the first time Charity had really looked at Amiee. She was pretty in a gypsy kind of way. She had even features, a generous mouth, and a thick mass of black curly hair that hung below her shoulders.
Charity was invited to join them for breakfast, and soon she found she was relaxing and truly enjoying the openness of these people. They seemed to have no roots, and to have come from every walk of life, yet after a while she realized their roots were that this hodgepodge of people made up a kind of family. And this collection of rough buildings that they had lovingly called "the Round" was their home.
They supported each other by any means at their disposal, and she was sure most were a bit shady. She knew one thing for certain: This was a communal af-
fair, and one day, if she and Beth wanted to stay, they would have to find a way to contribute.
Charity and Beth had been in the Round for over two weeks, and both knew quite well that Amiee and all the others watched every move they made. Charity had a feeling that Amiee was assessing them much as she would if she were intending to hire them. Beth and Charity wondered whether or not they would pass inspection. Both rather wished they would, because they felt a sense of peace and contentment . . . and acceptance here.
It was early in the morning several days later as Charity was dressing that Amiee approached her.
"Good morning."
Charity spun about, startled at the sound of her voice. Amiee stood in the doorway, one shoulder braced against it and her arms folded across her chest. Charity wondered how long she had stood watching her before she had spoken.
Actually, Amiee had been there from the moment Charity had gotten up from the bed. She had watched her closely. Always an excellent judge of people, she had no trouble characterizing Charity, an excellent actress, a girl who could look and act like a lady of culture and exude an aura of sweet innocence. She was perfect for what Amiee had in mind.
Of course, her plans depended on Charity's being persuaded to agree. Aimee knew that Charity was wary and careful.
"Good morning," Charity replied. "I've never really had the chance to thank you, Amiee."
''That's all right."
"And Minnow and Tiny have been so protective."
"Minnow is a gentle giant."
"Minnow." Again Charity stifled a laugh.
"I would not let him find you laughing at his name. We don't know what his real name is. It seems he was chucked into the river when he was a babe, and a friend of mine pulled him out while he was fishing. He called him Minnow, and it stuck. But he tends to get violent if the wrong person laughs at his name."
"You are all so very special and you've created your own world here. I admire that. Compared to you all, I'm nobody."
"Everyone is someone. Why did we find you and Beth in an alley
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