"
"Why, you're quite a big girl, Daphne! Do you go to school?"
"Oh, yes, sir. I'm in the second form."
"Do you like going to school, Daphne?"
"Yes, sir."
"I suppose you like going to the Zoo better? Did you like going with
father the other day?"
The child's eyes sparkled with retrospective pleasure.
"Oh, yes," she said, delightedly. "We saw all kinds of things: lions and
tigers, and elephants. I had a ride on a elephant"--her eyes grew big
with the memory--"an' 'e took a bun with his long nose out of my hand."
"That was splendid, Daphne! Which did you like best--the Zoo or the
pictures?"
"I liked them both," she replied.
"Was Father at home when you came home from the pictures?"
"No," said the little girl innocently. "He was out."
Mrs. Hill, standing a little way off with fear on her face, uttered
an inarticulate noise, and took a step towards the inspector and
her daughter.
"Better not interfere, Mrs. Hill, unless you want to make matters worse,"
said the inspector meaningly. "Now, tell me, Daphne, dear, when did your
father come home?"
"Not till morning," replied the little girl, with a timid glance at
her mother.
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