Mary hurried along the narrow street on the outskirts of London, her thoughts still mostly on the discussion she had recently been engaged in. The sounds of late Victorian London surrounded her; the clopping of horses hoofs on the cobble-stone street, patterers crying out their news, street vendors hawking their wares.

"Chim-chiminee

Chim-chiminee

Chim chim charee!"

At first the singing was just another noise to serve as background for her slightly troubled thoughts.

"A sweep is as lucky

As lucky can be!"

But what an odd, nonsense sort of song! Roused from her musings, Mary turned her head. Across the street from her was the singer, grinning at a man selling pastries.

"Chim-chiminee

Chim-chiminee

Chim chim charoo!"

The sooty young chimney-sweep winked at her, then clasped the hand of a pleasant-faced common woman walking on his side of the narrow road.

"Good luck will rub off

When I shakes 'ands wif you!"

Mary laughed in spite of herself as the woman walked by him, a broad grin on her plain, generous face. The lad heard her laugh and turned to look at her. He waggled his eyebrows at her suggestively as he skipped along, matching Mary's pace from across the street; his shoes keeping time to his song.

"Or blow me a kiss…" Mary knew she should be horrified and offended at the words, which were obviously meant for her, but his cheery demeanor was contagious. Another giggle escaped her lips as she looked around quickly. Assured that no one was watching her, she raised her kid-gloved hand to her lips and sent a quick kiss across the road to the boy. He looked surprised and delighted, but continued without missing a beat.

"…And that's lucky too!"

Mary stopped and watched, fascinated, as the boy began an elaborate dance, punctured by the clapping of the heels of his boots on the pavement. When he ended with a flourish, she forgot herself, clapped involuntarily and ran across the road to stand before him.

"So I will have good luck now, will I?" she said mischievously, smiling up at the boy who was only a little taller than she was.

He was flushed and panting and grinning like an idiot, but none of this stopped him from replying cheekily, "You'd 'ave even more good luck if you'd shake 'ands wif me an' tell me yer name!"

She flushed a little and raised her hand halfway, but then hesitated, aware of the dreadful impropriety of this entire conversation.

"Come on now!" he said entreatingly. "It's awful good luck to shake 'ands wif a chimney-sweep!"

She gave in graciously, surrendering her white-gloved hand to his rough, soot-streaked one. He gave it a hearty shake, then, as if mindful of the honor conferred, he bowed over it as gracefully as any lord and brushed the top of her fingers with his lips. "It's an 'onor and a pleasure, Miss – " his voice paused questioningly.

"Ashworth," she said, slipping her hand out of his hastily. Really, what on earth was she thinking? "Mary Ashworth. Now, if you'll pardon me, I really must be going."

"O' course," he nodded understandingly. "Wouldn't do your reputation no good to be seen standin' an' talkin' wif the likes o' me! Good day, Miss."

She smiled primly and nodded. "Good day." She turned away and crossed the street, turning her quick steps toward her home.

"Oh, Miss Ashworth!" the boy's voice sounded behind her. She hesitated, her steps slowing. She shouldn't respond. She should not. What would it look like for her to turn at the summons of a street child like that?

"Miss Ashworth!" She stopped and turned, almost against her will, and favored him with an exasperated glare that softened into a reluctant half-smile at the sight of his eager, cheery face. Oh, well. After all it might be worse to let him keep bleating her name halfway across the city like a sheep!

"What is it?" she called back.

"If you ever need yer chimney swept," he called, tipping his battered felt cap for all the world as if it were a gentleman's top hat. "Just you ask fer me! Bert 'anover at yer service!"

She nodded and waved and turned away quickly, aware that the street was busier now, and that people were beginning to stare. As she walked swiftly to the gate of the Ashworth mansion, standing proudly over all the other houses in the square, Mary could hear the faint clap of boots on pavement as the young man danced away.

"Chim-chiminee

chim-chiminee

    Chim chim charoo…"

She suppressed another errant giggle, and hurried inside.