The girl took quickly to the life of one of Fagin's lodgers. She warmed up to the rest of the boys and even though she was obviously different, she proved herself to be as tough as the rest of them. Though Fagin was not quite ready to let her out and go to work, and the boys resented the new lodger for this.
"Hey Nancy." Lucky Hand, the bigger, five-year-old approached the girl as she shined some of Fagin's silver.
"What do you want?" Nancy stood up, glaring up at him.
"Well, me and the boys have a li'l wager goin' ya see." He smiled mischeviously.
"About me?" The girl guessed.
"As a matter of fact, yea." He took another step toward her. "We was wonderin' if you was ever goin' to work like the rest of us or…"
"Or what?" Nancy snarled fiercely.
"Or if you were goin' to start cookin' and cleanin' like a girl should."
"I ain't cleanin' up after none of yer." The four-year-old hissed.
"Well, guess you're just stayin' 'ere for free. A charity girl!"
Lucky Hand had no time to blink. Nancy jumped on top of him fiercely and began to choke him. It took the older boy only a few moments to release himself from her grip and tossed her off of him. Though he did not think that maybe the girl had not given up, and therefore he received a solid punch to the jaw. The other boys for a moment were silent, as they turned to see the strange sight of a four-year-old girl standing over a defeated five-year-old boy.
When Lucky Hand began to cry, the older boys began to cheer and Nancy was lifted into the air heroicly. Fagin however, entering the attic, disrupted the celebration.
"Shut up I say! What's all this racket for?"
The boys put Nancy down and Lucky Hand stopped crying.
"Lucky Hand insulted Nancy." One of the older boys, fourteen year old Henry Newsome proclaimed.
"Who struck Lucky Hand?" Fagin questioned.
Everyone pointed at the girl, who looked at the old Jew in fear and wonder.
He knelt down next to her and the boys feared he would strike her, but instead he turned and struck Lucky Hand once more. The five-year-old cried out "What? I already got hit!"
"And deservingly, I might add." Fagin said, standing up. "Well done, my girl! You've gone into the lion pit and returned victorious! I say this calls for a little celebration, wouldn't you say boys?" The boys cheered. "Well let's celebrate by bringing ol' Fagin twice as much as you normally bring, you lazy lot! Get out and earn your keep!"
This earned a groan from the boys as they sauntered around the attic, grabbing their hats and coats and heading out the door.
Nancy lingered behind, as she always did.
"When am I goin' to go out?"
"In good time my girl." Fagin patted her on the head. "Now, why don't you go tend to the silver?"
"I don't want to. I want to out with the others." Nancy said angrily.
"I take it that's what your little quarrel with Master Lucky Hand was for?" Fagin sat down at the table.
"Yea, it was."
"Well," The old man looked her once over. "Smile for me, that's a girl. Yes, I think we can use you. Now, let's see."
Fagin stood up brushing off his coat and putting on his hat. He began to strut around the attic, making Nancy giggle.
"What are doing?" Nancy asked.
"I am a respectable gentleman who has taken some time out of my busy schedule to roam about the streets among the common people, taking the chance that I might be robbed blind by a beautiful young lady and her accomplices. Now, Nancy my dear, I think it would be best if you would approach me, innocently and sweetly."
"Like this?" Nancy asked, skipping toward the old man with a big smile on her face.
"That's right." Fagin said. "Now, excuse me little girl, might I help you with something."
"Yes sir?" Nancy was unsure in how she would respond.
"Perhaps you would ask me for directions?"
"Oh, excuse me sir," Nancy smiled, catching on to the game. "I was wonderin' if you knew where the butcher shop was."
"Why yes, my dear, it's right over there." The old man pointed toward the fire place and continued talking without looking down at Nancy. "And now that I have shown this location, I have averted my eyes away from you and thereby giving you the perfect opportunity to relieve me of whatever my pocket contains."
Nancy's eyes lit up in excitement. She slowly reached for the pocket hankerchief and pulled it out slowly. Fagin however, grabbed her wrist suddenly.
"What did I do wrong?" The girl asked as Fagin released her.
"Well you did too slowly and I felt it. Now try doing it a little faster and a little smoother. Right then, can I help you girl?"
"Yes sir, where's the butcher shop?" Nancy asked, putting on her smile again.
"Well, I believe it's right this way."
Nancy quickly and lightly took hold of the pocket hankerchief, whipped it out and took off skipping toward the fireplace. "Thank you sir!"
"Good girl!" Fagin explained. "Clever girl! We shall have to teach you some more tricks like these. Now, to the silver, just because you know some tricks doesn't make the silver shine."
Pleased that she had been of some use, Nancy went back to work. Fagin certainly was glad he hadn't gotten rid of her now. She would in time prove to be a huge asset to their little gang.