Fagin was right. Nancy grew into quite the little pickpocket. By the age of ten, though she was still one of the smaller members of the gang, she had quite the reputation on the streets. Rich society people knew not to give directions to a charming peasent girl. Still even with her being known around London, no one could resist her smile and she earned quite a handful. Never once did occur to the pure young thing that what she was doing might not be right.

It was not only the gang that loved the little girl, but the whores at the Three Cripples had all taken a liking to her. While the rough and tumble boys were her brothers and Fagin was some what of a thieving, sneaking father, the local girls provided something of a sisterhood for Nancy. And she was not totally blind to what they did behind the closed doors upstairs of the pub.

"Ello Fagin!" Eleven-year-old Nancy entered the deserted old house which had been the new lodgings for the gang for a few years. She skipped in cheerfully, followed by Lucky Hand and a new boy, Roger.

"What have you got for me today, my girl?" Fagin asked.

"Always right down to business, ain't it Fagin?" Nancy moaned. Fagin responded by holding out his hand. "Alrigh, alrigh."

The girl emptyed her stash, two pocket hankerchiefs.

Fagin starred at her.

"What?" Nancy asked.

"Is this all, my dear?"

"Well, yea. I mean we went down to see the 'angin like you said we could."

Fagin stood up angrily. "I told you to go see the hanging because there would be lots of toffs there, not so you could hang around idley!"

"I'm sorry Fagin, I-"

"What do you think this is? I can't afford to keep you here for free. You go out, you bring me back your earnings, and you eat and sleep under my roof! That's the way it is! Either that, or it's on the streets for you!"

"But Fagin!" Nancy protested.

Fagin didn't listen to her. He seized her by the arm and tugged her close to him. Nancy couldn't remember the last time she had ever been this frightened. He felt the old man's stinking breath on her face and she wanted to run away. He drew her in close so that the hairs on the back of her neck began to trickle. Fagin had always been a little harsh with his punishments but this time, well she was not sure what would happen.

"I'm not going to hurt you." Fagin said, sensing the girl's fear. "But one more haul like this one, and it's out you go. Do I make myself clear?"

Nancy nodded and Fagin released her. She met the eyes of Roger, who looked very tense and she smiled, trying to ease him.

That night she sat in the window, looking out on the little view of the stars they had. It was a clear night and she was tired. Her little head was not half as clear as the night sky was. Her thoughts raced from Fagin's threats to the new boy to an older boy she had her eyes on. And as if he read her mind, Jimmy Barker approached quietly and sat down next to her.

"What you lookin' at?" The twelve-year-old asked.

"Just the stars." Nancy smiled.

Jimmy paused to look with her, though he didn't see any interest. "Lucky Hand told me what happened with you and Fagin."

"Yea." Nancy said coolly, not in the mood to discuss it.

"How old are ya Nance?" The boy asked.

"Almost twelve I think."

"Ya think?"

"I can't remember my birthday." She admitted, blushing slightly.

"Mine's the fourteenth of March. I just turned thirteen. So we're only a year apart."

"You sure are good at arithmetic." Nancy rolled her eyes, knowing that he was showing off.

"Nance?"

"Wot now Jimmy?"

Nancy turned to him, and the boy suddenly kissed her.

"I'm sorry." Jimmy said, getting up.

"No wait!" Nancy smiled. "It's all right."

"Really?"

"Yea."

Jimmy smiled widely. "Look, tomorrow, when Fagin sends us out, will you meet by the park?"

A lump suddenly fell in Nancy's stomach. She remembered Fagin's words, but the prospect of being alone with Jimmy away from the prying eyes of the other gang members intrigued her. She nodded at Jimmy and the plan was set.