Alice stepped into the moonlit street. She cursed as she realized it was still muddy from the rain earlier in the day. At least the foul smell wasn't as noticeable as it had been when she came to the Old 22.
It would be a long slog back to Elizabeth House.
A few blocks closer to Elizabeth House Alice gave out a sigh as she stepped onto one of the brick cross streets. She scraped her heels on the edge of the raised bricks cursing at her luck. She stood on the dry street for a few moments as a break from the muddy street that was the only route home.
Alice heard a cart and horse coming down the brick street and stepped off into the mud again. As it drew closer the driver called out in an Irish accent.
"Now who's that out at this ungodly hour?" Alice recognized the old man everyone called Clancy, she wasn't sure if that was his his first name or last name. She called out to him as the cart came to a stop in front of her. "Is that lovely Alice? You should shouldnae be out alone lass. Never know what sort ye'll meet on these streets after dark."
Alice smiled, "just look at you."
The old man laughed until he started coughing. "Aye, I'm a right old sod. Now climb up here and I'll give ye a ride to that den of iniquity ye call home. I'll get you closer than here at least."
As she took his hand and pulled herself up, Alice smiled at her good luck.
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