Tobias didn't pay attention to Mr. Meijer's reaction. All of a sudden, the girls were brought to a cab by what he thought to be the matron of whatever whorehouse Ben had referred to, but then understood to be a bookshop owner. Dirty literature?

"Alice! Stay there, I'll come to yer sister's later."

She didn't even think to bring her child...

He turned to Jimmy and Jenny, and the wetnurse holding Emma, and told them to go back to the inn.