A House to Let, by Charles Dickens

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Title& A House to Let Author& Charles Dickens 'elease Date& (ay )*, +**, Language& 2nglish Character set encoding& 345%606%74 874%A4C339 :::4TA'T 5; TH2 P'5<2CT G7T2=B2'G 2B55> A H5742 T5 L2T::: -eBook .+/+01

Transcribed from the 1903 Chapman and Hall edition by David Price, email ccx07 !coventry"ac"#$" Proofed by David, %d&ar Ho'ard, Da'n (mith, Terry )effress and )ane *oster"

A HOUSE TO LET (FULL TEXT) by Charles Dickens, ilkie Collins, Eli!abeth "askell, A#elai#e Ann $rocter
Contents+ ,ver the -ay The .anchester .arria&e /oin& into (ociety Three %venin&s in the Ho#se Trottle0s 1eport 2et at 2ast

O%E& THE

A'

3 had been livin& at T#nbrid&e -ells and no'here else, &oin& on for ten years, 'hen my medical man4very clever in his profession, and the prettiest player 3 ever sa' in my

life of a hand at 2on& -hist, 'hich 'as a noble and a princely &ame before (hort 'as heard of4said to me, one day, as he sat feelin& my p#lse on the act#al sofa 'hich my poor dear sister )ane 'or$ed before her spine came on, and laid her on a board for fifteen months at a stretch4the most #pri&ht 'oman that ever lived4said to me, 5-hat 'e 'ant, ma0am, is a fillip"6 5/ood &racio#s, &oodness &racio#s, Doctor To'ers76 says 3, 8#ite startled at the man, for he 'as so christened himself+ 5don0t tal$ as if yo# 'ere all#din& to people0s names9 b#t say 'hat yo# mean"6 53 mean, my dear ma0am, that 'e 'ant a little chan&e of air and scene"6 5:less the man76 said 39 5does he mean 'e or me76 53 mean yo#, ma0am"6 5Then 2ard for&ive yo#, Doctor To'ers,6 3 said9 5'hy don0t yo# &et into a habit of expressin& yo#rself in a strai&htfor'ard manner, li$e a loyal s#b;ect of o#r &racio#s <#een =ictoria, and a member of the Ch#rch of %n&land>6 To'ers la#&hed, as he &enerally does 'hen he has fid&etted me into any of my impatient 'ays4one of my states, as 3 call them4and then he be&an,4 5Tone, ma0am, Tone, is all yo# re8#ire76 He appealed to Trottle, 'ho ;#st then came in 'ith the coal?sc#ttle, loo$in&, in his nice blac$ s#it, li$e an amiable man p#ttin& on coals from motives of benevolence" Trottle @'hom 3 al'ays call my ri&ht handA has been in my service t'o?and?thirty years" He entered my service, far a'ay from %n&land" He is the best of creat#res, and the most respectable of men9 b#t, opinionated" 5-hat yo# 'ant, ma0am,6 says Trottle, ma$in& #p the fire in his 8#iet and s$ilf#l 'ay, 5is Tone"6 52ard for&ive yo# both76 says 3, b#rstin& o#t a?la#&hin&9 53 see yo# are in a conspiracy a&ainst me, so 3 s#ppose yo# m#st do 'hat yo# li$e 'ith me, and ta$e me to 2ondon for a chan&e"6 *or some 'ee$s To'ers had hinted at 2ondon, and conse8#ently 3 'as prepared for him" -hen 'e had &ot to this point, 'e &ot on so expeditio#sly, that Trottle 'as pac$ed off to 2ondon next day b#t one, to find some sort of place for me to lay my tro#blesome old head in" Trottle came bac$ to me at the -ells after t'o days0 absence, 'ith acco#nts of a charmin& place that co#ld be ta$en for six months certain, 'ith liberty to rene' on the same terms for another six, and 'hich really did afford every accommodation that 3 'anted" 5Co#ld yo# really find no fa#lt at all in the rooms, Trottle>6 3 as$ed him"

5Bot a sin&le one, ma0am" They are exactly s#itable to yo#" There is not a fa#lt in them" There is b#t one fa#lt o#tside of them"6 5Cnd 'hat0s that>6 5They are opposite a Ho#se to 2et"6 5,76 3 said, considerin& of it" 5:#t is that s#ch a very &reat ob;ection>6 53 thin$ it my d#ty to mention it, ma0am" 3t is a d#ll ob;ect to loo$ at" ,ther'ise, 3 'as so &reatly pleased 'ith the lod&in& that 3 sho#ld have closed 'ith the terms at once, as 3 had yo#r a#thority to do"6 Trottle thin$in& so hi&hly of the place, in my interest, 3 'ished not to disappoint him" Conse8#ently 3 said+ 5The empty Ho#se may let, perhaps"6 5,, dear no, ma0am,6 said Trottle, sha$in& his head 'ith decision9 5it 'on0t let" 3t never does let, ma0am"6 5.ercy me7 -hy not>6 5Bobody $no's, ma0am" Cll 3 have to mention is, ma0am, that the Ho#se 'on0t let76 5Ho' lon& has this #nfort#nate Ho#se been to let, in the name of *ort#ne>6 said 3" 5%ver so lon&,6 said Trottle" 5Dears"6 53s it in r#ins>6 53t0s a &ood deal o#t of repair, ma0am, b#t it0s not in r#ins"6 The lon& and the short of this b#siness 'as, that next day 3 had a pair of post?horses p#t to my chariot4for, 3 never travel by rail'ay+ not that 3 have anythin& to say a&ainst rail'ays, except that they came in 'hen 3 'as too old to ta$e to them9 and that they made d#c$s and dra$es of a fe' t#rnpi$e?bonds 3 had4and so 3 'ent #p myself, 'ith Trottle in the r#mble, to loo$ at the inside of this same lod&in&, and at the o#tside of this same Ho#se" Cs 3 say, 3 'ent and sa' for myself" The lod&in& 'as perfect" That, 3 'as s#re it 'o#ld be9 beca#se Trottle is the best ;#d&e of comfort 3 $no'" The empty ho#se 'as an eyesore9 and that 3 'as s#re it 'o#ld be too, for the same reason" Ho'ever, settin& the one thin& a&ainst the other, the &ood a&ainst the bad, the lod&in& very soon &ot the victory over the Ho#se" .y la'yer, .r" (8#ares, of Cro'n ,ffice 1o'9 Temple, dre' #p an a&reement9 'hich his yo#n& man ;abbered over so dreadf#lly 'hen he read it to me, that 3 didn0t #nderstand one 'ord of it except my o'n name9 and hardly that, and 3 si&ned it, and the other party si&ned it, and, in three 'ee$s0 time, 3 moved my old bones, ba& and ba&&a&e, #p to 2ondon"

*or the first month or so, 3 arran&ed to leave Trottle at the -ells" 3 made this arran&ement, not only beca#se there 'as a &ood deal to ta$e care of in the 'ay of my school?children and pensioners, and also of a ne' stove in the hall to air the ho#se in my absence, 'hich appeared to me calc#lated to blo' #p and b#rst9 b#t, li$e'ise beca#se 3 s#spect Trottle @tho#&h the steadiest of men, and a 'ido'er bet'een sixty and seventyA to be 'hat 3 call rather a Philanderer" 3 mean, that 'hen any friend comes do'n to see me and brin&s a maid, Trottle is al'ays remar$ably ready to sho' that maid the -ells of an evenin&9 and that 3 have more than once noticed the shado' of his arm, o#tside the room door nearly opposite my chair, encirclin& that maid0s 'aist on the landin&, li$e a table?cloth br#sh" Therefore, 3 tho#&ht it ;#st as 'ell, before any 2ondon Philanderin& too$ place, that 3 sho#ld have a little time to loo$ ro#nd me, and to see 'hat &irls 'ere in and abo#t the place" (o, nobody stayed 'ith me in my ne' lod&in& at first after Trottle had established me there safe and so#nd, b#t Pe&&y *lobbins, my maid9 a most affectionate and attached 'oman, 'ho never 'as an ob;ect of Philanderin& since 3 have $no'n her, and is not li$ely to be&in to become so after nine?and?t'enty years next .arch" 3t 'as the fifth of Bovember 'hen 3 first brea$fasted in my ne' rooms" The /#ys 'ere &oin& abo#t in the bro'n fo&, li$e ma&nified monsters of insects in table?beer, and there 'as a /#y restin& on the door?steps of the Ho#se to 2et" 3 p#t on my &lasses, partly to see ho' the boys 'ere pleased 'ith 'hat 3 sent them o#t by Pe&&y, and partly to ma$e s#re that she didn0t approach too near the ridic#lo#s ob;ect, 'hich of co#rse 'as f#ll of s$y?roc$ets, and mi&ht &o off into ban&s at any moment" 3n this 'ay it happened that the first time 3 ever loo$ed at the Ho#se to 2et, after 3 became its opposite nei&hbo#r, 3 had my &lasses on" Cnd this mi&ht not have happened once in fifty times, for my si&ht is #ncommonly &ood for my time of life9 and 3 'ear &lasses as little as 3 can, for fear of spoilin& it" 3 $ne' already that it 'as a ten?roomed ho#se, very dirty, and m#ch dilapidated9 that the area?rails 'ere r#sty and peelin& a'ay, and that t'o or three of them 'ere 'antin&, or half?'antin&9 that there 'ere bro$en panes of &lass in the 'indo's, and blotches of m#d on other panes, 'hich the boys had thro'n at them9 that there 'as 8#ite a collection of stones in the area, also proceedin& from those Do#n& .ischiefs9 that there 'ere &ames chal$ed on the pavement before the ho#se, and li$enesses of &hosts chal$ed on the street?door9 that the 'indo's 'ere all dar$ened by rottin& old blinds, or sh#tters, or both9 that the bills 5To 2et,6 had c#rled #p, as if the damp air of the place had &iven them cramps9 or had dropped do'n into corners, as if they 'ere no more" 3 had seen all this on my first visit, and 3 had remar$ed to Trottle, that the lo'er part of the blac$ board abo#t terms 'as split a'ay9 that the rest had become ille&ible, and that the very stone of the door?steps 'as bro$en across" Bot'ithstandin&, 3 sat at my brea$fast table on that Please to 1emember the fifth of Bovember mornin&, starin& at the Ho#se thro#&h my &lasses, as if 3 had never loo$ed at it before" Cll at once4in the first?floor 'indo' on my ri&ht4do'n in a lo' corner, at a hole in a blind or a sh#tter43 fo#nd that 3 'as loo$in& at a secret %ye" The reflection of my fire may have to#ched it and made it shine9 b#t, 3 sa' it shine and vanish" The eye mi&ht have seen me, or it mi&ht not have seen me, sittin& there in the &lo' of my fire4yo# can ta$e 'hich probability yo# prefer, 'itho#t offence4b#t somethin&

str#c$ thro#&h my frame, as if the spar$le of this eye had been electric, and had flashed strai&ht at me" 3t had s#ch an effect #pon me, that 3 co#ld not remain by myself, and 3 ran& for *lobbins, and invented some little ;obs for her, to $eep her in the room" Cfter my brea$fast 'as cleared a'ay, 3 sat in the same place 'ith my &lasses on, movin& my head, no' so, and no' so, tryin& 'hether, 'ith the shinin& of my fire and the fla's in the 'indo'?&lass, 3 co#ld reprod#ce any spar$le seemin& to be #p there, that 'as li$e the spar$le of an eye" :#t no9 3 co#ld ma$e nothin& li$e it" 3 co#ld ma$e ripples and croo$ed lines in the front of the Ho#se to 2et, and 3 co#ld even t'ist one 'indo' #p and loop it into another9 b#t, 3 co#ld ma$e no eye, nor anythin& li$e an eye" (o 3 convinced myself that 3 really had seen an eye" -ell, to be s#re 3 co#ld not &et rid of the impression of this eye, and it tro#bled me and tro#bled me, #ntil it 'as almost a torment" 3 don0t thin$ 3 'as previo#sly inclined to concern my head m#ch abo#t the opposite Ho#se9 b#t, after this eye, my head 'as f#ll of the ho#se9 and 3 tho#&ht of little else than the ho#se, and 3 'atched the ho#se, and 3 tal$ed abo#t the ho#se, and 3 dreamed of the ho#se" 3n all this, 3 f#lly believe no', there 'as a &ood Providence" :#t, yo# 'ill ;#d&e for yo#rself abo#t that, bye?and?bye" .y landlord 'as a b#tler, 'ho had married a coo$, and set #p ho#se$eepin&" They had not $ept ho#se lon&er than a co#ple of years, and they $ne' no more abo#t the Ho#se to 2et than 3 did" Beither co#ld 3 find o#t anythin& concernin& it amon& the trades?people or other'ise9 f#rther than 'hat Trottle had told me at first" 3t had been empty, some said six years, some said ei&ht, some said ten" 3t never did let, they all a&reed, and it never 'o#ld let" 3 soon felt convinced that 3 sho#ld 'or$ myself into one of my states abo#t the Ho#se9 and 3 soon did" 3 lived for a 'hole month in a fl#rry, that 'as al'ays &ettin& 'orse" To'ers0s prescriptions, 'hich 3 had bro#&ht to 2ondon 'ith me, 'ere of no more #se than nothin&" 3n the cold 'inter s#nli&ht, in the thic$ 'inter fo&, in the blac$ 'inter rain, in the 'hite 'inter sno', the Ho#se 'as e8#ally on my mind" 3 have heard, as everybody else has, of a spirit0s ha#ntin& a ho#se9 b#t 3 have had my o'n personal experience of a ho#se0s ha#ntin& a spirit9 for that Ho#se ha#nted mine" 3n all that month0s time, 3 never sa' anyone &o into the Ho#se nor come o#t of the Ho#se" 3 s#pposed that s#ch a thin& m#st ta$e place sometimes, in the dead of the ni&ht, or the &limmer of the mornin&9 b#t, 3 never sa' it done" 3 &ot no relief from havin& my c#rtains dra'n 'hen it came on dar$, and sh#ttin& o#t the Ho#se" The %ye then be&an to shine in my fire" 3 am a sin&le old 'oman" 3 sho#ld say at once, 'itho#t bein& at all afraid of the name, 3 am an old maid9 only that 3 am older than the phrase 'o#ld express" The time 'as 'hen 3 had my love?tro#ble, b#t, it is lon& and lon& a&o" He 'as $illed at sea @Dear Heaven rest his blessed head7A 'hen 3 'as t'enty?five" 3 have all my life, since ever 3 can remember, been deeply fond of children" 3 have al'ays felt s#ch a love for them, that 3 have had my sorro'f#l and sinf#l times 'hen 3 have fancied somethin& m#st have &one 'ron& in my life4somethin& m#st have been t#rned aside from its ori&inal intention 3 mean4or 3 sho#ld have been the pro#d and happy mother of many children, and a fond old &randmother this day" 3 have soon $no'n better in the cheerf#lness and contentment that /od has blessed me 'ith and &iven me ab#ndant reason for9 and yet 3 have had to dry my eyes even then, 'hen 3 have tho#&ht of my dear, brave, hopef#l,

handsome, bri&ht?eyed Charley, and the tr#st meant to cheer me 'ith" Charley 'as my yo#n&est brother, and he 'ent to 3ndia" He married there, and sent his &entle little 'ife home to me to be confined, and she 'as to &o bac$ to him, and the baby 'as to be left 'ith me, and 3 'as to brin& it #p" 3t never belon&ed to this life" 3t too$ its silent place amon& the other incidents in my story that mi&ht have been, b#t never 'ere" 3 had hardly time to 'hisper to her 5Dead my o'n76 or she to ans'er, 5Cshes to ashes, d#st to d#st7 , lay it on my breast and comfort Charley76 'hen she had &one to see$ her baby at ,#r (avio#r0s feet" 3 'ent to Charley, and 3 told him there 'as nothin& left b#t me, poor me9 and 3 lived 'ith Charley, o#t there, several years" He 'as a man of fifty, 'hen he fell asleep in my arms" His face had chan&ed to be almost old and a little stern9 b#t, it softened, and softened 'hen 3 laid it do'n that 3 mi&ht cry and pray beside it9 and, 'hen 3 loo$ed at it for the last time, it 'as my dear, #ntro#bled, handsome, yo#thf#l Charley of lon& a&o" 43 'as &oin& on to tell that the loneliness of the Ho#se to 2et bro#&ht bac$ all these recollections, and that they had 8#ite pierced my heart one evenin&, 'hen *lobbins, openin& the door, and loo$in& very m#ch as if she 'anted to la#&h b#t tho#&ht better of it, said+ 5.r" )abeE )arber, ma0am76 Fpon 'hich .r" )arber ambled in, in his #s#al abs#rd 'ay, sayin&+ 5(ophonisba76 -hich 3 am obli&ed to confess is my name" C pretty one and proper one eno#&h 'hen it 'as &iven to me+ b#t, a &ood many years o#t of date no', and al'ays so#ndin& partic#larly hi&h?flo'n and comical from his lips" (o 3 said, sharply+ 5Tho#&h it is (ophonisba, )arber, yo# are not obli&ed to mention it, that I see"6 3n reply to this observation, the ridic#lo#s man p#t the tips of my five ri&ht?hand fin&ers to his lips, and said a&ain, 'ith an a&&ravatin& accent on the third syllable+ 5(ophonisba76 3 don0t b#rn lamps, beca#se 3 can0t abide the smell of oil, and 'ax candles belon&ed to my day" 3 hope the convenient sit#ation of one of my tall old candlestic$s on the table at my elbo' 'ill be my exc#se for sayin&, that if he did that a&ain, 3 'o#ld chop his toes 'ith it" @3 am sorry to add that 'hen 3 told him so, 3 $ne' his toes to be tender"A :#t, really, at my time of life and at )arber0s, it is too m#ch of a &ood thin&" There is an orchestra still standin& in the open air at the -ells, before 'hich, in the presence of a thron& of fine company, 3 have 'al$ed a min#et 'ith )arber" :#t, there is a ho#se still standin&, in 'hich 3 have 'orn a pinafore, and had a tooth dra'n by fastenin& a thread to the tooth and the door?handle, and toddlin& a'ay from the door" Cnd ho' sho#ld 3 loo$ no', at my years, in a pinafore, or havin& a door for my dentist> :esides, )arber al'ays 'as more or less an abs#rd man" He 'as s'eetly dressed, and bea#tif#lly perf#med, and many &irls of my day 'o#ld have &iven their ears for him9 tho#&h 3 am bo#nd to add that he never cared a fi& for them, or their advances either,

and that he 'as very constant to me" *or, he not only proposed to me before my love? happiness ended in sorro', b#t after'ards too+ not once, nor yet t'ice+ nor 'ill 'e say ho' many times" Ho'ever many they 'ere, or ho'ever fe' they 'ere, the last time he paid me that compliment 'as immediately after he had presented me 'ith a di&estive dinner?pill st#c$ on the point of a pin" Cnd 3 said on that occasion, la#&hin& heartily, 5Bo', )arber, if yo# don0t $no' that t'o people 'hose #nited a&es 'o#ld ma$e abo#t a h#ndred and fifty, have &ot to be old, 3 do9 and 3 be& to s'allo' this nonsense in the form of this pill6 @'hich 3 too$ on the spotA, 5and 3 re8#est to, hear no more of it"6 Cfter that, he cond#cted himself pretty 'ell" He 'as al'ays a little s8#eeEed man, 'as )arber, in little spri&&ed 'aistcoats9 and he had al'ays little le&s and a little smile, and a little voice, and little ro#nd?abo#t 'ays" Cs lon& as 3 can remember him he 'as al'ays &oin& little errands for people, and carryin& little &ossip" Ct this present time 'hen he called me 5(ophonisba76 he had a little old?fashioned lod&in& in that ne' nei&hbo#rhood of mine" 3 had not seen him for t'o or three years, b#t 3 had heard that he still 'ent o#t 'ith a little perspective?&lass and stood on door?steps in (aint )ames0s (treet, to see the nobility &o to Co#rt9 and 'ent in his little cloa$ and &oloshes o#tside -illis0s rooms to see them &o to Clmac$0s9 and ca#&ht the fri&htf#llest colds, and &ot himself trodden #pon by coachmen and lin$men, #ntil he 'ent home to his landlady a mass of br#ises, and had to be n#rsed for a month" )arber too$ off his little f#r?collared cloa$, and sat do'n opposite me, 'ith his little cane and hat in his hand" 52et #s have no more (ophonisbain&, if you please, )arber,6 3 said" 5Call me (arah" Ho' do yo# do> 3 hope yo# are pretty 'ell"6 5Than$ yo#" Cnd yo#>6 said )arber" 53 am as 'ell as an old 'oman can expect to be"6 )arber 'as be&innin&+ 5(ay, not old, (ophon46 b#t 3 loo$ed at the candlestic$, and he left off9 pretendin& not to have said anythin&" 53 am infirm, of co#rse,6 3 said, 5and so are yo#" 2et #s both be than$f#l it0s no 'orse"6 53s it possible that yo# loo$ 'orried>6 said )arber" 53t is very possible" 3 have no do#bt it is the fact"6 5Cnd 'hat has 'orried my (oph?, soft?hearted friend,6 said )arber" 5(omethin& not easy, 3 s#ppose, to comprehend" 3 am 'orried to death by a Ho#se to 2et, over the 'ay"6 )arber 'ent 'ith his little tip?toe step to the 'indo'?c#rtains, peeped o#t, and loo$ed ro#nd at me"

5Des,6 said 3, in ans'er+ 5that ho#se"6 Cfter peepin& o#t a&ain, )arber came bac$ to his chair 'ith a tender air, and as$ed+ 5Ho' does it 'orry yo#, (?arah>6 53t is a mystery to me,6 said 3" 5,f co#rse every ho#se is a mystery, more or less9 b#t, somethin& that 3 don0t care to mention6 @for tr#ly the %ye 'as so sli&ht a thin& to mention that 3 'as more than half ashamed of itA, 5has made that Ho#se so mysterio#s to me, and has so fixed it in my mind, that 3 have had no peace for a month" 3 foresee that 3 shall have no peace, either, #ntil Trottle comes to me, next .onday"6 3 mi&ht have mentioned before, that there is a lone?standin& ;ealo#sy bet'een Trottle and )arber9 and that there is never any love lost bet'een those t'o" 5Trottle,6 pet#lantly repeated )arber, 'ith a little flo#rish of his cane9 5ho' is Trottle to restore the lost peace of (arah>6 5He 'ill exert himself to find o#t somethin& abo#t the Ho#se" 3 have fallen into that state abo#t it, that 3 really m#st discover by some means or other, &ood or bad, fair or fo#l, ho' and 'hy it is that that Ho#se remains To 2et"6 5Cnd 'hy Trottle> -hy not,6 p#ttin& his little hat to his heart9 5'hy not, )arber> 5To tell yo# the tr#th, 3 have never tho#&ht of )arber in the matter" Cnd no' 3 do thin$ of )arber, thro#&h yo#r havin& the $indness to s#&&est him4for 'hich 3 am really and tr#ly obli&ed to yo#43 don0t thin$ he co#ld do it"6 5(arah76 53 thin$ it 'o#ld be too m#ch for yo#, )arber"6 5(arah76 5There 'o#ld be comin& and &oin&, and fetchin& and carryin&, )arber, and yo# mi&ht catch cold"6 5(arah7 -hat can be done by Trottle, can be done by me" 3 am on terms of ac8#aintance 'ith every person of responsibility in this parish" 3 am intimate at the Circ#latin& 2ibrary" 3 converse daily 'ith the Cssessed Taxes" 3 lod&e 'ith the -ater 1ate" 3 $no' the .edical .an" 3 lo#n&e habit#ally at the Ho#se C&ent0s" 3 dine 'ith the Ch#rch'ardens" 3 move to the /#ardians" Trottle7 C person in the sphere of a domestic, and totally #n$no'n to society76 5Don0t be 'arm, )arber" 3n mentionin& Trottle, 3 have nat#rally relied on my 1i&ht? Hand, 'ho 'o#ld ta$e any tro#ble to &ratify even a 'him of his old mistress0s" :#t, if yo# can find o#t anythin& to help to #nravel the mystery of this Ho#se to 2et, 3 shall be f#lly as m#ch obli&ed to yo# as if there 'as never a Trottle in the land"6 )arber rose and p#t on his little cloa$" C co#ple of fierce brass lions held it ti&ht ro#nd his little throat9 b#t a co#ple of the mildest Hares mi&ht have done that, 3 am s#re"

5(arah,6 he said, 53 &o" %xpect me on .onday evenin&, the (ixth, 'hen perhaps yo# 'ill &ive me a c#p of tea94may 3 as$ for no /reen> Cdie#76 This 'as on a Th#rsday, the second of December" -hen 3 reflected that Trottle 'o#ld come bac$ on .onday, too, 3 had .y mis&ivin&s as to the diffic#lty of $eepin& the t'o po'ers from open 'arfare, and indeed 3 'as more #neasy than 3 8#ite li$e to confess" Ho'ever, the empty Ho#se s'allo'ed #p that tho#&ht next mornin&, as it s'allo'ed #p most other tho#&hts no', and the Ho#se 8#ite preyed #pon me all that day, and all the (at#rday" 3t 'as a very 'et (#nday+ rainin& and blo'in& from mornin& to ni&ht" -hen the bells ran& for afternoon ch#rch, they seemed to rin& in the commotion of the p#ddles as 'ell as in the 'ind, and they so#nded very lo#d and dismal indeed, and the street loo$ed very dismal indeed, and the Ho#se loo$ed dismallest of all" 3 'as readin& my prayers near the li&ht, and my fire 'as &ro'in& in the dar$enin& 'indo'?&lass, 'hen, loo$in& #p, as 3 prayed for the fatherless children and 'ido's and all 'ho 'ere desolate and oppressed,43 sa' the %ye a&ain" 3t passed in a moment, as it had done before9 b#t, this time, 3 'as in'ardly more convinced that 3 had seen it" -ell to be s#re, 3 had a ni&ht that ni&ht7 -henever 3 closed my o'n eyes, it 'as to see eyes" Bext mornin&, at an #nreasonably, and 3 sho#ld have said @b#t for that railroadA an impossibly early ho#r, comes Trottle" Cs soon as he had told me all abo#t the -ells, 3 told him all abo#t the Ho#se" He listened 'ith as &reat interest and attention as 3 co#ld possibly 'ish, #ntil 3 came to )abeE )arber, 'hen he cooled in an instant, and became opinionated" 5Bo', Trottle,6 3 said, pretendin& not to notice, 5'hen .r" )arber comes bac$ this evenin&, 'e m#st all lay o#r heads to&ether"6 53 sho#ld hardly thin$ that 'o#ld be 'anted, ma0am9 .r" )arber0s head is s#rely e8#al to anythin&"6 :ein& determined not to notice, 3 said a&ain, that 'e m#st all lay o#r heads to&ether" 5-hatever yo# order, ma0am, shall be obeyed" (till, it cannot be do#bted, 3 sho#ld thin$, that .r" )arber0s head is e8#al, if not s#perior, to any press#re that can be bro#&ht to bear #pon it"6 This 'as provo$in&9 and his 'ay, 'hen he came in and o#t all thro#&h the day, of pretendin& not to see the Ho#se to 2et, 'as more provo$in& still" Ho'ever, bein& 8#ite resolved not to notice, 3 &ave no si&n 'hatever that 3 did notice" :#t, 'hen evenin& came, and he sho'ed in )arber, and, 'hen )arber 'o#ldn0t be helped off 'ith his cloa$, and po$ed his cane into cane chair?bac$s and china ornaments and his o'n eye, in tryin& to #nclasp his braEen lions of himself @'hich he co#ldn0t do, after allA, 3 co#ld have sha$en them both" Cs it 'as, 3 only shoo$ the tea?pot, and made the tea" )arber had bro#&ht from #nder his cloa$, a roll of paper, 'ith 'hich he had tri#mphantly pointed over the 'ay, li$e the

/host of Hamlet0s *ather appearin& to the late .r" Gemble, and 'hich he had laid on the table" 5C discovery>6 said 3, pointin& to it, 'hen he 'as seated, and had &ot his tea?c#p" 45Don0t &o, Trottle"6 5The first of a series of discoveries,6 ans'ered )arber" 5Ccco#nt of a former tenant, compiled from the -ater 1ate, and .edical .an"6 5Don0t &o, Trottle,6 3 repeated" *or, 3 sa' him ma$in& imperceptibly to the door" 5:e&&in& yo#r pardon, ma0am, 3 mi&ht be in .r" )arber0s 'ay>6 )arber loo$ed that he decidedly tho#&ht he mi&ht be" 3 relieved myself 'ith a &ood an&ry croa$, and said4al'ays determined not to notice+ 5Have the &oodness to sit do'n, if yo# please, Trottle" 3 'ish yo# to hear this"6 Trottle bo'ed in the stiffest manner, and too$ the remotest chair he co#ld find" %ven that, he moved close to the dra#&ht from the $eyhole of the door" 5*irstly,6 )arber be&an, after sippin& his tea, 5'o#ld my (ophon46 5:e&in a&ain, )arber,6 said 3" 5-o#ld yo# be m#ch s#rprised, if this Ho#se to 2et sho#ld t#rn o#t to be the property of a relation of yo#r o'n>6 53 sho#ld indeed be very m#ch s#rprised"6 5Then it belon&s to yo#r first co#sin @3 learn, by the 'ay, that he is ill at this timeA /eor&e *orley"6 5Then that is a bad be&innin&" 3 cannot deny that /eor&e *orley stands in the relation of first co#sin to me9 b#t 3 hold no comm#nication 'ith him" /eor&e *orley has been a hard, bitter, stony father to a child no' dead" /eor&e *orley 'as most implacable and #nrelentin& to one of his t'o da#&hters 'ho made a poor marria&e" /eor&e *orley bro#&ht all the 'ei&ht of his band to bear as heavily a&ainst that cr#shed thin&, as he bro#&ht it to bear li&htly, favo#rin&ly, and advanta&eo#sly #pon her sister, 'ho made a rich marria&e" 3 hope that, 'ith the meas#re /eor&e *orley meted, it may not be meas#red o#t to him a&ain" 3 'ill &ive /eor&e *orley no 'orse 'ish"6 3 'as stron& #pon the s#b;ect, and 3 co#ld not $eep the tears o#t of my eyes9 for, that yo#n& &irl0s 'as a cr#el story, and 3 had dropped many a tear over it before" 5The ho#se bein& /eor&e *orley0s,6 said 3, 5is almost eno#&h to acco#nt for there bein& a *ate #pon it, if *ate there is" 3s there anythin& abo#t /eor&e *orley in those sheets of paper>6 5Bot a 'ord"6

53 am &lad to hear it" Please to read on" Trottle, 'hy don0t yo# come nearer> -hy do yo# sit mortifyin& yo#rself in those arctic re&ions> Come nearer"6 5Than$ yo#, ma0am9 3 am 8#ite near eno#&h to .r" )arber"6 )arber ro#nded his chair, to &et his bac$ f#ll to my opinionated friend and servant, and, be&innin& to read, tossed the 'ords at him over his @)abeE )arber0sA o'n ear and sho#lder" He read 'hat follo's+

THE (A)CHESTE& (A&&*A"E

.r" and .rs" ,pensha' came from .anchester to 2ondon and too$ the Ho#se To 2et" He had been, 'hat is called in 2ancashire, a (alesman for a lar&e man#fact#rin& firm, 'ho 'ere extendin& their b#siness, and openin& a 'areho#se in 2ondon9 'here .r" ,pensha' 'as no' to s#perintend the b#siness" He rather en;oyed the chan&e of residence9 havin& a $ind of c#riosity abo#t 2ondon, 'hich he had never yet been able to &ratify in his brief visits to the metropolis" Ct the same time he had an odd, shre'd, contempt for the inhabitants9 'hom he had al'ays pict#red to himself as fine, laEy people9 carin& nothin& b#t for fashion and aristocracy, and lo#n&in& a'ay their days in :ond (treet, and s#ch places9 r#inin& &ood %n&lish, and ready in their t#rn to despise him as a provincial" The ho#rs that the men of b#siness $ept in the city scandalised him too9 acc#stomed as he 'as to the early dinners of .anchester fol$, and the conse8#ently far lon&er evenin&s" (till, he 'as pleased to &o to 2ondon9 tho#&h he 'o#ld not for the 'orld have confessed it, even to himself, and al'ays spo$e of the step to his friends as one demanded of him by the interests of his employers, and s'eetened to him by a considerable increase of salary" His salary indeed 'as so liberal that he mi&ht have been ;#stified in ta$in& a m#ch lar&er Ho#se than this one, had he not tho#&ht himself bo#nd to set an example to 2ondoners of ho' little a .anchester man of b#siness cared for sho'" 3nside, ho'ever, he f#rnished the Ho#se 'ith an #n#s#al de&ree of comfort, and, in the 'inter time, he insisted on $eepin& #p as lar&e fires as the &rates 'o#ld allo', in every room 'here the temperat#re 'as in the least chilly" .oreover, his northern sense of hospitality 'as s#ch, that, if he 'ere at home, he co#ld hardly s#ffer a visitor to leave the ho#se 'itho#t forcin& meat and drin$ #pon him" %very servant in the ho#se 'as 'ell 'armed, 'ell fed, and $indly treated9 for their master scorned all petty savin& in a#&ht that cond#ced to comfort9 'hile he am#sed himself by follo'in& o#t all his acc#stomed habits and individ#al 'ays in defiance of 'hat any of his ne' nei&hbo#rs mi&ht thin$" His 'ife 'as a pretty, &entle 'oman, of s#itable a&e and character" He 'as forty?t'o, she thirty?five" He 'as lo#d and decided9 she soft and yieldin&" They had t'o children or rather, 3 sho#ld say, she had t'o9 for the elder, a &irl of eleven, 'as .rs" ,pensha'0s child by *ran$ -ilson her first h#sband" The yo#n&er 'as a little boy, %d'in, 'ho co#ld ;#st prattle, and to 'hom his father deli&hted to spea$ in the broadest and most #nintelli&ible 2ancashire dialect, in order to $eep #p 'hat he called the tr#e (axon accent" .rs" ,pensha'0s Christian?name 'as Clice, and her first h#sband had been her o'n co#sin" (he 'as the orphan niece of a sea?captain in 2iverpool+ a 8#iet, &rave little

creat#re, of &reat personal attraction 'hen she 'as fifteen or sixteen, 'ith re&#lar feat#res and a bloomin& complexion" :#t she 'as very shy, and believed herself to be very st#pid and a'$'ard9 and 'as fre8#ently scolded by her a#nt, her o'n #ncle0s second 'ife" (o 'hen her co#sin, *ran$ -ilson, came home from a lon& absence at sea, and first 'as $ind and protective to her9 secondly, attentive and thirdly, desperately in love 'ith her, she hardly $ne' ho' to be &ratef#l eno#&h to him" 3t is tr#e she 'o#ld have preferred his remainin& in the first or second sta&es of behavio#r9 for his violent love p#EEled and fri&htened her" Her #ncle neither helped nor hindered the love affair tho#&h it 'as &oin& on #nder his o'n eyes" *ran$0s step?mother had s#ch a variable temper, that there 'as no $no'in& 'hether 'hat she li$ed one day she 'o#ld li$e the next, or not" Ct len&th she 'ent to s#ch extremes of crossness, that Clice 'as only too &lad to sh#t her eyes and r#sh blindly at the chance of escape from domestic tyranny offered her by a marria&e 'ith her co#sin9 and, li$in& him better than any one in the 'orld except her #ncle @'ho 'as at this time at seaA she 'ent off one mornin& and 'as married to him9 her only bridesmaid bein& the ho#semaid at her a#nt0s" The conse8#ence 'as, that *ran$ and his 'ife 'ent into lod&in&s, and .rs" -ilson ref#sed to see them, and t#rned a'ay Borah, the 'arm?hearted ho#semaid9 'hom they accordin&ly too$ into their service" -hen Captain -ilson ret#rned from his voya&e, he 'as very cordial 'ith the yo#n& co#ple, and spent many an evenin& at their lod&in&s9 smo$in& his pipe, and sippin& his &ro&9 b#t he told them that, for 8#ietness0 sa$e, he co#ld not as$ them to his o'n ho#se9 for his 'ife 'as bitter a&ainst them" They 'ere not very #nhappy abo#t this" The seed of f#t#re #nhappiness lay rather in *ran$0s vehement, passionate disposition9 'hich led him to resent his 'ife0s shyness and 'ant of demonstration as fail#res in con;#&al d#ty" He 'as already tormentin& himself, and her too, in a sli&hter de&ree, by apprehensions and ima&inations of 'hat mi&ht befall her d#rin& his approachin& absence at sea" Ct last he 'ent to his father and #r&ed him to insist #pon Clice0s bein& once more received #nder his roof9 the more especially as there 'as no' a prospect of her confinement 'hile her h#sband 'as a'ay on his voya&e" Captain -ilson 'as, as he himself expressed it, 5brea$in& #p,6 and #n'illin& to #nder&o the excitement of a scene9 yet he felt that 'hat his son said 'as tr#e" (o he 'ent to his 'ife" Cnd before *ran$ 'ent to sea, he had the comfort of seein& his 'ife installed in her old little &arret in his father0s ho#se" To have placed her in the one best spare room 'as a step beyond .rs" -ilson0s po'ers of s#bmission or &enerosity" The 'orst part abo#t it, ho'ever, 'as that the faithf#l Borah had to be dismissed" Her place as ho#semaid had been filled #p9 and, even had it not, she had forfeited .rs" -ilson0s &ood opinion for ever" (he comforted her yo#n& master and mistress by pleasant prophecies of the time 'hen they 'o#ld have a ho#sehold of their o'n9 of 'hich, in 'hatever service she mi&ht be in the meantime, she sho#ld be s#re to form part" Clmost the last action *ran$ -ilson did, before settin& sail, 'as &oin& 'ith Clice to see Borah once more at her mother0s ho#se" Cnd then he 'ent a'ay" Clice0s father?in?la' &re' more and more feeble as 'inter advanced" (he 'as of &reat #se to her step?mother in n#rsin& and am#sin& him9 and, altho#&h there 'as anxiety eno#&h in the ho#sehold, there 'as perhaps more of peace than there had been for years9 for .rs" -ilson had not a bad heart, and 'as softened by the visible approach of death to one 'hom she loved, and to#ched by the lonely condition of the yo#n& creat#re, expectin& her first confinement in her h#sband0s absence" To this relentin&

mood Borah o'ed the permission to come and n#rse Clice 'hen her baby 'as born, and to remain to attend on Captain -ilson" :efore one letter had been received from *ran$ @'ho had sailed for the %ast 3ndies and ChinaA, his father died" Clice 'as al'ays &lad to remember that he had held her baby in his arms, and $issed and blessed it before his death" Cfter that, and the conse8#ent examination into the state of his affairs, it 'as fo#nd that he had left far less property than people had been led by his style of livin& to ima&ine9 and, 'hat money there 'as, 'as all settled #pon his 'ife, and at her disposal after her death" This did not si&nify m#ch to Clice, as *ran$ 'as no' first mate of his ship, and, in another voya&e or t'o, 'o#ld be captain" .ean'hile he had left her some h#ndreds @all his savin&sA in the ban$" 3t became time for Clice to hear from her h#sband" ,ne letter from the Cape she had already received" The next 'as to anno#nce his arrival in 3ndia" Cs 'ee$ after 'ee$ passed over, and no intelli&ence of the ship0s arrival reached the office of the o'ners, and the Captain0s 'ife 'as in the same state of i&norant s#spense as Clice herself, her fears &re' most oppressive" Ct len&th the day came 'hen, in reply to her in8#iry at the (hippin& ,ffice, they told her that the o'ners had &iven #p Hope of ever hearin& more of the :etsy?)ane, and had sent in their claim #pon the #nder'riters" Bo' that he 'as &one for ever, she first felt a yearnin&, lon&in& love for the $ind co#sin, the dear friend, the sympathisin& protector, 'hom she sho#ld never see a&ain,4first felt a passionate desire to sho' him his child, 'hom she had hitherto rather craved to have all to herself 4her o'n sole possession" Her &rief 'as, ho'ever, noiseless, and 8#iet4rather to the scandal of .rs" -ilson9 'ho be'ailed her step?son as if he and she had al'ays lived to&ether in perfect harmony, and 'ho evidently tho#&ht it her d#ty to b#rst into fresh tears at every stran&e face she sa'9 d'ellin& on his poor yo#n& 'ido'0s desolate state, and the helplessness of the fatherless child, 'ith an #nction, as if she li$ed the excitement of the sorro'f#l story" (o passed a'ay the first days of Clice0s 'ido'hood" :ye?and?bye thin&s s#bsided into their nat#ral and tran8#il co#rse" :#t, as if this yo#n& creat#re 'as al'ays to be in some heavy tro#ble, her e'e?lamb be&an to be ailin&, pinin& and sic$ly" The child0s mysterio#s illness t#rned o#t to be some affection of the spine li$ely to affect health9 b#t not to shorten life4at least so the doctors said" :#t the lon& dreary s#fferin& of one 'hom a mother loves as Clice loved her only child, is hard to loo$ for'ard to" ,nly Borah &#essed 'hat Clice s#ffered9 no one b#t /od $ne'" Cnd so it fell o#t, that 'hen .rs" -ilson, the elder, came to her one day in violent distress, occasioned by a very material dimin#tion in the val#e the property that her h#sband had left her,4a dimin#tion 'hich made her income barely eno#&h to s#pport herself, m#ch less Clice4the latter co#ld hardly #nderstand ho' anythin& 'hich did not to#ch health or life co#ld ca#se s#ch &rief9 and she received the intelli&ence 'ith irritatin& compos#re" :#t 'hen, that afternoon, the little sic$ child 'as bro#&ht in, and the &randmother4'ho after all loved it 'ell4be&an a fresh moan over her losses to its #nconscio#s ears4sayin& ho' she had planned to cons#lt this or that doctor, and to &ive it this or that comfort or l#x#ry in after yearn b#t that no' all chance of this had passed a'ay4Clice0s heart 'as to#ched, and she dre' near to .rs" -ilson 'ith #n'onted caresses, and, in a spirit not #nli$e to that of, 1#th, entreated, that come 'hat 'o#ld, they mi&ht remain to&ether" Cfter m#ch disc#ssion in s#cceedin& days, it 'as

arran&ed that .rs" -ilson sho#ld ta$e a ho#se in .anchester, f#rnishin& it partly 'ith 'hat f#rnit#re she had, and providin& the rest 'ith Clice0s remainin& t'o h#ndred po#nds" .rs" -ilson 'as herself a .anchester 'oman, and nat#rally lon&ed to ret#rn to her native to'n" (ome connections of her o'n at that time re8#ired lod&in&s, for 'hich they 'ere 'illin& to pay pretty handsomely" Clice #ndertoo$ the active s#perintendence and s#perior 'or$ of the ho#sehold" Borah, 'illin& faithf#l Borah, offered to coo$, sco#r, do anythin& in short, so that, she mi&ht b#t remain 'ith them" The plan s#cceeded" *or some years their first lod&ers remained 'ith them, and all 'ent smoothly,4'ith the one sad exception of the little &irl0s increasin& deformity" Ho' that mother loved that child, is not for 'ords to tell7 Then came a brea$ of misfort#ne" Their lod&ers left, and no one s#cceeded to them" Cfter some months they had to remove to a smaller ho#se9 and Clice0s tender conscience 'as torn by the idea that she o#&ht not to be a b#rden to her mother?in?la', b#t o#&ht to &o o#t and see$ her o'n maintenance" Cnd leave her child7 The tho#&ht came li$e the s'eepin& boom of a f#neral bell over her heart" :ye?and?bye, .r" ,pensha' came to lod&e 'ith them" He had started in life as the errand?boy and s'eeper?o#t of a 'areho#se9 had str#&&led #p thro#&h all the &rades of employment in the place, fi&htin& his 'ay thro#&h the hard strivin& .anchester life 'ith stron& p#shin& ener&y of character" %very spare moment of time had been sternly &iven #p to self?teachin&" He 'as a capital acco#ntant, a &ood *rench and /erman scholar, a $een, far?seein& tradesman9 #nderstandin& mar$ets, and the bearin& of events, both near and distant, on trade+ and yet, 'ith s#ch vivid attention to present details, that 3 do not thin$ he ever sa' a &ro#p of flo'ers in the fields 'itho#t thin$in& 'hether their colo#rs 'o#ld, or 'o#ld not, form harmonio#s contrasts in the comin& sprin& m#slins and prints" He 'ent to debatin& societies, and thre' himself 'ith all his heart and so#l into politics9 esteemin&, it m#st be o'ned, every man a fool or a $nave 'ho differed from him, and overthro'in& his opponents rather by the lo#d stren&th of his lan&#a&e than the calm stren&th if his lo&ic" There 'as somethin& of the Dan$ee in all this" 3ndeed his theory ran parallel to the famo#s Dan$ee motto45%n&land flo&s creation, and .anchester flo&s %n&land"6 (#ch a man, as may be fancied, had had no time for fallin& in love, or any s#ch nonsense" Ct the a&e 'hen most yo#n& men &o thro#&h their co#rtin& and matrimony, he had not the means of $eepin& a 'ife, and 'as far too practical to thin$ of havin& one" Cnd no' that he 'as in easy circ#mstances, a risin& man, he considered 'omen almost as inc#mbrances to the 'orld, 'ith 'hom a man had better have as little to do as possible" His first impression of Clice 'as indistinct, and he did not care eno#&h abo#t her to ma$e it distinct" 5C pretty yea?nay $ind of 'oman,6 'o#ld have been his description of her, if he had been p#shed into a corner" He 'as rather afraid, in the be&innin&, that her 8#iet 'ays arose from a listlessness and laEiness of character 'hich 'o#ld have been exceedin&ly discordant to his active ener&etic nat#re" :#t, 'hen he fo#nd o#t the p#nct#ality 'ith 'hich his 'ishes 'ere attended to, and her 'or$ 'as done9 'hen he 'as called in the mornin& at the very stro$e of the cloc$, his shavin&?'ater scaldin& hot, his fire bri&ht, his coffee made exactly as his pec#liar fancy dictated, @for he 'as a man 'ho had his theory abo#t everythin&, based #pon 'hat he $ne' of science, and often perfectly ori&inalA4then he be&an to thin$+ not that Clice had any pec#liar merit9 b#t that he had &ot into remar$ably &ood lod&in&s+ his restlessness 'ore a'ay, and he be&an to consider himself as almost settled for life in them"

.r" ,pensha' had been too b#sy, all his life, to be introspective" He did not $no' that he had any tenderness in his nat#re9 and if he had become conscio#s of its abstract existence, he 'o#ld have considered it as a manifestation of disease in some part of his nat#re" :#t he 'as decoyed into pity #na'ares9 and pity led on to tenderness" That little helpless child4al'ays carried abo#t by one of the three b#sy 'omen of the ho#se, or else patiently threadin& colo#red beads in the chair from 'hich, by no effort of its o'n, co#ld it ever move9 the &reat &rave bl#e eyes, f#ll of serio#s, not #ncheerf#l, expression, &ivin& to the small delicate face a loo$ beyond its years9 the soft plaintive voice droppin& o#t b#t fe' 'ords, so #nli$e the contin#al prattle of a child4ca#&ht .r" ,pensha'0s attention in spite of himself" ,ne day4he half scorned himself for doin& so4he c#t short his dinner?ho#r to &o in search of some toy 'hich sho#ld ta$e the place of those eternal beads" 3 for&et 'hat he bo#&ht9 b#t, 'hen he &ave the present @'hich he too$ care to do in a short abr#pt manner, and 'hen no one 'as by to see himA he 'as almost thrilled by the flash of deli&ht that came over that child0s face, and co#ld not help all thro#&h that afternoon &oin& over and over a&ain the pict#re left on his memory, by the bri&ht effect of #nexpected ;oy on the little &irl0s face" -hen he ret#rned home, he fo#nd his slippers placed by his sittin&?room fire9 and even more caref#l attention paid to his fancies than 'as habit#al in those model lod&in&s" -hen Clice had ta$en the last of his tea?thin&s a'ay4she had been silent as #s#al till then4 she stood for an instant 'ith the door in her hand" .r" ,pensha' loo$ed as if he 'ere deep in his boo$, tho#&h in fact he did not see a line9 b#t 'as heartily 'ishin& the 'oman 'o#ld be &one, and not ma$e any palaver of &ratit#de" :#t she only said+ 53 am very m#ch obli&ed to yo#, sir" Than$ yo# very m#ch,6 and 'as &one, even before he co#ld send her a'ay 'ith a 5There, my &ood 'oman, that0s eno#&h76 *or some time lon&er he too$ no apparent notice of the child" He even hardened his heart into disre&ardin& her s#dden fl#sh of colo#r, and little timid smile of reco&nition, 'hen he sa' her by chance" :#t, after all, this co#ld not last for ever9 and, havin& a second time &iven 'ay to tenderness, there 'as no relapse" The insidio#s enemy havin& th#s entered his heart, in the &#ise of compassion to the child, soon ass#med the more dan&ero#s form of interest in the mother" He 'as a'are of this chan&e of feelin&, despised himself for it, str#&&led 'ith it nay, internally yielded to it and cherished it, lon& before he s#ffered the sli&htest expression of it, by 'ord, action, or loo$, to escape him" He 'atched Clice0s docile obedient 'ays to her stepmother9 the love 'hich she had inspired in the ro#&h Borah @ro#&hened by the 'ear and tear of sorro' and yearsA9 b#t above all, he sa' the 'ild, deep, passionate affection existin& bet'een her and her child" They spo$e little to any one else, or 'hen any one else 'as by9 b#t, 'hen alone to&ether, they tal$ed, and m#rm#red, and cooed, and chattered so contin#ally, that .r" ,pensha' first 'ondered 'hat they co#ld find to say to each other, and next became irritated beca#se they 'ere al'ays so &rave and silent 'ith him" Cll this time, he 'as perpet#ally devisin& small ne' pleas#res for the child" His tho#&hts ran, in a pertinacio#s 'ay, #pon the desolate life before her9 and often he came bac$ from his day0s 'or$ loaded 'ith the very thin& Clice had been lon&in& for, b#t had not been able to proc#re" ,ne time it 'as a little chair for dra'in& the little s#fferer alon& the streets, and many an evenin& that ens#in& s#mmer .r" ,pensha' dre' her alon& himself, re&ardless of the remar$s of his ac8#aintances" ,ne day in a#t#mn he p#t do'n his ne'spaper, as Clice came in 'ith the brea$fast, and said, in as indifferent a voice as he co#ld ass#me+

5.rs" *ran$, is there any reason 'hy 'e t'o sho#ld not p#t #p o#r horses to&ether>6 Clice stood still in perplexed 'onder" -hat did he mean> He had res#med the readin& of his ne'spaper, as if he did not expect any ans'er9 so she fo#nd silence her safest co#rse, and 'ent on 8#ietly arran&in& his brea$fast 'itho#t another 'ord passin& bet'een them" )#st as he 'as leavin& the ho#se, to &o to the 'areho#se as #s#al, he t#rned bac$ and p#t his head into the bri&ht, neat, tidy $itchen, 'here all the 'omen brea$fasted in the mornin&+ 5Do#0ll thin$ of 'hat 3 said, .rs" *ran$6 @this 'as her name 'ith the lod&ersA, 5and let me have yo#r opinion #pon it to?ni&ht"6 Clice 'as than$f#l that her mother and Borah 'ere too b#sy tal$in& to&ether to attend m#ch to this speech" (he determined not to thin$ abo#t it at all thro#&h the day9 and, of co#rse, the effort not to thin$ made her thin$ all the more" Ct ni&ht she sent #p Borah 'ith his tea" :#t .r" ,pensha' almost $noc$ed Borah do'n as she 'as &oin& o#t at the door, by p#shin& past her and callin& o#t 5.rs" *ran$76 in an impatient voice, at the top of the stairs" Clice 'ent #p, rather than seem to have affixed too m#ch meanin& to his 'ords" 5-ell, .rs" *ran$,6 he said, 5'hat ans'er> Don0t ma$e it too lon&9 for 3 have lots of office?'or$ to &et thro#&h to?ni&ht"6 53 hardly $no' 'hat yo# meant, sir,6 said tr#thf#l Clice" 5-ell7 3 sho#ld have tho#&ht yo# mi&ht have &#essed" Do#0re not ne' at this sort of 'or$, and 3 am" Ho'ever, 30ll ma$e it plain this time" -ill yo# have me to be thy 'edded h#sband, and serve me, and love me, and hono#r me, and all that sort of thin&> :eca#se if yo# 'ill, 3 'ill do as m#ch by yo#, and be a father to yo#r child4and that0s more than is p#t in the prayer?boo$" Bo', 30m a man of my 'ord9 and 'hat 3 say, 3 feel9 and 'hat 3 promise, 30ll do" Bo', for yo#r ans'er76 Clice 'as silent" He be&an to ma$e the tea, as if her reply 'as a matter of perfect indifference to him9 b#t, as soon as that 'as done, he became impatient" 5-ell>6 said he" 5Ho' lon&, sir, may 3 have to thin$ over it>6 5Three min#tes76 @loo$in& at his 'atchA" 5Do#0ve had t'o already4that ma$es five" :e a sensible 'oman, say Des, and sit do'n to tea 'ith me, and 'e0ll tal$ it over to&ether9 for, after tea, 3 shall be b#sy9 say Bo6 @he hesitated a moment to try and $eep his voice in the same toneA, 5and 3 shan0t say another 'ord abo#t it, b#t pay #p a year0s rent for my rooms to?morro', and be off" Time0s #p7 Des or no>6 53f yo# please, sir,4yo# have been so &ood to little Cilsie46 5There, sit do'n comfortably by me on the sofa, and let #s have o#r tea to&ether" 3 am &lad to find yo# are as &ood and sensible as 3 too$ for"6

Cnd this 'as Clice -ilson0s second 'ooin&" .r" ,pensha'0s 'ill 'as too stron&, and his circ#mstances too &ood, for him not to carry all before him" He settled .rs" -ilson in a comfortable ho#se of her o'n, and made her 8#ite independent of lod&ers" The little that Clice said 'ith re&ard to f#t#re plans 'as in Borah0s behalf" 5Bo,6 said .r" ,pensha'" 5Borah shall ta$e care of the old lady as lon& as she lives9 and, after that, she shall either come and live 'ith #s, or, if she li$es it better, she shall have a provision for life4for yo#r sa$e, miss#s" Bo one 'ho has been &ood to yo# or the child shall &o #nre'arded" :#t even the little one 'ill be better for some fresh st#ff abo#t her" /et her a bri&ht, sensible &irl as a n#rse+ one 'ho 'on0t &o r#bbin& her 'ith calf0s?foot ;elly as Borah does9 'astin& &ood st#ff o#tside that o#&ht to &o in, b#t 'ill follo' doctors0 directions9 'hich, as yo# m#st see pretty clearly by this time, Borah 'on0t9 beca#se they &ive the poor little 'ench pain" Bo', 30m not above bein& nesh for other fol$s myself" 3 can stand a &ood blo', and never chan&e colo#r9 b#t, set me in the operatin&?room in the infirmary, and 3 t#rn as sic$ as a &irl" Det, if need 'ere, 3 'o#ld hold the little 'ench on my $nees 'hile she screeched 'ith pain, if it 'ere to do her poor bac$ &ood" Bay, nay, 'ench7 $eep yo#r 'hite loo$s for the time 'hen it comes43 don0t say it ever 'ill" :#t this 3 $no', Borah 'ill spare the child and cheat the doctor if she can" Bo', 3 say, &ive the bairn a year or t'o0s chance, and then, 'hen the pac$ of doctors have done their best4and, maybe, the old lady has &one4'e0ll have Borah bac$, or do better for her"6 The pac$ of doctors co#ld do no &ood to little Cilsie" (he 'as beyond their po'er" :#t her father @for so he insisted on bein& called, and also on Clice0s no lon&er retainin& the appellation of .ama, b#t becomin& hencefor'ard .otherA, by his healthy cheerf#lness of manner, his clear decision of p#rpose, his odd t#rns and 8#ir$s of h#mo#r, added to his real stron& love for the helpless little &irl, inf#sed a ne' element of bri&htness and confidence into her life9 and, tho#&h her bac$ remained the same, her &eneral health 'as stren&thened, and Clice4never &oin& beyond a smile herself4had the pleas#re of seein& her child ta#&ht to la#&h" Cs for Clice0s o'n life, it 'as happier than it had ever been" .r" ,pensha' re8#ired no demonstration, no expressions of affection from her" 3ndeed, these 'o#ld rather have dis&#sted him" Clice co#ld love deeply, b#t co#ld not tal$ abo#t it" The perpet#al re8#irement of lovin& 'ords, loo$s, and caresses, and misconstr#in& their absence into absence of love, had been the &reat trial of her former married life" Bo', all 'ent on clear and strai&ht, #nder the &#idance of her h#sband0s stron& sense, 'arm heart, and po'erf#l 'ill" Dear by year their 'orldly prosperity increased" Ct .rs" -ilson0s death, Borah came bac$ to them, as n#rse to the ne'ly?born little %d'in9 into 'hich post she 'as not installed 'itho#t a pretty stron& oration on the part of the pro#d and happy father9 'ho declared that if he fo#nd o#t that Borah ever tried to screen the boy by a falsehood, or to ma$e him nesh either in body or mind, she sho#ld &o that very day" Borah and .r" ,pensha' 'ere not on the most thoro#&hly cordial terms9 neither of them f#lly reco&nisin& or appreciatin& the other0s best 8#alities" This 'as the previo#s history of the 2ancashire family 'ho had no' removed to 2ondon, and had come to occ#py the Ho#se"

They had been there abo#t a year, 'hen .r" ,pensha' s#ddenly informed his 'ife that he had determined to heal lon&?standin& fe#ds, and had as$ed his #ncle and a#nt Chad'ic$ to come and pay them a visit and see 2ondon" .rs" ,pensha' had never seen this #ncle and a#nt of her h#sband0s" Dears before she had married him, there had been a 8#arrel" Cll she $ne' 'as, that .r" Chad'ic$ 'as a small man#fact#rer in a co#ntry to'n in (o#th 2ancashire" (he 'as extremely pleased that the breach 'as to be healed, and be&an ma$in& preparations to render their visit pleasant" They arrived at last" /oin& to see 2ondon 'as s#ch an event to them, that .rs" Chad'ic$ had made all ne' linen fresh for the occasion?from ni&ht?caps do'n'ards9 and, as for &o'ns, ribbons, and collars, she mi&ht have been &oin& into the 'ilds of Canada 'here never a shop is, so lar&e 'as her stoc$" C fortni&ht before the day of her depart#re for 2ondon, she had formally called to ta$e leave of all her ac8#aintance9 sayin& she sho#ld need all the intermediate time for pac$in& #p" 3t 'as li$e a second 'eddin& in her ima&ination9 and, to complete the resemblance 'hich an entirely ne' 'ardrobe made bet'een the t'o events, her h#sband bro#&ht her bac$ from .anchester, on the last mar$et?day before they set off, a &or&eo#s pearl and amethyst brooch, sayin&, 52#nnon sho#ld see that 2ancashire fol$s $ne' a handsome thin& 'hen they sa' it"6 *or some time after .r" and .rs" Chad'ic$ arrived at the ,pensha's0, there 'as no opport#nity for 'earin& this brooch9 b#t at len&th they obtained an order to see :#c$in&ham Palace, and the spirit of loyalty demanded that .rs" Chad'ic$ sho#ld 'ear her best clothes in visitin& the abode of her soverei&n" ,n her ret#rn, she hastily chan&ed her dress9 for .r" ,pensha' had planned that they sho#ld &o to 1ichmond, drin$ tea and ret#rn by moonli&ht" Cccordin&ly, abo#t five o0cloc$, .r" and .rs" ,pensha' and .r" and .rs" Chad'ic$ set off" The ho#semaid and coo$ sate belo', Borah hardly $ne' 'here" (he 'as al'ays en&rossed in the n#rsery, in tendin& her t'o children, and in sittin& by the restless, excitable Cilsie till she fell asleep" :ye?and?bye, the ho#semaid :essy tapped &ently at the door" Borah 'ent to her, and they spo$e in 'hispers" 5B#rse7 there0s some one do'n?stairs 'ants yo#"6 5-ants me7 -ho is it>6 5C &entleman46 5C &entleman> Bonsense76 5-ell7 a man, then, and he as$s for yo#, and he r#n& at the front door bell, and has 'al$ed into the dinin&?room"6 5Do# sho#ld never have let him,6 exclaimed Borah, 5master and miss#s o#t46 53 did not 'ant him to come in9 b#t 'hen he heard yo# lived here, he 'al$ed past me, and sat do'n on the first chair, and said, HTell her to come and spea$ to me"0 There is no &as li&hted in the room, and s#pper is all set o#t"6

5He0ll be off 'ith the spoons76 exclaimed Borah, p#ttin& the ho#semaid0s fear into 'ords, and preparin& to leave the room, first, ho'ever, &ivin& a loo$ to Cilsie, sleepin& so#ndly and calmly" Do'n?stairs she 'ent, #neasy fears stirrin& in her bosom" :efore she entered the dinin&?room she provided herself 'ith a candle, and, 'ith it in her hand, she 'ent in, loo$in& ro#nd her in the dar$ness for her visitor" He 'as standin& #p, holdin& by the table" Borah and he loo$ed at each other9 &rad#al reco&nition comin& into their eyes" 5Borah>6 at len&th he as$ed" 5-ho are yo#>6 as$ed Borah, 'ith the sharp tones of alarm and incred#lity" 53 don0t $no' yo#+6 tryin&, by f#tile 'ords of disbelief, to do a'ay 'ith the terrible fact before her" 5Cm 3 so chan&ed>6 he said, pathetically" 53 daresay 3 am" :#t, Borah, tell me76 he breathed hard, 5'here is my 'ife> 3s she4is she alive>6 He came nearer to Borah, and 'o#ld have ta$en her hand9 b#t she bac$ed a'ay from him9 loo$in& at him all the time 'ith starin& eyes, as if he 'ere some horrible ob;ect" Det he 'as a handsome, bronEed, &ood?loo$in& fello', 'ith beard and mo#stache, &ivin& him a forei&n?loo$in& aspect9 b#t his eyes7 there 'as no mista$in& those ea&er, bea#tif#l eyes4the very same that Borah had 'atched not half?an?ho#r a&o, till sleep stole softly over them" 5Tell me, Borah43 can bear it43 have feared it so often" 3s she dead>6 Borah still $ept silence" 5(he is dead76 He h#n& on Borah0s 'ords and loo$s, as if for confirmation or contradiction" 5-hat shall 3 do>6 &roaned Borah" 5,, sir7 'hy did yo# come> ho' did yo# find me o#t> 'here have yo# been> -e tho#&ht yo# dead, 'e did, indeed76 (he po#red o#t 'ords and 8#estions to &ain time, as if time 'o#ld help her" 5Borah7 ans'er me this 8#estion, strai&ht, by yes or no43s my 'ife dead>6 5Bo, she is not76 said Borah, slo'ly and heavily" 5, 'hat a relief7 Did she receive my letters> :#t perhaps yo# don0t $no'" -hy did yo# leave her> -here is she> , Borah, tell me all 8#ic$ly76 5.r" *ran$76 said Borah at last, almost driven to bay by her terror lest her mistress sho#ld ret#rn at any moment, and find him there4#nable to consider 'hat 'as best to be done or said?r#shin& at somethin& decisive, beca#se she co#ld not end#re her present state+ 5.r" *ran$7 'e never heard a line from yo#, and the shipo'ners said yo# had &one do'n, yo# and every one else" -e tho#&ht yo# 'ere dead, if ever man 'as, and poor .iss Clice and her little sic$, helpless child7 ,, sir, yo# m#st &#ess it,6 cried the poor creat#re at last, b#rstin& o#t into a passionate fit of cryin&, 5for indeed 3 cannot tell it" :#t it 'as no one0s fa#lt" /od help #s all this ni&ht76

Borah had sate do'n" (he trembled too m#ch to stand" He too$ her hands in his" He s8#eeEed them hard, as if by physical press#re, the tr#th co#ld be 'r#n& o#t" 5Borah76 This time his tone 'as calm, sta&nant as despair" 5(he has married a&ain76 Borah shoo$ her head sadly" The &rasp slo'ly relaxed" The man had fainted" There 'as brandy in the room" Borah forced some drops into .r" *ran$0s mo#th, chafed his hands, and4'hen mere animal life ret#rned, before the mind po#red in its flood of memories and tho#&hts4she lifted him #p, and rested his head a&ainst her $nees" Then she p#t a fe' cr#mbs of bread ta$en from the s#pper?table, soa$ed in brandy into his mo#th" (#ddenly he spran& to his feet" 5-here is she> Tell me this instant"6 He loo$ed so 'ild, so mad, so desperate, that Borah felt herself to be in bodily dan&er9 b#t her time of dread had &one by" (he had been afraid to tell him the tr#th, and then she had been a co'ard" Bo', her 'its 'ere sharpened by the sense of his desperate state" He m#st leave the ho#se" (he 'o#ld pity him after'ards9 b#t no' she m#st rather command and #pbraid9 for he m#st leave the ho#se before her mistress came home" That one necessity stood clear before her" 5(he is not here9 that is eno#&h for yo# to $no'" Bor can 3 say exactly 'here she is6 @'hich 'as tr#e to the letter if not to the spiritA" 5/o a'ay, and tell me 'here to find yo# to?morro', and 3 'ill tell yo# all" .y master and mistress may come bac$ at any min#te, and then 'hat 'o#ld become of me 'ith a stran&e man in the ho#se>6 (#ch an ar&#ment 'as too petty to to#ch his excited mind" 53 don0t care for yo#r master and mistress" 3f yo#r master is a man, he m#st feel for me poor ship'rec$ed sailor that 3 am4$ept for years a prisoner amon&st sava&es, al'ays, al'ays, al'ays thin$in& of my 'ife and my home4dreamin& of her by ni&ht, tal$in& to her, tho#&h she co#ld not hear, by day" 3 loved her more than all heaven and earth p#t to&ether" Tell me 'here she is, this instant, yo# 'retched 'oman, 'ho salved over her 'ic$edness to her, as yo# do to me"6 The cloc$ str#c$ ten" Desperate positions re8#ire desperate meas#res" 53f yo# 'ill leave the ho#se no', 3 'ill come to yo# to?morro' and tell yo# all" -hat is more, yo# shall see yo#r child no'" (he lies sleepin& #p?stairs" ,, sir, yo# have a child, yo# do not $no' that as yet4a little 'ea$ly &irl4'ith ;#st a heart and so#l beyond her years" -e have reared her #p 'ith s#ch care+ -e 'atched her, for 'e tho#&ht for many a year she mi&ht die any day, and 'e tended her, and no hard thin& has come near her, and no ro#&h 'ord has ever been said to her" Cnd no' yo#, come and 'ill ta$e her life into yo#r hand, and 'ill cr#sh it" (tran&ers to her have been $ind to her9 b#t her o'n father4.r" *ran$, 3 am her n#rse, and 3 love her, and 3 tend her, and 3 'o#ld do anythin& for her that 3 co#ld" Her mother0s heart beats as hers beats9 and, if she s#ffers a pain, her mother trembles all over" 3f she is happy, it is her mother that smiles and is &lad" 3f she is &ro'in& stron&er, her mother is healthy+ if she d'indles, her mother lan&#ishes" 3f she dies4'ell, 3 don0t $no'+ it is not every one can lie do'n and die 'hen they 'ish it" Come #p?stairs, .r" *ran$, and see yo#r child" (eein& her 'ill do &ood to yo#r poor heart" Then &o a'ay, in /od0s name, ;#st this one

ni&ht?to?morro', if need be, yo# can do anythin&4$ill #s all if yo# 'ill, or sho' yo#rself4a &reat &rand man, 'hom /od 'ill bless for ever and ever" Come, .r" *ran$, the loo$ of a sleepin& child is s#re to &ive peace"6 (he led him #p?stairs9 at first almost helpin& his steps, till they came near the n#rsery door" (he had almost for&otten the existence of little %d'in" 3t str#c$ #pon her 'ith affri&ht as the shaded li&ht fell #pon the other cot9 b#t she s$ilf#lly thre' that corner of the room into dar$ness, and let the li&ht fall on the sleepin& Cilsie" The child had thro'n do'n the coverin&s, and her deformity, as she lay 'ith her bac$ to them, 'as plainly visible thro#&h her sli&ht ni&ht?&o'n" Her little face, deprived of the l#stre of her eyes, loo$ed 'an and pinched, and had a pathetic expression in it, even as she slept" The poor father loo$ed and loo$ed 'ith h#n&ry, 'istf#l eyes, into 'hich the bi& tears came s'ellin& #p slo'ly, and dropped heavily do'n, as he stood tremblin& and sha$in& all over" Borah 'as an&ry 'ith herself for &ro'in& impatient of the len&th of time that lon& lin&erin& &aEe lasted" (he tho#&ht that she 'aited for f#ll half?an?ho#r before *ran$ stirred" Cnd then4instead of &oin& a'ay4he san$ do'n on his $nees by the bedside, and b#ried his face in the clothes" 2ittle Cilsie stirred #neasily" Borah p#lled him #p in terror" (he co#ld afford no more time even for prayer in her extremity of fear9 for s#rely the next moment 'o#ld brin& her mistress home" (he too$ him forcibly by the arm9 b#t, as he 'as &oin&, his eye li&hted on the other bed+ he stopped" 3ntelli&ence came bac$ into his face" His hands clenched" 5His child>6 he as$ed" 5Her child,6 replied Borah" 5/od 'atches over him,6 said she instinctively9 for *ran$0s loo$s excited her fears, and she needed to remind herself of the Protector of the helpless" 5/od has not 'atched over me,6 he said, in despair9 his tho#&hts apparently recoilin& on his o'n desolate, deserted state" :#t Borah had no time for pity" To?morro' she 'o#ld be as compassionate as her heart prompted" Ct len&th she &#ided him do'nstairs and sh#t the o#ter door and bolted it4as if by bolts to $eep o#t facts" Then she 'ent bac$ into the dinin&?room and effaced all traces of his presence as far as she co#ld" (he 'ent #pstairs to the n#rsery and sate there, her head on her hand, thin$in& 'hat 'as to come of all this misery" 3t seemed to her very lon& before they did ret#rn9 yet it 'as hardly eleven o0cloc$" (he so heard the lo#d, hearty 2ancashire voices on the stairs9 and, for the first time, she #nderstood the contrast of the desolation of the poor man 'ho had so lately &one forth in lonely despair" 3t almost p#t her o#t of patience to see .rs" ,pensha' come in, calmly smilin&, handsomely dressed, happy, easy, to in8#ire after her children" 5Did Cilsie &o to sleep comfortably>6 she 'hispered to Borah" 5Des"6 Her mother bent over her, loo$in& at her sl#mbers 'ith the soft eyes of love" Ho' little she dreamed 'ho had loo$ed on her last7 Then she 'ent to %d'in, 'ith perhaps less

'istf#l anxiety in her co#ntenance, b#t more of pride" (he too$ off her thin&s, to &o do'n to s#pper" Borah sa' her no more that ni&ht" :eside the door into the passa&e, the sleepin&?n#rsery opened o#t of .r" and .rs" ,pensha'0s room, in order that they mi&ht have the children more immediately #nder their o'n eyes" %arly the next s#mmer mornin& .rs" ,pensha' 'as a'a$ened by Cilsie0s startled call of 5.other7 mother76 (he spran& #p, p#t on her dressin&?&o'n, and 'ent to her child" Cilsie 'as only half a'a$e, and in a not #ncommon state of terror" 5-ho 'as he, mother> Tell me76 5-ho, my darlin&> Bo one is here" Do# have been dreamin& love" -a$en #p 8#ite" (ee, it is broad dayli&ht"6 5Des,6 said Cilsie, loo$in& ro#nd her9 then clin&in& to her mother, said, 5b#t a man 'as here in the ni&ht, mother"6 5Bonsense, little &oose" Bo man has ever come near yo#76 5Des, he did" He stood there" )#st by Borah" C man 'ith hair and a beard" Cnd he $nelt do'n and said his prayers" Borah $no's he 'as here, mother6 @half an&rily, as .rs" ,pensha' shoo$ her head in smilin& incred#lityA" 5-ell7 'e 'ill as$ Borah 'hen she comes,6 said .rs" ,pensha', soothin&ly" 5:#t 'e 'on0t tal$ any more abo#t him no'" 3t is not five o0cloc$9 it is too early for yo# to &et #p" (hall 3 fetch yo# a boo$ and read to yo#>6 5Don0t leave me, mother,6 said the child, clin&in& to her" (o .rs" ,pensha' sate on the bedside tal$in& to Cilsie, and tellin& her of 'hat they had done at 1ichmond the evenin& before, #ntil the little &irl0s eyes slo'ly closed and she once more fell asleep" 5-hat 'as the matter>6 as$ed .r" ,pensha', as his 'ife ret#rned to bed" 5Cilsie 'a$ened #p in a fri&ht, 'ith some story of a man havin& been in the room to say his prayers,4a dream, 3 s#ppose"6 Cnd no more 'as said at the time" .rs" ,pensha' had almost for&otten the 'hole affair 'hen she &ot #p abo#t seven o0cloc$" :#t, bye?and?bye, she heard a sharp altercation &oin& on in the n#rsery" Borah spea$in& an&rily to Cilsie, a most #n#s#al thin&" :oth .r" and .rs" ,pensha' listened in astonishment" 5Hold yo#r ton&#e, Cilsie 3 let me hear none of yo#r dreams9 never let me hear yo# tell that story a&ain76 Cilsie be&an to cry" .r" ,pensha' opened the door of comm#nication before his 'ife co#ld say a 'ord" 5Borah, come here76 The n#rse stood at the door, defiant" (he perceived she had been heard, b#t she 'as desperate"

5Don0t let me hear yo# spea$ in that manner to Cilsie a&ain,6 he said sternly, and sh#t the door" Borah 'as infinitely relieved9 for she had dreaded some 8#estionin&9 and a little blame for sharp spea$in& 'as 'hat she co#ld 'ell bear, if cross?examination 'as let alone" Do'n?stairs they 'ent, .r" ,pensha' carryin& Cilsie9 the st#rdy %d'in comin& step by step, ri&ht foot foremost, al'ays holdin& his mother0s hand" %ach child 'as placed in a chair by the brea$fast?table, and then .r" and .rs" ,pensha' stood to&ether at the 'indo', a'aitin& their visitors0 appearance and ma$in& plans for the day" There 'as a pa#se" (#ddenly .r" ,pensha' t#rned to Cilsie, and said+ 5-hat a little &oosy somebody is 'ith her dreams, 'a$in& #p poor, tired mother in the middle of the ni&ht 'ith a story of a man bein& in the room"6 5*ather7 30m s#re 3 sa' him,6 said Cilsie, half cryin&" 53 don0t 'ant to ma$e Borah an&ry9 b#t 3 'as not asleep, for all she says 3 'as" 3 had been asleep,4and 3 a'a$ened #p 8#ite 'ide a'a$e tho#&h 3 'as so fri&htened" 3 $ept my eyes nearly sh#t, and 3 sa' the man 8#ite plain" C &reat bro'n man 'ith a beard" He said his prayers" Cnd then he loo$ed at %d'in" Cnd then Borah too$ him by the arm and led him a'ay, after they had 'hispered a bit to&ether"6 5Bo', my little 'oman m#st be reasonable,6 said .r" ,pensha', 'ho 'as al'ays patient 'ith Cilsie" 5There 'as no man in the ho#se last ni&ht at all" Bo man comes into the ho#se as yo# $no', if yo# thin$9 m#ch less &oes #p into the n#rsery" :#t sometimes 'e dream somethin& has happened, and the dream is so li$e reality, that yo# are not the first person, little 'oman, 'ho has stood o#t that the thin& has really happened"6 5:#t, indeed it 'as not a dream76 said Cilsie, be&innin& to cry" )#st then .r" and .rs" Chad'ic$ came do'n, loo$in& &rave and discomposed" Cll d#rin& brea$fast time they 'ere silent and #ncomfortable" Cs soon as the brea$fast thin&s 'ere ta$en a'ay, and the children had been carried #p?stairs, .r" Chad'ic$ be&an in an evidently preconcerted manner to in8#ire if his nephe' 'as certain that all his servants 'ere honest9 for, that .rs" Chad'ic$ had that mornin& missed a very val#able brooch, 'hich she had 'orn the day before" (he remembered ta$in& it off 'hen she came home from :#c$in&ham Palace" .r" ,pensha'0s face contracted into hard lines+ &re' li$e 'hat it 'as before he had $no'n his 'ife and her child" He ran& the bell even before his #ncle had done spea$in&" 3t 'as ans'ered by the ho#semaid" 5.ary, 'as any one here last ni&ht 'hile 'e 'ere a'ay>6 5C man, sir, came to spea$ to Borah"6 5To spea$ to Borah7 -ho 'as he> Ho' lon& did he stay>6 530m s#re 3 can0t tell, sir" He came4perhaps abo#t nine" 3 'ent #p to tell Borah in the n#rsery, and she came do'n to spea$ to him" (he let him o#t, sir" (he 'ill $no' 'ho he 'as, and ho' lon& he stayed"6

(he 'aited a moment to be as$ed any more 8#estions, b#t she 'as not, so she 'ent a'ay" C min#te after'ards ,pensha' made as tho#&h he 'ere &oin& o#t of the room9 b#t his 'ife laid her hand on his arm+ 5Do not spea$ to her before the children,6 she said, in her lo', 8#iet voice" 53 'ill &o #p and 8#estion her"6 5Bo7 3 m#st spea$ to her" Do# m#st $no',6 said he, t#rnin& to his #ncle and a#nt, 5my miss#s has an old servant, as faithf#l as ever 'oman 'as, 3 do believe, as far as love &oes,4b#t, at the same time, 'ho does not al'ays spea$ tr#th, as even the miss#s m#st allo'" Bo', my notion is, that this Borah of o#rs has been come over by some &ood? for?nothin chap @for she0s at the time o0 life 'hen they say 'omen pray for h#sbands 4Hany, &ood 2ord, any,0A and has let him into o#r ho#se, and the chap has made off 'ith yo#r brooch, and m0appen many another thin& beside" 3t0s only sayin& that Borah is soft?hearted, and does not stic$ at a 'hite lie4that0s all, miss#s"6 3t 'as c#rio#s to notice ho' his tone, his eyes, his 'hole face chan&ed as he spo$e to his 'ife9 b#t he 'as the resol#te man thro#&h all" (he $ne' better than to oppose him9 so she 'ent #p?stairs, and told Borah her master 'anted to spea$ to her, and that she 'o#ld ta$e care of the children in the mean'hile" Borah rose to &o 'itho#t a 'ord" Her tho#&hts 'ere these+ 53f they tear me to pieces they shall never $no' thro#&h me" He may come,4and then ;#st 2ord have mercy #pon #s all+ for some of #s are dead fol$ to a certainty" :#t he shall do it9 not me"6 Do# may fancy, no', her loo$ of determination as she faced her master alone in the dinin&?room9 .r" and .rs" Chad'ic$ havin& left the affair in their nephe'0s hands, seein& that he too$ it #p 'ith s#ch vehemence" 5Borah7 -ho 'as that man that came to my ho#se last ni&ht>6 5.an, sir76 Cs if infinitely9 s#rprised b#t it 'as only to &ain time" 5Des9 the man 'hom .ary let in9 'hom she 'ent #p?stairs to the n#rsery to tell yo# abo#t9 'hom yo# came do'n to spea$ to9 the same chap, 3 ma$e no do#bt, 'hom yo# too$ into the n#rsery to have yo#r tal$ o#t 'ith9 'hom Cilsie sa', and after'ards dreamed abo#t9 thin$in&, poor 'ench7 she sa' him say his prayers, 'hen nothin&, 30ll be bo#nd, 'as farther from his tho#&hts9 'ho too$ .rs" Chad'ic$0s brooch, val#e ten po#nds" Bo', Borah7 Don0t &o off7 3 am as s#re as that my name0s Thomas ,pensha', that yo# $ne' nothin& of this robbery" :#t 3 do thin$ yo#0ve been imposed on, and that0s the tr#th" (ome &ood?for?nothin& chap has been ma$in& #p to yo#, and yo#0ve been ;#st li$e all other 'omen, and have t#rned a soft place in yo#r heart to him9 and he came last ni&ht a?lovyerin&, and yo# had him #p in the n#rsery, and he made #se of his opport#nities, and made off 'ith a fe' thin&s on his 'ay do'n7 Come, no', Borah+ it0s no blame to yo#, only yo# m#st not be s#ch a fool a&ain" Tell #s,6 he

contin#ed, 5'hat name he &ave yo#, Borah> 30ll be bo#nd it 'as not the ri&ht one9 b#t it 'ill be a cl#e for the police"6 Borah dre' herself #p" 5Do# may as$ that 8#estion, and ta#nt me 'ith my bein& sin&le, and 'ith my cred#lity, as yo# 'ill, .aster ,pensha'" Do#0ll &et no ans'er from me" Cs for the brooch, and the story of theft and b#r&lary9 if any friend ever came to see me @'hich 3 defy yo# to prove, and denyA, he0d be ;#st as m#ch above doin& s#ch a thin& as yo# yo#rself, .r" ,pensha', and more so, too9 for 30m not at all s#re as everythin& yo# have is ri&htly come by, or 'o#ld be yo#rs lon&, if every man had his o'n"6 (he meant, of co#rse, his 'ife9 b#t he #nderstood her to refer to his property in &oods and chattels" 5Bo', my &ood 'oman,6 said he, 530ll ;#st tell yo# tr#ly, 3 never tr#sted yo# o#t and o#t9 b#t my 'ife li$ed yo#, and 3 tho#&ht yo# had many a &ood point abo#t yo#" 3f yo# once be&in to sa#ce me, 30ll have the police to yo#, and &et o#t the tr#th in a co#rt of ;#stice, if yo#0ll not tell it me 8#ietly and civilly here" Bo' the best thin& yo# can do is 8#ietly to tell me 'ho the fello' is" 2oo$ here7 a man comes to my ho#se9 as$s for yo#9 yo# ta$e him #p?stairs, a val#able brooch is missin& next day9 'e $no' that yo#, and .ary, and coo$, are honest9 b#t yo# ref#se to tell #s 'ho the man is" 3ndeed yo#0ve told one lie already abo#t him, sayin& no one 'as here last ni&ht" Bo' 3 ;#st p#t it to yo#, 'hat do yo# thin$ a policeman 'o#ld say to this, or a ma&istrate> C ma&istrate 'o#ld soon ma$e yo# tell the tr#th, my &ood 'oman"6 5There0s never the creat#re born that sho#ld &et it o#t of me,6 said Borah" 5Bot #nless 3 choose to tell"6 530ve a &reat mind to see,6 said .r" ,pensha', &ro'in& an&ry at the defiance" Then, chec$in& himself, he tho#&ht before he spo$e a&ain+ 5Borah, for yo#r miss#s0s sa$e 3 don0t 'ant to &o to extremities" :e a sensible 'oman, if yo# can" 3t0s no &reat dis&race, after all, to have been ta$en in" 3 as$ yo# once more 4as a friend4'ho 'as this man 'hom yo# let into my ho#se last ni&ht>6 Bo ans'er" He repeated the 8#estion in an impatient tone" (till no ans'er" Borah0s lips 'ere set in determination not to spea$" 5Then there is b#t one thin& to be done" 3 shall send for a policeman"6 5Do# 'ill not,6 said Borah, startin& for'ards" 5Do# shall not, sir7 Bo policeman shall to#ch me" 3 $no' nothin& of the brooch, b#t 3 $no' this+ ever since 3 'as fo#r?and? t'enty 3 have tho#&ht more of yo#r 'ife than of myself+ ever since 3 sa' her, a poor motherless &irl p#t #pon in her #ncle0s ho#se, 3 have tho#&ht more of servin& her than of servin& myself7 3 have cared for her and her child, as nobody ever cared for me" 3 don0t cast blame on yo#, sir, b#t 3 say it0s ill &ivin& #p one0s life to any one9 for, at the end, they 'ill t#rn ro#nd #pon yo#, and forsa$e yo#" -hy does not my miss#s come herself to s#spect me> .aybe she is &one for the police> :#t 3 don0t stay here, either for police, or ma&istrate, or master" Do#0re an #nl#c$y lot" 3 believe there0s a c#rse on yo#" 30ll leave yo# this very day" Des7 3 leave that poor Cilsie, too" 3 'ill7 Bo &ood 'ill ever come to yo#76

.r" ,pensha' 'as #tterly astonished at this speech9 most of 'hich 'as completely #nintelli&ible to him, as may easily be s#pposed" :efore he co#ld ma$e #p his mind 'hat to say, or 'hat to do, Borah had left the room" 3 do not thin$ he had ever really intended to send for the police to this old servant of his 'ife0s9 for he had never for a moment do#bted her perfect honesty" :#t he had intended to compel her to tell him 'ho the man 'as, and in this he 'as baffled" He 'as, conse8#ently, m#ch irritated" He ret#rned to his #ncle and a#nt in a state of &reat annoyance and perplexity, and told them he co#ld &et nothin& o#t of the 'oman9 that some man had been in the ho#se the ni&ht before9 b#t that she ref#sed to tell 'ho he 'as" Ct this moment his 'ife came in, &reatly a&itated, and as$ed 'hat had happened to Borah9 for that she had p#t on her thin&s in passionate haste, and had left the ho#se" 5This loo$s s#spicio#s,6 said .r" Chad'ic$" 53t is not the 'ay in 'hich an honest person 'o#ld have acted"6 .r" ,pensha' $ept silence" He 'as sorely perplexed" :#t .rs" ,pensha' t#rned ro#nd on .r" Chad'ic$ 'ith a s#dden fierceness no one ever sa' in her before" 5Do# don0t $no' Borah, #ncle7 (he is &one beca#se she is deeply h#rt at bein& s#spected" ,, 3 'ish 3 had seen her4that 3 had spo$en to her myself" (he 'o#ld have told me anythin&"6 Clice 'r#n& her hands" 53 m#st confess,6 contin#ed .r" Chad'ic$ to his nephe', in a lo'er voice, 53 can0t ma$e yo# o#t" Do# #sed to be a 'ord and a blo', and oftenest the blo' first9 and no', 'hen there is every ca#se for s#spicion, yo# ;#st do no#&ht" Do#r miss#s is a very &ood 'oman, 3 &rant9 b#t she may have been p#t #pon as 'ell as other fol$, 3 s#ppose" 3f yo# don0t send for the police, 3 shall"6 5=ery 'ell,6 replied .r" ,pensha', s#rlily" 53 can0t clear Borah" (he 'on0t clear herself, as 3 believe she mi&ht if she 'o#ld" ,nly 3 'ash my hands of it9 for 3 am s#re the 'oman herself is honest, and she0s lived a lon& time 'ith my 'ife, and 3 don0t li$e her to come to shame"6 5:#t she 'ill then be forced to clear herself" That, at any rate, 'ill be a &ood thin&"6 5=ery 'ell, very 'ell7 3 am heart?sic$ of the 'hole b#siness" Come, Clice, come #p to the babies they0ll be in a sore 'ay" 3 tell yo#, #ncle76 he said, t#rnin& ro#nd once more to .r" Chad'ic$, s#ddenly and sharply, after his eye had fallen on Clice0s 'an, tearf#l, anxio#s face9 530ll have none sendin& for the police after all" 30ll b#y my a#nt t'ice as handsome a brooch this very day9 b#t 30ll not have Borah s#spected, and my miss#s pla&#ed" There0s for yo#"6 He and his 'ife left the room" .r" Chad'ic$ 8#ietly 'aited till he 'as o#t of hearin&, and then aid to his 'ife9 5*or all Tom0s heroics, 30m ;#st 8#ietly &oin& for a detective, 'ench" Tho# need0st $no' no#&ht abo#t it"6 He 'ent to the police?station, and made a statement of the case" He 'as &ratified by the impression 'hich the evidence a&ainst Borah seemed to ma$e" The men all a&reed in his opinion, and steps 'ere to be immediately ta$en to find o#t 'here she 'as" .ost probably, as they s#&&ested, she had &one at once to the man, 'ho, to all appearance,

'as her lover" -hen .r" Chad'ic$ as$ed ho' they 'o#ld find her o#t> they smiled, shoo$ their heads, and spo$e of mysterio#s b#t infallible 'ays and means" He ret#rned to his nephe'0s ho#se 'ith a very comfortable opinion of his o'n sa&acity" He 'as met by his 'ife 'ith a penitent face+ 5, master, 30ve fo#nd my brooch7 3t 'as ;#st stic$in& by its pin in the flo#nce of my bro'n sil$, that 3 'ore yesterday" 3 too$ it off in a h#rry, and it m#st have ca#&ht in it9 and 3 h#n& #p my &o'n in the closet" )#st no', 'hen 3 'as &oin& to fold it #p, there 'as the brooch7 30m very vexed, b#t 3 never dreamt b#t 'hat it 'as lost76 Her h#sband m#tterin& somethin& very li$e 5Confo#nd thee and thy brooch too7 3 'ish 30d never &iven it thee,6 snatched #p his hat, and r#shed bac$ to the station9 hopin& to be in time to stop the police from searchin& for Borah" :#t a detective 'as already &one off on the errand" -here 'as Borah> Half mad 'ith the strain of the fearf#l secret, she had hardly slept thro#&h the ni&ht for thin$in& 'hat m#st be done" Fpon this terrible state of mind had come Cilsie0s 8#estions, sho'in& that she had seen the .an, as the #nconscio#s child called her father" 2astly came the s#spicion of her honesty" (he 'as little less than craEy as she ran #p?stairs and dashed on her bonnet and sha'l9 leavin& all else, even her p#rse, behind her" 3n that ho#se she 'o#ld not stay" That 'as all she $ne' or 'as clear abo#t" (he 'o#ld not even see the children a&ain, for fear it sho#ld 'ea$en her" (he feared above everythin& .r" *ran$0s ret#rn to claim his 'ife" (he co#ld not tell 'hat remedy there 'as for a sorro' so tremendo#s, for her to stay to 'itness" The desire of escapin& from the comin& event 'as a stron&er motive for her depart#re than her soreness abo#t the s#spicions directed a&ainst her9 altho#&h this last had been the final &oad to the co#rse she too$" (he 'al$ed a'ay almost at headlon& speed9 sobbin& as she 'ent, as she had not dared to do d#rin& the past ni&ht for fear of excitin& 'onder in those 'ho mi&ht hear her" Then she stopped" Cn idea came into her mind that she 'o#ld leave 2ondon alto&ether, and beta$e herself to her native to'n of 2iverpool" (he felt in her poc$et for her p#rse, as she dre' near the %#ston (8#are station 'ith this intention" (he had left it at home" Her poor head achin&, her eyes s'ollen 'ith cryin&, she had to stand still, and thin$, as 'ell as she co#ld, 'here next she sho#ld bend her steps" (#ddenly the tho#&ht flashed into her mind that she 'o#ld &o and find o#t poor .r" *ran$" (he had been hardly $ind to him the ni&ht before, tho#&h her heart had bled for him ever since" (he remembered his tellin& her as she in8#ired for his address, almost as she had p#shed him o#t of the door, of some hotel in a street not far distant from %#ston (8#are" Thither she 'ent+ 'ith 'hat intention she hardly $ne', b#t to ass#a&e her conscience by tellin& him ho' m#ch she pitied him" 3n her present state she felt herself #nfit to co#nsel, or restrain, or assist, or do o#&ht else b#t sympathise and 'eep" The people of the inn said s#ch a person had been there9 had arrived only the day before9 had &one o#t soon after his arrival, leavin& his l#&&a&e in their care9 b#t had never come bac$" Borah as$ed for leave to sit do'n, and a'ait the &entleman0s ret#rn" The landlady4pretty sec#re in the deposit of l#&&a&e a&ainst any probable in;#ry4 sho'ed her into a room, and 8#ietly loc$ed the door on the o#tside" Borah 'as #tterly 'orn o#t, and fell asleep4a shiverin&, startin&, #neasy sl#mber, 'hich lasted for ho#rs" The detective, mean'hile, had come #p 'ith her some time before she entered the hotel, into 'hich he follo'ed her" Cs$in& the landlady to detain her for an ho#r or so, 'itho#t &ivin& any reason beyond sho'in& his a#thority @'hich made the landlady appla#d

herself a &ood deal for havin& loc$ed her inA, he 'ent bac$ to the police?station to report his proceedin&s" He co#ld have ta$en her directly9 b#t his ob;ect 'as, if possible, to trace o#t the man 'ho 'as s#pposed to have committed the robbery" Then he heard of the discovery of the brooch9 and conse8#ently did not care to ret#rn" Borah slept till even the s#mmer evenin& be&an to close in" Then #p" (ome one 'as at the door" 3t 'o#ld be .r" *ran$9 and she diEEily p#shed bac$ her r#ffled &rey hair, 'hich had fallen over her eyes, and stood loo$in& to see him" 3nstead, there came in .r" ,pensha' and a policeman" 5This is Borah Gennedy,6 said .r" ,pensha'" 5,, sir,6 said Borah, 53 did not to#ch the brooch9 indeed 3 did not" ,, sir, 3 cannot live to be tho#&ht so badly of96 and very sic$ and faint, she s#ddenly san$ do'n on the &ro#nd" To her s#rprise, .r" ,pensha' raised her #p very tenderly" %ven the policeman helped to lay her on the sofa9 and, at .r" ,pensha'0s desire, he 'ent for some 'ine and sand'iches9 for the poor &a#nt 'oman lay there almost as if dead 'ith 'eariness and exha#stion" 5Borah76 said .r" ,pensha', in his $indest voice, 5the brooch is fo#nd" 3t 'as han&in& to .rs" Chad'ic$0s &o'n" 3 be& yo#r pardon" .ost tr#ly 3 be& yo#r pardon, for havin& tro#bled yo# abo#t it" .y 'ife is almost bro$en?hearted" %at, Borah,4or, stay, first drin$ this &lass of 'ine,6 said he, liftin& her head, po#rin& a little do'n her throat" Cs she dran$, she remembered 'here she 'as, and 'ho she 'as 'aitin& for" (he s#ddenly p#shed .r" ,pensha' a'ay, sayin&, 5,, sir, yo# m#st &o" Do# m#st not stop a min#te" 3f he comes bac$ he 'ill $ill yo#"6 5Clas, Borah7 3 do not $no' 'ho Hhe0 is" :#t some one is &one a'ay 'ho 'ill never come bac$+ someone 'ho $ne' yo#, and 'hom 3 am afraid yo# cared for"6 53 don0t #nderstand yo#, sir,6 said Borah, her master0s $ind and sorro'f#l manner be'ilderin& her yet more than his 'ords" The policeman had left the room at .r" ,pensha'0s desire, and they t'o 'ere alone" 5Do# $no' 'hat 3 mean, 'hen 3 say some one is &one 'ho 'ill never come bac$" 3 mean that he is dead76 5-ho>6 said Borah, tremblin& all over" 5C poor man has been fo#nd in the Thames this mornin&, dro'ned"6 5Did he dro'n himself>6 as$ed Borah, solemnly" 5/od only $no's,6 replied .r" ,pensha', in the same tone" 5Do#r name and address at o#r ho#se, 'ere fo#nd in his poc$et+ that, and his p#rse, 'ere the only thin&s, that 'ere fo#nd #pon him" 3 am sorry to say it, my poor Borah9 b#t yo# are re8#ired to &o and identify him"6 5To 'hat>6 as$ed Borah"

5To say 'ho it is" 3t is al'ays done, in order that some reason may be discovered for the s#icide4if s#icide it 'as" 3 ma$e no do#bt he 'as the man 'ho came to see yo# at o#r ho#se last ni&ht" 3t is very sad, 3 $no'"6 He made pa#ses bet'een each little cla#se, in order to try and brin& bac$ her senses9 'hich he feared 'ere 'anderin&4so 'ild and sad 'as her loo$" 5.aster ,pensha',6 said she, at last, 530ve a dreadf#l secret to tell yo#4only yo# m#st never breathe it to any one, and yo# and 3 m#st hide it a'ay for ever" 3 tho#&ht to have done it all by myself, b#t 3 see 3 cannot" Don poor man4yes7 the dead, dro'ned creat#re is, 3 fear, .r" *ran$, my mistress0s first h#sband76 .r" ,pensha' sate do'n, as if shot" He did not spea$9 b#t, after a 'hile, he si&ned to Borah to &o on" 5He came to me the other ni&ht4'hen4/od be than$ed4yo# 'ere all a'ay at 1ichmond" He as$ed me if his 'ife 'as dead or alive" 3 'as a br#te, and tho#&ht more of o#r all comin& home than of his sore trial+ spo$e o#t sharp, and said she 'as married a&ain, and very content and happy+ 3 all b#t t#rned him a'ay+ and no' he lies dead and cold76 5/od for&ive me76 said .r" ,pensha'" 5/od for&ive #s all76 said Borah" 5Don poor man needs for&iveness perhaps less than any one amon& #s" He had been amon& the sava&es4ship'rec$ed43 $no' not 'hat4 and he had 'ritten letters 'hich had never reached my poor miss#s"6 5He sa' his child76 5He sa' her4yes7 3 too$ him #p, to &ive his tho#&hts another start9 for 3 believed he 'as &oin& mad on my hands" 3 came to see$ him here, as 3 more than half promised" .y mind mis&ave me 'hen 3 heard he had never come in" ,, sir 3 it m#st be him76 .r" ,pensha' ran& the bell" Borah 'as almost too m#ch st#nned to 'onder at 'hat he did" He as$ed for 'ritin& materials, 'rote a letter, and then said to Borah+ 53 am 'ritin& to Clice, to say 3 shall be #navoidably absent for a fe' days9 that 3 have fo#nd yo#9 that yo# are 'ell, and send her yo#r love, and 'ill come home to?morro'" Do# m#st &o 'ith me to the Police Co#rt9 yo# m#st identify the body+ 3 'ill pay hi&h to $eep name9 and details o#t of the papers" 5:#t 'here are yo# &oin&, sir>6 He did not ans'er her directly" Then he said+ 5Borah7 3 m#st &o 'ith yo#, and loo$ on the face of the man 'hom 3 have so in;#red,4 #n'ittin&ly, it is tr#e9 b#t it seems to me as if 3 had $illed him" 3 'ill lay his head in the &rave, as if he 'ere my only brother+ and ho' he m#st have hated me7 3 cannot &o home to my 'ife till all that 3 can do for him is done" Then 3 &o 'ith a dreadf#l secret on my mind" 3 shall never spea$ of it a&ain, after these days are over" 3 $no' yo# 'ill

not, either"6 He shoo$ hands 'ith her+ and they never named the s#b;ect a&ain, the one to the other" Borah 'ent home to Clice the next day" Bot a 'ord 'as said on the ca#se of her abr#pt depart#re a day or t'o before" Clice had been char&ed by her h#sband in his letter not to all#de to the s#pposed theft of the brooch9 so she, implicitly obedient to those 'hom she loved both by nat#re and habit, 'as entirely silent on the s#b;ect, only treated Borah 'ith the most tender respect, as if to ma$e #p for #n;#st s#spicion" Bor did Clice in8#ire into the reason 'hy .r" ,pensha' had been absent d#rin& his #ncle and a#nt0s visit, after he had once said that it 'as #navoidable" He came bac$, &rave and 8#iet9 and, from that time forth, 'as c#rio#sly chan&ed" .ore tho#&htf#l, and perhaps less active9 8#ite as decided in cond#ct, b#t 'ith ne' and different r#les for the &#idance of that cond#ct" To'ards Clice he co#ld hardly be more $ind than he had al'ays been9 b#t he no' seemed to loo$ #pon her as some one sacred and to be treated 'ith reverence, as 'ell as tenderness" He throve in b#siness, and made a lar&e fort#ne, one half of 'hich 'as settled #pon her" IIIII 2on& years after these events,4a fe' months after her mother died, Cilsie and her 5father6 @as she al'ays called .r" ,pensha'A drove to a cemetery a little 'ay o#t of to'n, and she 'as carried to a certain mo#nd by her maid, 'ho 'as then sent bac$ to the carria&e" There 'as a head?stone, 'ith *" -" and a date" That 'as all" (ittin& by the &rave, .r" ,pensha' told her the story9 and for the sad fate of that poor father 'hom she had never seen, he shed the only tears she ever sa' fall from his eyes" IIIII 5C most interestin& story, all thro#&h,6 3 said, as )arber folded #p the first of his series of discoveries in tri#mph" 5C story that &oes strai&ht to the heart4especially at the end" :#t643 stopped, and loo$ed at Trottle" Trottle entered his protest directly in the shape of a co#&h" 5-ell76 3 said, be&innin& to lose my patience" 5Don0t yo# see that 3 'ant yo# to spea$, and that 3 don0t 'ant yo# to co#&h>6 5<#ite so, ma0am,6 said Trottle, in a state of respectf#l obstinacy 'hich 'o#ld have #pset the temper of a saint" 51elative, 3 pres#me, to this story, ma0am>6 5Des, Des76 said )arber" 5:y all means let #s hear 'hat this &ood man has to say"6 5-ell, sir,6 ans'ered Trottle, 53 'ant to $no' 'hy the Ho#se over the 'ay doesn0t let, and 3 don0t exactly see ho' yo#r story ans'ers the 8#estion" That0s all 3 have to say, sir"6 3 sho#ld have li$ed to contradict my opinionated servant, at that moment" :#t, excellent as the story 'as in itself, 3 felt that he had hit on the 'ea$ point, so far as )arber0s partic#lar p#rpose in readin& it 'as concerned"

5Cnd that is 'hat yo# have to say, is it>6 repeated )arber" 53 enter this room anno#ncin& that 3 have a series of discoveries, and yo# ;#mp instantly to the concl#sion that the first of the series exha#sts my reso#rces" Have 3 yo#r permission, dear lady, to enli&hten this obt#se person, if possible, by readin& B#mber T'o>6 5.y 'or$ is behindhand, ma0am,6 said Trottle, movin& to the door, the moment 3 &ave )arber leave to &o on" 5(top 'here yo# are,6 3 said, in my most peremptory manner, 5and &ive .r" )arber his fair opport#nity of ans'erin& yo#r ob;ection no' yo# have made it"6 Trottle sat do'n 'ith the loo$ of a martyr, and )arber be&an to read 'ith his bac$ t#rned on the enemy more decidedly than ever"

"O*)" *)TO SOC*ET'

Ct one period of its reverses, the Ho#se fell into the occ#pation of a (ho'man" He 'as fo#nd re&istered as its occ#pier, on the parish boo$s of the time 'hen he rented the Ho#se, and there 'as therefore no need of any cl#e to his name" :#t, he himself 'as less easy to be fo#nd9 for, he had led a 'anderin& life, and settled people had lost si&ht of him, and people 'ho pl#med themselves on bein& respectable 'ere shy of admittin& that they had ever $no'n anythin& of him" Ct last, amon& the marsh lands near the river0s level, that lie abo#t Deptford and the nei&hbo#rin& mar$et?&ardens, a /riEEled Persona&e in velveteen, 'ith a face so c#t #p by varieties of 'eather that he loo$ed as if he had been tattooed, 'as fo#nd smo$in& a pipe at the door of a 'ooden ho#se on 'heels" The 'ooden ho#se 'as laid #p in ordinary for the 'inter, near the mo#th of a m#ddy cree$9 and everythin& near it, the fo&&y river, the misty marshes, and the steamin& mar$et?&ardens, smo$ed in company 'ith the &riEEled man" 3n the midst of this smo$in& party, the f#nnel?chimney of the 'ooden ho#se on 'heels 'as not remiss, b#t too$ its pipe 'ith the rest in a companionable manner" ,n bein& as$ed if it 'ere he 'ho had once rented the Ho#se to 2et, /riEEled =elveteen loo$ed s#rprised, and said yes" Then his name 'as .a&sman> That 'as it, Toby .a&sman4'hich la'f#lly christened 1obert9 b#t called in the line, from a infant, Toby" There 'as nothin& a&in Toby .a&sman, he believed> 3f there 'as s#spicion of s#ch4mention it7 There 'as no s#spicion of s#ch, he mi&ht rest ass#red" :#t, some in8#iries 'ere ma$in& abo#t that Ho#se, and 'o#ld he ob;ect to say 'hy he left it> Bot at all9 'hy sho#ld he> He left it, alon& of a D'arf" Clon& of a D'arf> .r" .a&sman repeated, deliberately and emphatically, Clon& of a D'arf" .i&ht it be compatible 'ith .r" .a&sman0s inclination and convenience to enter, as a favo#r, into a fe' partic#lars> .r" .a&sman entered into the follo'in& partic#lars"

3t 'as a lon& time a&o, to be&in 'ith94afore lotteries and a deal more 'as done a'ay 'ith" .r" .a&sman 'as loo$in& abo#t for a &ood pitch, and he see that ho#se, and he says to himself, 530ll have yo#, if yo#0re to be had" 3f money0ll &et yo#, 30ll have yo#"6 The nei&hbo#rs c#t #p ro#&h, and made complaints9 b#t .r" .a&sman don0t $no' 'hat they would have had" 3t 'as a lovely thin&" *irst of all, there 'as the canvass, representin the picter of the /iant, in (panish tr#n$s and a r#ff, 'ho 'as himself half the hei&hth of the ho#se, and 'as r#n #p 'ith a line and p#lley to a pole on the roof, so that his %d 'as coeval 'ith the parapet" Then, there 'as the canvass, representin the picter of the Clbina lady, sho'in& her 'hite air to the Crmy and Bavy in correct #niform" Then, there 'as the canvass, representin the picter of the -ild 3ndian a scalpin a member of some forei&n nation" Then, there 'as the canvass, representin the picter of a child of a :ritish Planter, seiEed by t'o :oa Constrictors4not that we never had no child, nor no Constrictors neither" (imilarly, there 'as the canvass, representin the picter of the -ild Css of the Prairies4not that we never had no 'ild asses, nor 'o#ldn0t have had 0em at a &ift" 2ast, there 'as the canvass, representin the picter of the D'arf, and li$e him too @considerinA, 'ith /eor&e the *o#rth in s#ch a state of astonishment at him as His .a;esty co#ldn0t 'ith his #tmost politeness and sto#tness express" The front of the Ho#se 'as so covered 'ith canvasses, that there 'asn0t a spar$ of dayli&ht ever visible on that side" 5.C/(.CB0( C.F(%.%BT(,6 fifteen foot lon& by t'o foot hi&h, ran over the front door and parlo#r 'inders" The passa&e 'as a Crbo#r of &reen baiEe and &ardenst#ff" C barrel?or&an performed there #nceasin&" Cnd as to respectability,4if threepence ain0t respectable, 'hat is> :#t, the D'arf is the principal article at present, and he 'as 'orth the money" He 'as 'rote #p as .C),1 TP(CH,**G3, ,* TH% 3.P%13C2 :F2/1CD%13CB :13/CD%" Bobody co#ldn0t prono#nce the name, and it never 'as intended anybody sho#ld" The p#blic al'ays t#rned it, as a re&#lar r#le, into Chops$i" 3n the line he 'as called Chops9 partly on that acco#nt, and partly beca#se his real name, if he ever had any real name @'hich 'as very d#bio#sA, 'as (ta$es" He 'as a #ncommon small man, he really 'as" Certainly not so small as he 'as made o#t to be, b#t 'here is yo#r D'arf as is> He 'as a most #ncommon small man, 'ith a most #ncommon lar&e %d9 and 'hat he had inside that %d, nobody ever $no'ed b#t himself+ even s#pposin himself to have ever too$ stoc$ of it, 'hich it 'o#ld have been a stiff ;ob for even him to do" The $indest little man as never &ro'ed7 (pirited, b#t not pro#d" -hen he travelled 'ith the (potted :aby4tho#&h he $no'ed himself to be a nat0ral D'arf, and $no'ed the :aby0s spots to be p#t #pon him artificial, he n#rsed that :aby li$e a mother" Do# never heerd him &ive a ill?name to a /iant" He did allo' himself to brea$ o#t into stron& lan&#a&e respectin the *at 2ady from Borfol$9 b#t that 'as an affair of the 0art9 and 'hen a man0s 0art has been trifled 'ith by a lady, and the preference &iv to a 3ndian, he ain0t master of his actions" He 'as al'ays in love, of co#rse9 every h#man nat0ral phenomenon is" Cnd he 'as al'ays in love 'ith a lar&e 'oman9 3 never $no'ed the D'arf as co#ld be &ot to love a small one" -hich helps to $eep 0em the C#riosities they are"

,ne sin&0ler idea he had in that %d of his, 'hich m#st have meant somethin&, or it 'o#ldn0t have been there" 3t 'as al'ays his opinion that he 'as entitled to property" He never 'o#ld p#t his name to anythin&" He had been ta#&ht to 'rite, by the yo#n& man 'itho#t arms, 'ho &ot his livin& 'ith his toes @8#ite a 'ritin& master he 'as, and ta#&ht scores in the lineA, b#t Chops 'o#ld have starved to death, afore he0d have &ained a bit of bread by p#ttin& his hand to a paper" This is the more c#rio#s to bear in mind, beca#se H% had no property, nor hope of property, except his ho#se and a sarser" -hen 3 say his ho#se, 3 mean the box, painted and &ot #p o#tside li$e a re&0lar six? roomer, that he #sed to creep into, 'ith a diamond rin& @or 8#ite as &ood to loo$ atA on his forefin&er, and rin& a little bell o#t of 'hat the P#blic believed to be the Dra'in&? room 'inder" Cnd 'hen 3 say a sarser, 3 mean a Chaney sarser in 'hich he made a collection for himself at the end of every %ntertainment" His c#e for that, he too$ from me+ 52adies and &entlemen, the little man 'ill no' 'al$ three times ro#nd the Caira'an, and retire behind the c#rtain"6 -hen he said anythin& important, in private life, he mostly 'o#nd it #p 'ith this form of 'ords, and they 'as &enerally the last thin& he said to me at ni&ht afore he 'ent to bed" He had 'hat 3 consider a fine mind4a poetic mind" His ideas respectin his property never come #pon him so stron& as 'hen he sat #pon a barrel?or&an and had the handle t#rned" Crter the 'ibration had r#n thro#&h him a little time, he 'o#ld screech o#t, 5Toby, 3 feel my property comin&4&rind a'ay7 30m co#ntin& my &#ineas by tho#sands, Toby4&rind a'ay7 Toby, 3 shall be a man of fort#n7 3 feel the .int a ;in&lin& in me, Toby, and 30m s'ellin& o#t into the :an$ of %n&land76 (#ch is the infl#ence of m#sic on a poetic mind" Bot that he 'as partial to any other m#sic b#t a barrel?or&an9 on the contrary, hated it" He had a $ind of a everlastin& &r#d&e a&in the P#blic+ 'hich is a thin& yo# may notice in many phenomenons that &et their livin& o#t of it" -hat riled him most in the nater of his occ#pation 'as, that it $ep him o#t of (ociety" He 'as contini'ally sayin&, 5Toby, my ambition is, to &o into (ociety" The c#rse of my position to'ards the P#blic is, that it $eeps me ho#t of (ociety" This don0t si&nify to a lo' beast of a 3ndian9 he an0t formed for (ociety" This don0t si&nify to a (potted :aby9 he an0t formed for (ociety"4 3 am"6 Bobody never co#ld ma$e o#t 'hat Chops done 'ith his money" He had a &ood salary, do'n on the dr#m every (at#rday as the day came ro#nd, besides havin& the r#n of his teeth4and he 'as a -oodpec$er to eat4b#t all D'arfs are" The sarser 'as a little income, brin&in& him in so many halfpence that he0d carry 0em for a 'ee$ to&ether, tied #p in a poc$et?hand$ercher" Cnd yet he never had money" Cnd it co#ldn0t be the *at 2ady from Borfol$, as 'as once s#pposed9 beca#se it stands to reason that 'hen yo# have a animosity to'ards a 3ndian, 'hich ma$es yo# &rind yo#r teeth at him to his face, and 'hich can hardly hold yo# from /oosin& him a#dible 'hen he0s &oin& thro#&h his -ar?Dance4it stands to reason yo# 'o#ldn0t #nder them circ#mstances deprive yo#rself, to s#pport that 3ndian in the lap of l#x#ry" .ost #nexpected, the mystery come o#t one day at %&ham 1aces" The P#blic 'as shy of bein p#lled in, and Chops 'as rin&in his little bell o#t of his dra'in&?room 'inder, and 'as snarlin to me over his sho#lder as he $neeled do'n 'ith his le&s o#t at the bac$?door4for he co#ldn0t be shoved into his ho#se 'itho#t $neelin& do'n, and the premises 'o#ldn0t accommodate his le&s4'as snarlin, 5Here0s a precio#s P#blic for

yo#9 'hy the Devil don0t they t#mble #p>6 'hen a man in the cro'd holds #p a carrier? pi&eon, and cries o#t, 53f there0s any person here as has &ot a tic$et, the 2ottery0s ;#st dra'ed, and the n#mber as has come #p for the &reat priEe is three, seven, forty?t'o7 Three, seven, forty?t'o76 3 'as &ivin the man to the *#ries myself, for callin& off the P#blic0s attention4for the P#blic 'ill t#rn a'ay, at any time, to loo$ at anythin& in preference to the thin& sho'ed 0em9 and if yo# do#bt it, &et 0em to&ether for any indi'id#al p#rpose on the face of the earth, and send only t'o people in late, and see if the 'hole company an0t far more interested in ta$in partic#lar notice of them t'o than of yo#43 say, 3 'asn0t best pleased 'ith the man for callin o#t, and 'asn0t blessin him in my o'n mind, 'hen 3 see Chops0s little bell fly o#t of 'inder at a old lady, and he &ets #p and $ic$s his box over, exposin the 'hole secret, and he catches hold of the calves of my le&s and he says to me, 5Carry me into the 'an, Toby, and thro' a pail of 'ater over me or 30m a dead man, for 30ve come into my property76 T'elve tho#sand odd h#ndred po#nd, 'as Chops0s 'innins" He had bo#&ht a half? tic$et for the t'enty?five tho#sand priEe, and it had come #p" The first #se he made of his property, 'as, to offer to fi&ht the -ild 3ndian for five h#ndred po#nd a side, him 'ith a poisoned darnin?needle and the 3ndian 'ith a cl#b9 b#t the 3ndian bein& in 'ant of bac$ers to that amo#nt, it 'ent no f#rther" Crter he had been mad for a 'ee$4in a state of mind, in short, in 'hich, if 3 had let him sit on the or&an for only t'o min#tes, 3 believe he 'o#ld have b#st4b#t 'e $ep the or&an from him4.r" Chops come ro#nd, and behaved liberal and bea#tif#l to all" He then sent for a yo#n& man he $no'ed, as had a 'ery &enteel appearance and 'as a :onnet at a &amin&?booth @most respectable bro#&ht #p, father havin been imminent in the livery stable line b#t #nfort0nate in a commercial crisis, thro#&h paintin a old &ray, &in&er?bay, and sellin him 'ith a Pedi&reeA, and .r" Chops said to this :onnet, 'ho said his name 'as Bormandy, 'hich it 'asn0t+ 5Bormandy, 30m a &oin into (ociety" -ill yo# &o 'ith me>6 (ays Bormandy+ 5Do 3 #nderstand yo#, .r" Chops, to hintimate that the 0ole of the expenses of that move 'ill be borne by yo#rself>6 5Correct,6 says .r" Chops" 5Cnd yo# shall have a Princely allo'ance too"6 The :onnet lifted .r" Chops #pon a chair, to sha$e hands 'ith him, and replied in poetry, 'ith his eyes seemin&ly f#ll of tears+ 5.y boat is on the shore, Cnd my bar$ is on the sea, Cnd 3 do not as$ for more, :#t 30ll /o+4alon& 'ith thee"6 They 'ent into (ociety, in a chay and fo#r &rays 'ith sil$ ;ac$ets" They too$ lod&in&s in Pall .all, 2ondon, and they blaEed a'ay" 3n conse8#ence of a note that 'as bro#&ht to :artlemy *air in the a#t#mn of next year by a servant, most 'onderf#l &ot #p in mil$?'hite cords and tops, 3 cleaned myself and 'ent to Pall .all, one evenin& appinted" The &entlemen 'as at their 'ine arter dinner,

and .r" Chops0s eyes 'as more fixed in that %d of his than 3 tho#&ht &ood for him" There 'as three of 0em @in company, 3 meanA, and 3 $no'ed the third 'ell" -hen last met, he had on a 'hite 1oman shirt, and a bishop0s mitre covered 'ith leopard?s$in, and played the clarionet all 'ron&, in a band at a -ild :east (ho'" This &ent too$ on not to $no' me, and .r" Chops said+ 5/entlemen, this is a old friend of former days+6 and Bormandy loo$ed at me thro#&h a eye?&lass, and said, 5.a&sman, &lad to see yo#764'hich 30ll ta$e my oath he 'asn0t" .r" Chops, to &it him convenient to the table, had his chair on a throne @m#ch of the form of /eor&e the *o#rth0s in the canvassA, b#t he hardly appeared to me to be Gin& there in any other pint of vie', for his t'o &entlemen ordered abo#t li$e %mperors" They 'as all dressed li$e .ay?Day4 &or&eo#s74Cnd as to -ine, they s'am in all sorts" 3 made the ro#nd of the bottles, first separate @to say 3 had done itA, and then mixed 0em all to&ether @to say 3 had done itA, and then tried t'o of 0em as half?and?half, and then t0other t'o" Clto&ether, 3 passed a pleasin evenin, b#t 'ith a tendency to feel m#ddled, #ntil 3 considered it &ood manners to &et #p and say, 5.r" Chops, the best of friends m#st part, 3 than$ yo# for the 'ariety of forei&n drains yo# have stood so 0ansome, 3 loo$s to'ards yo# in red 'ine, and 3 ta$es my leave"6 .r" Chops replied, 53f yo#0ll ;#st hitch me o#t of this over yo#r ri&ht arm, .a&sman, and carry me do'n?stairs, 30ll see yo# o#t"6 3 said 3 co#ldn0t thin$ of s#ch a thin&, b#t he 'o#ld have it, so 3 lifted him off his throne" He smelt stron& of .aideary, and 3 co#ldn0t help thin$in& as 3 carried him do'n that it 'as li$e carryin& a lar&e bottle f#ll of 'ine, 'ith a rayther #&ly stopper, a &ood deal o#t of proportion" -hen 3 set him on the door?mat in the hall, he $ep me close to him by holdin& on to my coat?collar, and he 'hispers+ 53 ain0t 0appy, .a&sman"6 5-hat0s on yo#r mind, .r" Chops>6 5They don0t #se me 'ell" They an0t &ratef#l to me" They p#ts me on the mantel?piece 'hen 3 'on0t have in more Champa&ne?'ine, and they loc$s me in the sideboard 'hen 3 'on0t &ive #p my property"6 5/et rid of 0em, .r" Chops"6 53 can0t" -e0re in (ociety to&ether, and 'hat 'o#ld (ociety say>6 5Come o#t of (ociety76 says 3" 53 can0t" Do# don0t $no' 'hat yo#0re tal$in& abo#t" -hen yo# have once &one into (ociety, yo# m#stn0t come o#t of it"6 5Then if yo#0ll exc#se the freedom, .r" Chops,6 'ere my remar$, sha$in& my head &rave, 53 thin$ it0s a pity yo# ever 'ent in"6 .r" Chops shoo$ that deep %d of his, to a s#rprisin extent, and slapped it half a doEen times 'ith his hand, and 'ith more -ice than 3 tho#&ht 'ere in him" Then, he says,

5Do#0re a &ood fello', b#t yo# don0t #nderstand" /ood?ni&ht, &o alon&" .a&sman, the little man 'ill no' 'al$ three times ro#nd the Caira'an, and retire behind the c#rtain"6 The last 3 see of him on that occasion 'as his tryin, on the extremest 'er&e of insensibility, to climb #p the stairs, one by one, 'ith his hands and $nees" They0d have been m#ch too steep for him, if he had been sober9 b#t he 'o#ldn0t be helped" 3t 'arn0t lon& after that, that 3 read in the ne'spaper of .r" Chops0s bein& presented at co#rt" 3t 'as printed, 53t 'ill be recollected64and 30ve noticed in my life, that it is s#re to be printed that it will be recollected, 'henever it 'on0t45that .r" Chops is the individ#al of small stat#re, 'hose brilliant s#ccess in the last (tate 2ottery attracted so m#ch attention"6 -ell, 3 says to myself, (#ch is 2ife7 He has been and done it in earnest at last" He has astonished /eor&e the *o#rth7 @,n acco#nt of 'hich, 3 had that canvass ne'?painted, him 'ith a ba& of money in his hand, a presentin it to /eor&e the *o#rth, and a lady in ,strich *eathers fallin in love 'ith him in a ba&?'i&, s'ord, and b#c$les correct"A 3 too$ the Ho#se as is the s#b;ect of present in8#iries4tho#&h not the hono#r of bein ac8#ainted4and 3 r#n .a&sman0s Cm#sements in it thirteen months4sometimes one thin&, sometimes another, sometimes nothin partic#lar, b#t al'ays all the canvasses o#tside" ,ne ni&ht, 'hen 'e had played the last company o#t, 'hich 'as a shy company, thro#&h its rainin& Heavens hard, 3 'as ta$in a pipe in the one pair bac$ alon& 'ith the yo#n& man 'ith the toes, 'hich 3 had ta$en on for a month @tho#&h he never dra'ed4except on paperA, and 3 heard a $ic$in at the street door" 5Halloa76 3 says to the yo#n& man, 5'hat0s #p76 He r#bs his eyebro's 'ith his toes, and he says, 53 can0t ima&ine, .r" .a&sman64'hich he never co#ld ima&ine nothin, and 'as monotono#s company" The noise not leavin off, 3 laid do'n my pipe, and 3 too$ #p a candle, and 3 'ent do'n and opened the door" 3 loo$ed o#t into the street9 b#t nothin co#ld 3 see, and nothin 'as 3 a'are of, #ntil 3 t#rned ro#nd 8#ic$, beca#se some creet#r r#n bet'een my le&s into the passa&e" There 'as .r" Chops7 5.a&sman,6 he says, 5ta$e me, on the old terms, and yo#0ve &ot me9 if it0s done, say done76 3 'as all of a maEe, b#t 3 said, 5Done, sir"6 5Done to yo#r done, and do#ble done76 says he" 5Have yo# &ot a bit of s#pper in the ho#se>6 :earin in mind them spar$lin 'arieties of forei&n drains as 'e0d &#EEled a'ay at in Pall .all, 3 'as ashamed to offer him cold sassa&es and &in?and?'ater9 b#t he too$ 0em both and too$ 0em free9 havin a chair for his table, and sittin do'n at it on a stool, li$e hold times" 3, all of a maEe all the 'hile" 3t 'as arter he had made a clean s'eep of the sassa&es @beef, and to the best of my calc#lations t'o po#nd and a 8#arterA, that the 'isdom as 'as in that little man be&an to come o#t of him li$e prespiration"

5.a&sman,6 he says, 5loo$ #pon me7 Do# see afore yo#, ,ne as has both &one into (ociety and come o#t"6 5,7 Do# are o#t of it, .r" Chops> Ho' did yo# &et o#t, sir>6 5(,2D ,FT76 says he" Do# never sa' the li$e of the 'isdom as his %d expressed, 'hen he made #se of them t'o 'ords" 5.y friend .a&sman, 30ll impart to yo# a discovery 30ve made" 3t0s 'allable9 it0s cost t'elve tho#sand five h#ndred po#nd9 it may do yo# &ood in life4The secret of this matter is, that it ain0t so m#ch that a person &oes into (ociety, as that (ociety &oes into a person"6 Bot exactly $eepin #p 'ith his meanin, 3 shoo$ my head, p#t on a deep loo$, and said, 5Do#0re ri&ht there, .r" Chops"6 5.a&sman,6 he says, t'itchin me by the le&, 5(ociety has &one into me, to the t#ne of every penny of my property"6 3 felt that 3 'ent pale, and tho#&h nat0rally a bold spea$er, 3 co#ldn0t hardly say, 5-here0s Bormandy>6 5:olted" -ith the plate,6 said .r" Chops" 5Cnd t0other one>6 meanin& him as formerly 'ore the bishop0s mitre" 5:olted" -ith the ;e'els,6 said .r" Chops" 3 sat do'n and loo$ed at him, and he stood #p and loo$ed at me" 5.a&sman,6 he says, and he seemed to myself to &et 'iser as he &ot hoarser9 5(ociety, ta$en in the l#mp, is all d'arfs" Ct the co#rt of (t" )ames0s, they 'as all a doin& my old b#siness4all a &oin three times ro#nd the Caira'an, in the hold co#rt?s#its and properties" %lse'heres, they 'as most of 0em rin&in their little bells o#t of ma$e? believes" %very'heres, the sarser 'as a &oin ro#nd" .a&sman, the sarser is the #ni'ersal 3nstit#tion76 3 perceived, yo# #nderstand, that he 'as so#red by his misfort#nes, and 3 felt for .r" Chops" 5Cs to *at 2adies,6 he says, &ivin& his head a tremendio#s one a&in the 'all, 5there0s lots of them in (ociety, and 'orse than the ori&inal" Hers 'as a o#tra&e #pon Taste4 simply a o#tra&e #pon Taste4a'a$enin contempt4carryin its o'n p#nishment in the form of a 3ndian"6 Here he &iv himself another tremendio#s one" 5:#t theirs, .a&sman, theirs is mercenary o#tra&es" 2ay in Cashmeer sha'ls, b#y bracelets, stre' 0em and a lot of 0andsome fans and thin&s abo#t yo#r rooms, let it be $no'n that yo# &ive a'ay li$e 'ater to all as come to admire, and the *at 2adies that don0t exhibit for so m#ch do'n #pon the dr#m, 'ill come from all the pints of the compass to floc$ abo#t yo#, 'hatever yo# are" They0ll drill holes in yo#r 0art, .a&sman, li$e a C#llender" Cnd 'hen yo#0ve no more left to &ive, they0ll la#&h at yo# to yo#r face, and

leave yo# to have yo#r bones pic$ed dry by -#lt#rs, li$e the dead -ild Css of the Prairies that yo# deserve to be76 Here he &iv himself the most tremendio#s one of all, and dropped" 3 tho#&ht he 'as &one" His %d 'as so heavy, and he $noc$ed it so hard, and he fell so stoney, and the sassa&erial dist#rbance in him m#st have been so immense, that 3 tho#&ht he 'as &one" :#t, he soon come ro#nd 'ith care, and he sat #p on the floor, and he said to me, 'ith 'isdom comin o#t of his eyes, if ever it come+ 5.a&sman7 The most material difference bet'een the t'o states of existence thro#&h 'hich yo#r #nhappy friend has passed96 he reached o#t his poor little hand, and his tears dropped do'n on the mo#stachio 'hich it 'as a credit to him to have done his best to &ro', b#t it is not in mortals to command s#ccess,45the difference this" -hen 3 'as o#t of (ociety, 3 'as paid li&ht for bein& seen" -hen 3 'ent into (ociety, 3 paid heavy for bein& seen" 3 prefer the former, even if 3 'asn0t forced #pon it" /ive me o#t thro#&h the tr#mpet, in the hold 'ay, to?morro'"6 Crter that, he slid into the line a&ain as easy as if he had been iled all over" :#t the or&an 'as $ep from him, and no all#sions 'as ever made, 'hen a company 'as in, to his property" He &ot 'iser every day9 his vie's of (ociety and the P#blic 'as l#mino#s, be'ilderin, a'f#l9 and his %d &ot bi&&er and bi&&er as his -isdom expanded it" He too$ 'ell, and p#lled 0em in most excellent for nine 'ee$s" Ct the expiration of that period, 'hen his %d 'as a si&ht, he expressed one evenin, the last Company havin been t#rned o#t, and the door sh#t, a 'ish to have a little m#sic" 5.r" Chops,6 3 said @3 never dropped the 5.r"6 'ith him9 the 'orld mi&ht do it, b#t not meA9 5.r" Chops, are yo# s#re as yo# are in a state of mind and body to sit #pon the or&an>6 His ans'er 'as this+ 5Toby, 'hen next met 'ith on the tramp, 3 for&ive her and the 3ndian" Cnd 3 am"6 3t 'as 'ith fear and tremblin& that 3 be&an to t#rn the handle9 b#t he sat li$e a lamb" 3 'ill be my belief to my dyin& day, that 3 see his %d expand as he sat9 yo# may therefore ;#d&e ho' &reat his tho#&hts 'as" He sat o#t all the chan&es, and then he come off" 5Toby,6 he says, 'ith a 8#iet smile, 5the little man 'ill no' 'al$ three times ro#nd the Caira'an, and retire behind the c#rtain"6 -hen 'e called him in the mornin&, 'e fo#nd him &one into a m#ch better (ociety than mine or Pall .all0s" 3 &iv .r" Chops as comfortable a f#neral as lay in my po'er, follo'ed myself as Chief, and had the /eor&e the *o#rth canvass carried first, in the form of a banner" :#t, the Ho#se 'as so dismal arter'ards, that 3 &iv it #p, and too$ to the -an a&ain" IIIII

53 don0t tri#mph,6 said )arber, foldin& #p the second man#script, and loo$in& hard at Trottle" 53 don0t tri#mph over this 'orthy creat#re" 3 merely as$ him if he is satisfied no'>6 5Ho' can he be anythin& else>6 3 said, ans'erin& for Trottle, 'ho sat obstinately silent" 5This time, )arber, yo# have not only read #s a deli&htf#lly am#sin& story, b#t yo# have also ans'ered the 8#estion abo#t the Ho#se" ,f co#rse it stands empty no'" -ho 'o#ld thin$ of ta$in& it after it had been t#rned into a caravan>6 3 loo$ed at Trottle, as 3 said those last 'ords, and )arber 'aved his hand ind#l&ently in the same direction" 52et this excellent person spea$,6 said )arber" 5Do# 'ere abo#t to say, my &ood man>64 53 only 'ished to as$, sir,6 said Trottle do&&edly, 5if yo# co#ld $indly obli&e me 'ith a date or t'o in connection 'ith that last story>6 5C date76 repeated )arber" 5-hat does the man 'ant 'ith dates76 53 sho#ld be &lad to $no', 'ith &reat respect,6 persisted Trottle, 5if the person named .a&sman 'as the last tenant 'ho lived in the Ho#se" 3t0s my opinion4if 3 may be exc#sed for &ivin& it4that he most decidedly 'as not"6 -ith those 'ords, Trottle made a lo' bo', and 8#ietly left the room" There is no denyin& that )arber, 'hen 'e 'ere left to&ether, loo$ed sadly discomposed" He had evidently for&otten to in8#ire abo#t dates9 and, in spite of his ma&nificent tal$ abo#t his series of discoveries, it 'as 8#ite as plain that the t'o stories he had ;#st read, had really and tr#ly exha#sted his present stoc$" 3 tho#&ht myself bo#nd, in common &ratit#de, to help him o#t of his embarrassment by a timely s#&&estion" (o 3 proposed that he sho#ld come to tea a&ain, on the next .onday evenin&, the thirteenth, and sho#ld ma$e s#ch in8#iries in the meantime, as mi&ht enable him to dispose tri#mphantly of Trottle0s ob;ection" He &allantly $issed my hand, made a neat little speech of ac$no'led&ment, and too$ his leave" *or the rest of the 'ee$ 3 'o#ld not enco#ra&e Trottle by allo'in& him to refer to the Ho#se at all" 3 s#spected he 'as ma$in& his o'n in8#iries abo#t dates, b#t 3 p#t no 8#estions to him" ,n .onday evenin&, the thirteenth, that dear #nfort#nate )arber came, p#nct#al to the appointed time" He loo$ed so terribly harassed, that he 'as really 8#ite a spectacle of feebleness and fati&#e" 3 sa', at a &lance, that the 8#estion of dates had &one a&ainst him, that .r" .a&sman had not been the last tenant of the Ho#se, and that the reason of its emptiness 'as still to see$" 5-hat 3 have &one thro#&h,6 said )arber, 5'ords are not elo8#ent eno#&h to tell" , (ophonisba, 3 have be&#n another series of discoveries7 Cccept the last t'o as stories laid on yo#r shrine9 and 'ait to blame me for leavin& yo#r c#riosity #nappeased, #ntil yo# have heard B#mber Three"6

B#mber Three loo$ed li$e a very short man#script, and 3 said as m#ch" )arber explained to me that 'e 'ere to have some poetry this time" 3n the co#rse of his investi&ations he had stepped into the Circ#latin& 2ibrary, to see$ for information on the one important s#b;ect" Cll the 2ibrary?people $ne' abo#t the Ho#se 'as, that a female relative of the last tenant, as they believed, had, ;#st after that tenant left, sent a little man#script poem to them 'hich she described as referrin& to events that had act#ally passed in the Ho#se9 and 'hich she 'anted the proprietor of the 2ibrary to p#blish" (he had 'ritten no address on her letter9 and the proprietor had $ept the man#script ready to be &iven bac$ to her @the p#blishin& of poems not bein& in his lineA 'hen she mi&ht call for it" (he had never called for it9 and the poem had been lent to )arber, at his express re8#est, to read to me" :efore he be&an, 3 ran& the bell for Trottle9 bein& determined to have him present at the ne' readin&, as a 'holesome chec$ on his obstinacy" To my s#rprise Pe&&y ans'ered the bell, and told me, that Trottle had stepped o#t 'itho#t sayin& 'here" 3 instantly felt the stron&est possible conviction that he 'as at his old tric$s+ and that his steppin& o#t in the evenin&, 'itho#t leave, meant4Philanderin&" Controllin& myself on my visitor0s acco#nt, 3 dismissed Pe&&y, stifled my indi&nation, and prepared, as politely as mi&ht be, to listen to )arber"

TH&EE E%E)*)"S *) THE HOUSE

)U(+E& O)E,
3" Des, it loo$0d dar$ and dreary That lon& and narro' street+ ,nly the so#nd of the rain, Cnd the tramp of passin& feet, The d#ller &lo' of the fire, Cnd &atherin& mists of ni&ht To mar$ ho' slo' and 'eary The lon& day0s cheerless fli&ht7 33" -atchin& the s#llen fire, Hearin& the dreary rain, Drop after drop, r#n do'n ,n the dar$enin& 'indo'?pane9 Chill 'as the heart of :ertha, Chill as that 'inter day,4 *or the star of her life had risen ,nly to fade a'ay" 333"

The voice that had been so stron& To bid the snare depart, The tr#e and earnest 'ill, Cnd the calm and steadfast heart, -ere no' 'ei&h0d do'n by sorro', -ere 8#iverin& no' 'ith pain9 The clear path no' seem0d clo#ded, Cnd all her &rief in vain" 3=" D#ty, 1i&ht, Tr#th, 'ho promised To help and save their o'n, (eem0d spreadin& 'ide their pinions To leave her there alone" (o, t#rnin& from the Present To 'ell?$no'n days of yore, (he call0d on them to stren&then Cnd &#ard her so#l once more" =" (he tho#&ht ho' in her &irlhood Her life 'as &iven a'ay, The solemn promise spo$en (he $ept so 'ell to?day9 Ho' to her brother Herbert (he had been help and &#ide, Cnd ho' his artist?nat#re ,n her calm stren&th relied" =3" Ho' thro#&h life0s fret and t#rmoil The passion and fire of art 3n him 'as soothed and 8#ic$en0d :y her tr#e sister heart9 Ho' f#t#re hopes had al'ays :een for his sa$e alone9 Cnd no', 'hat stran&e ne' feelin& Possess0d her as its o'n> =33" Her home9 each flo'er that breathed there9 The 'ind0s si&h, soft and lo'9 %ach tremblin& spray of ivy9 The river0s m#rm#rin& flo'9 The shado' of the forest9 (#nset, or t'ili&ht dim9

Dear as they 'ere, 'ere dearer :y leavin& them for him" =333" Cnd each year as it fo#nd her 3n the d#ll, feverish to'n, (a' self still more for&otten, Cnd selfish care $ept do'n :y the calm ;oy of evenin& That bro#&ht him to her side, To 'arn him 'ith 'ise co#nsel, ,r praise 'ith tender pride" 3J" Her heart, her life, her f#t#re, Her &eni#s, only meant Cnother thin& to &ive him, Cnd be there'ith content" To?day, 'hat 'ords had stirr0d her, Her so#l co#ld not for&et> -hat dream had fill0d her spirit -ith stran&e and 'ild re&ret> J" To leave him for another+ Co#ld it indeed be so> Co#ld it have cost s#ch an&#ish To bid this vision &o> -as this her faith> -as Herbert The second in her heart> Did it need all this str#&&le To bid a dream depart> J3" Cnd yet, 'ithin her spirit C far?off land 'as seen9 C home, 'hich mi&ht have held her9 C love, 'hich mi&ht have been9 Cnd 2ife+ not the mere bein& ,f daily ebb and flo', :#t 2ife itself had claim0d her, Cnd she had let it &o7 J33"

-ithin her heart there echo0d C&ain the 'ell?$no'n t#ne That promised this bri&ht f#t#re, Cnd as$0d her for its o'n+ Then 'ords of sorro', bro$en :y half?reproachf#l pain9 Cnd then a fare'ell, spo$en 3n 'ords of cold disdain" J333" -here no' 'as the stern p#rpose That nerved her so#l so lon&> -hence came the 'ords she #tter0d, (o hard, so cold, so stron&> -hat ri&ht had she to banish C hope that /od had &iven> -hy m#st she choose earth0s portion, Cnd t#rn aside from Heaven> J3=" To?day7 -as it this mornin&> 3f this lon&, fearf#l strife -as b#t the 'or$ of ho#rs, -hat 'o#ld be years of life> -hy did a cr#el Heaven *or s#ch &reat s#fferin& call> Cnd 'hy4,, still more cr#el74 .#st her o'n 'ords do all> J=" Did she repent> , (orro'7 -hy do 'e lin&er still To ta$e thy lovin& messa&e, Cnd do thy &entle 'ill> (ee, her tears fall more slo'ly9 The passionate m#rm#rs cease, Cnd bac$ #pon her spirit *lo' stren&th, and love, and peace" J=3" The fire b#rns more bri&htly, The rain has passed a'ay, Herbert 'ill see no shado' Fpon his home to?day9 ,nly that :ertha &reets him -ith do#bly tender care,

Gissin& a fonder blessin& Do'n on his &olden hair"

)U(+E& T
3"

O,

The st#dio is deserted, Palette and br#sh laid by, The s$etch rests on the easel, The paint is scarcely dry9 Cnd (ilence4'ho seems al'ays -ithin her depths to bear The next so#nd that 'ill #tter4 Bo' holds a d#mb despair" 33" (o :ertha feels it+ listenin& -ith breathless, stony fear, -aitin& the dreadf#l s#mmons %ach min#te brin&s more near+ -hen the yo#n& life, no' ebbin&, (hall fail, and pass a'ay 3nto that mi&hty shado' -ho shro#ds the ho#se to?day" 333" :#t 'hy4'hen the sic$ chamber 3s on the #pper floor4 -hy dares not :ertha enter -ithin the close?sh#t door> 3f he4her all4her :rother, 2ies dyin& in that &loom, -hat stran&e mysterio#s po'er Has sent her from the room> 3=" 3t is not one 'ee$0s an&#ish That can have chan&ed her so9 )oy has not died here lately, (tr#c$ do'n by one 8#ic$ blo'9 :#t cr#el months have needed Their lon& relentless chain, To teach that shrin$in& manner ,f helpless, hopeless pain" ="

The str#&&le 'as scarce over 2ast Christmas %ve had bro#&ht+ The fibres still 'ere 8#iverin& ,f the one 'o#nded tho#&ht, -hen Herbert4'ho, #nconscio#s, Had &#essed no in'ard strife4 :ade her, in pride and pleas#re, -elcome his fair yo#n& 'ife" =3" :ade her re;oice, and smilin&, Cltho#&h his eyes 'ere dim, Than$0d /od he th#s co#ld pay her The care she &ave to him" This fresh bri&ht life 'o#ld brin& her C ne' and ;oyo#s fate4 , :ertha, chec$ the m#rm#r That cries, Too late7 too late7 =33" Too late7 Co#ld she have $no'n it C fe' short 'ee$s before, That his life 'as completed, Cnd needin& hers no more, (he mi&ht4, sad repinin&7 -hat 5mi&ht have been,6 for&et9 53t 'as not,6 sho#ld s#ffice #s To stifle vain re&ret" =333" He needed her no lon&er, %ach day it &re' more plain9 *irst 'ith a startled 'onder, Then 'ith a 'onderin& pain" 2ove+ 'hy, his 'ife best &ave it9 Comfort+ d#rst :ertha spea$> Co#nsel+ 'hen 8#ic$ resentment *l#sh0d on the yo#n& 'ife0s chee$" 3J" Bo more lon& tal$s by fireli&ht ,f childish times lon& past, Cnd dreams of f#t#re &reatness -hich he m#st reach at last9 Dreams, 'here her p#rer instinct -ith tr#th #nerrin& told

-here 'as the 'orthless &ildin&, Cnd 'here refinKd &old" J" (lo'ly, b#t s#rely ever, Dora0s poor ;ealo#s pride, -hich she call0d love for Herbert, Drove :ertha from his side9 Cnd, spite of nervo#s effort To share their alter0d life, (he felt a chec$ to Herbert, C b#rden to his 'ife" J3" This 'as the least9 for :ertha *ear0d, dreaded, knew at len&th, Ho' m#ch his nat#re o'ed her ,f tr#th, and po'er, and stren&th9 Cnd 'atch0d the daily failin& ,f all his nobler part+ 2o' aims, 'ea$ p#rpose, tellin& 3n lo'er, 'ea$er art" J33" Cnd no', 'hen he is dyin&, The last 'ords she co#ld hear .#st not be hers, b#t &iven The bride of one short year" The last care is another0s9 The last prayer m#st not be The one they learnt to&ether :eside their mother0s $nee" J333" (#mmon0d at last+ she $isses The clay?cold stiffenin& hand9 Cnd, readin& pleadin& efforts To ma$e her #nderstand, Cns'ers, 'ith solemn promise, 3n clear b#t tremblin& tone, To Dora0s life hencefor'ard (he 'ill devote her o'n" J3="

Bo' all is over" :ertha Dares not remain to 'eep, :#t soothes the fri&htened Dora 3nto a sobbin& sleep" The poor 'ea$ child 'ill need her+ ,, 'ho can dare complain, -hen /od sends a ne' D#ty To comfort each ne' Pain7

)U(+E& TH&EE,
3" The Ho#se is all deserted 3n the dim evenin& &loom, ,nly one fi&#re passes (lo'ly from room to room9 Cnd, pa#sin& at each door'ay, (eems &atherin& #p a&ain -ithin her heart the relics ,f by&one ;oy and pain" 33" There is an earnest lon&in& 3n those 'ho on'ard &aEe, 2oo$in& 'ith 'eary patience To'ards the comin& days" There is a deeper lon&in&, .ore sad, more stron&, more $een+ Those $no' it 'ho loo$ bac$'ard, Cnd yearn for 'hat has been" 333" Ct every hearth she pa#ses, To#ches each 'ell?$no'n chair9 /aEes from every 'indo', 2in&ers on every stair" -hat have these months bro#&ht :ertha Bo' one more year is past> This Christmas %ve shall tell #s, The third one and the last" 3=" The 'ilf#l, 'ay'ard Dora, 3n those first 'ee$s of &rief, Co#ld see$ and find in :ertha (tren&th, soothin&, and relief"

Cnd :ertha4last sad comfort Tr#e 'oman?heart can ta$e4 Had somethin& still to s#ffer Cnd do for Herbert0s sa$e" =" (prin&, 'ith her 'estern breeEes, *rom 3ndian islands bore To :ertha ne's that 2eonard -o#ld see$ his home once more" -hat 'as it4;oy, or sorro'> -hat 'ere they4hopes, or fears> That fl#sh0d her chee$s 'ith crimson, Cnd fill0d her eyes 'ith tears> =3" He came" Cnd 'ho so $indly Co#ld as$ and hear her tell Herbert0s last ho#rs9 for 2eonard Had $no'n and loved him 'ell" Daily he came9 and :ertha, Poor 'ear heart, at len&th, -ei&h0d do'n by other0s 'ea$ness, Co#ld rest #pon his stren&th" =33" Det not the voice of 2eonard Co#ld her tr#e care be&#ile, That t#rn0d to 'atch, re;oicin&, Dora0s revivin& smile" (o, from that little ho#sehold The 'orst &loom pass0d a'ay, The one bri&ht ho#r of evenin& 2it #p the livelon& day" =333" Days passed" The &olden s#mmer 3n s#dden heat bore do'n 3ts bl#e, bri&ht, &lo'in& s'eetness Fpon the scorchin& to'n" Cnd si&hts and so#nds of co#ntry Came in the 'arm soft t#ne (#n& by the honey0d breeEes :orne on the 'in&s of )#ne" 3J"

,ne t'ili&ht ho#r, b#t earlier Than #s#al, :ertha tho#&ht (he $ne' the fresh s'eet fra&rance ,f flo'ers that 2eonard bro#&ht9 Thro#&h open0d doors and 'indo's 3t stole #p thro#&h the &loom, Cnd 'ith appealin& s'eetness Dre' :ertha from her room" J" Des, he 'as there9 and pa#sin& )#st near the open0d door, To chec$ her heart0s 8#ic$ beatin&, (he heard4and pa#sed still more4 His lo' voice Dora0s ans'ers4 His pleadin&4Des, she $ne' The tone4the 'ords4the accents+ (he once had heard them too" J3" 5-o#ld :ertha blame her>6 2eonard0s 2o', tender ans'er came+ 5:ertha 'as far too noble To thin$ or dream of blame"6 5Cnd 'as he s#re he loved her>6 5Des, 'ith the one love &iven ,nce in a lifetime only, -ith one so#l and one heaven76 J33" Then came a plaintive m#rm#r,4 5Dora had once been told That he and :ertha46 5Dearest, :ertha is far too cold To love9 and 3, my Dora, 3f once 3 fancied so, 3t 'as a brief del#sion, Cnd over,4lon& a&o"6 J333" :et'een the Past and Present, ,n that blea$ moment0s hei&ht, (he stood" Cs some lost traveller :y a 8#ic$ flash of li&ht (eein& a &#lf before him, -ith diEEy, sic$ despair,

1eels to cl#tch bac$'ard, b#t to find C deeper chasm there" J3=" The t'ili&ht &re' still dar$er, The fra&rant flo'ers more s'eet, The stars shone o#t in heaven, The lamps &leam0d do'n the street9 Cnd ho#rs pass0d in dreamin& ,ver their ne'?fo#nd fate, %re they co#ld thin$ of 'onderin& -hy :ertha 'as so late" J=" (he came, and calmly listen0d9 3n vain they strove to trace 3f Herbert0s memory shado'0d 3n &rief #pon her face" Bo blame, no 'onder sho'0d there, Bo feelin& co#ld be told9 Her voice 'as not less steady, Her manner not more cold" J=3" They co#ld not hear the an&#ish That bro$e in 'ords of pain Thro#&h that calm s#mmer midni&ht,4 5.y Herbert4mine a&ain76 Des, they have once been parted, :#t this day shall restore The lon& lost one+ she claims him+ 5.y Herbert4mine once more76 J=33" Bo' Christmas %ve ret#rnin&, (a' :ertha stand beside The altar, &reetin& Dora, C&ain a smilin& bride9 Cnd no' the &loomy evenin& (ees :ertha pale and 'orn, 2eavin& the ho#se for ever, To 'ander o#t forlorn" J=333"

*orlorn4nay, not so" Cn&#ish (hall do its 'or$ at len&th9 Her so#l, pass0d thro#&h the fire, (hall &ain still p#rer stren&th" (ome'here there 'aits for :ertha Cn earnest noble part9 Cnd, mean'hile, /od is 'ith her,4 /od, and her o'n tr#e heart7 IIIII 3 co#ld 'armly and sincerely praise the little poem, 'hen )arber had done readin& it9 b#t 3 co#ld not say that it tended in any de&ree to'ards clearin& #p the mystery of the empty Ho#se" -hether it 'as the absence of the irritatin& infl#ence of Trottle, or 'hether it 'as simply fati&#e, 3 cannot say, b#t )arber did not stri$e me, that evenin&, as bein& in his #s#al spirits" Cnd tho#&h he declared that he 'as not in the least da#nted by his 'ant of s#ccess th#s far, and that he 'as resol#tely determined to ma$e more discoveries, he spo$e in a lan&#id absent manner, and shortly after'ards too$ his leave at rather an early ho#r" -hen Trottle came bac$, and 'hen 3 indi&nantly taxed him 'ith Philanderin&, he not only denied the imp#tation, b#t asserted that he had been employed on my service, and, in consideration of that, boldly as$ed for leave of absence for t'o days, and for a mornin& to himself after'ards, to complete the b#siness, in 'hich he solemnly declared that 3 'as interested" 3n remembrance of his lon& and faithf#l service to me, 3 did violence to myself, and &ranted his re8#est" Cnd he, on his side, en&a&ed to explain himself to my satisfaction, in a 'ee$0s time, on .onday evenin& the t'entieth" C day or t'o before, 3 sent to )arber0s lod&in&s to as$ him to drop in to tea" His landlady sent bac$ an apolo&y for him that made my hair stand on end" His feet 'ere in hot 'ater9 his head 'as in a flannel petticoat9 a &reen shade 'as over his eyes9 the rhe#matism 'as in his le&s9 and a m#stard?po#ltice 'as on his chest" He 'as also a little feverish, and rather distracted in his mind abo#t .anchester .arria&es, a D'arf, and Three %venin&s, or %venin& Parties4his landlady 'as not s#re 'hich4in an empty Ho#se, 'ith the -ater 1ate #npaid" Fnder these distressin& circ#mstances, 3 'as necessarily left alone 'ith Trottle" His promised explanation be&an, li$e )arber0s discoveries, 'ith the readin& of a 'ritten paper" The only difference 'as that Trottle introd#ced his man#script #nder the name of a 1eport"

T&OTTLE-S &E$O&T
The c#rio#s events related in these pa&es 'o#ld, many of them, most li$ely never have happened, if a person named Trottle had not pres#med, contrary to his #s#al c#stom, to thin$ for himself"

The s#b;ect on 'hich the person in 8#estion had vent#red, for the first time in his life, to form an opinion p#rely and entirely his o'n, 'as one 'hich had already excited the interest of his respected mistress in a very extraordinary de&ree" ,r, to p#t it in plainer terms still, the s#b;ect 'as no other than the mystery of the empty Ho#se" *eelin& no sort of ob;ection to set a s#ccess of his o'n, if possible, side by side 'ith a fail#re of .r" )arber0s, Trottle made #p his mind, one .onday evenin&, to try 'hat he co#ld do, on his o'n acco#nt, to'ards clearin& #p the mystery of the empty Ho#se" Caref#lly dismissin& from his mind all nonsensical notions of former tenants and their histories, and $eepin& the one point in vie' steadily before him, he started to reach it in the shortest 'ay, by 'al$in& strai&ht #p to the Ho#se, and brin&in& himself face to face 'ith the first person in it 'ho opened the door to him" 3t 'as &ettin& to'ards dar$, on .onday evenin&, the thirteenth of the month, 'hen Trottle first set foot on the steps of the Ho#se" -hen he $noc$ed at the door, he $ne' nothin& of the matter 'hich he 'as abo#t to investi&ate, except that the landlord 'as an elderly 'ido'er of &ood fort#ne, and that his name 'as *orley" C small be&innin& eno#&h for a man to start from, certainly7 ,n droppin& the $noc$er, his first proceedin& 'as to loo$ do'n ca#tio#sly o#t of the corner of his ri&ht eye, for any res#lts 'hich mi&ht sho' themselves at the $itchen? 'indo'" There appeared at it immediately the fi&#re of a 'oman, 'ho loo$ed #p in8#isitively at the stran&er on the steps, left the 'indo' in a h#rry, and came bac$ to it 'ith an open letter in her hand, 'hich she held #p to the fadin& li&ht" Cfter loo$in& over the letter hastily for a moment or so, the 'oman disappeared once more" Trottle next heard footsteps sh#fflin& and scrapin& alon& the bare hall of the ho#se" ,n a s#dden they ceased, and the so#nd of t'o voices4a shrill pers#adin& voice and a &r#ff resistin& voice4conf#sedly reached his ears" Cfter a 'hile, the voices left off spea$in&4a chain 'as #ndone, a bolt dra'n bac$4the door opened4and Trottle stood face to face 'ith t'o persons, a 'oman in advance, and a man behind her, leanin& bac$ flat a&ainst the 'all" 5-ish yo# &ood evenin&, sir,6 says the 'oman, in s#ch a s#dden 'ay, and in s#ch a crac$ed voice, that it 'as 8#ite startlin& to hear her" 5Chilly 'eather, ain0t it, sir> Please to 'al$ in" Do# come from &ood .r" *orley, don0t yo#, sir>6 5Don0t yo#, sir>6 chimes in the man hoarsely, ma$in& a sort of &r#ff echo of himself, and ch#c$lin& after it, as if he tho#&ht he had made a ;o$e" 3f Trottle had said, 5Bo,6 the door 'o#ld have been probably closed in his face" Therefore, he too$ circ#mstances as he fo#nd them, and boldly ran all the ris$, 'hatever it mi&ht be, of sayin&, 5Des"6 5<#ite ri&ht sir,6 says the 'oman" 5/ood .r" *orley0s letter told #s his partic#lar friend 'o#ld be here to represent him, at d#s$, on .onday the thirteenth4or, if not on .onday the thirteenth, then on .onday the t'entieth, at the same time, 'itho#t fail" Cnd here yo# are on .onday the thirteenth, ain0t yo#, sir> .r" *orley0s partic#lar friend, and dressed all in blac$48#ite ri&ht, sir7 Please to step into the dinin&?room4 it0s al'ays $ep sco#red and clean a&ainst .r" *orley comes here4and 30ll fetch a

candle in half a min#te" 3t &ets so dar$ in the evenin&s, no', yo# hardly $no' 'here yo# are, do yo#, sir> Cnd ho' is &ood .r" *orley in his health> -e tr#st he is better, :en;amin, don0t 'e> -e are so sorry not to see him as #s#al, :en;amin, ain0t 'e> 3n half a min#te, sir, if yo# don0t mind 'aitin&, 30ll be bac$ 'ith the candle" Come alon&, :en;amin"6 5Come alon&, :en;amin,6 chimes in the echo, and ch#c$les a&ain as if he tho#&ht he had made another ;o$e" 2eft alone in the empty front?parlo#r, Trottle 'ondered 'hat 'as comin& next, as he heard the sh#fflin&, scrapin& footsteps &o slo'ly do'n the $itchen?stairs" The front? door had been caref#lly chained #p and bolted behind him on his entrance9 and there 'as not the least chance of his bein& able to open it to effect his escape, 'itho#t betrayin& himself by ma$in& a noise" Bot bein& of the )arber sort, l#c$ily for himself, he too$ his sit#ation 8#ietly, as he fo#nd it, and t#rned his time, 'hile alone, to acco#nt, by s#mmin& #p in his o'n mind the fe' partic#lars 'hich he had discovered th#s far" He had fo#nd o#t, first, that .r" *orley 'as in the habit of visitin& the ho#se re&#larly" (econd, that .r" *orley bein& prevented by illness from seein& the people p#t in char&e as #s#al, had appointed a friend to represent him9 and had 'ritten to say so" Third, that the friend had a choice of t'o .ondays, at a partic#lar time in the evenin&, for doin& his errand9 and that Trottle had accidentally hit on this time, and on the first of the .ondays, for be&innin& his o'n investi&ations" *o#rth, that the similarity bet'een Trottle0s blac$ dress, as servant o#t of livery, and the dress of the messen&er @'hoever he mi&ht beA, had helped the error by 'hich Trottle 'as profitin&" (o far, so &ood" :#t 'hat 'as the messen&er0s errand> and 'hat chance 'as there that he mi&ht not come #p and $noc$ at the door himself, from min#te to min#te, on that very evenin&> -hile Trottle 'as t#rnin& over this last consideration in his mind, he heard the sh#fflin& footsteps come #p the stairs a&ain, 'ith a flash of candle?li&ht &oin& before them" He 'aited for the 'oman0s comin& in 'ith some little anxiety9 for the t'ili&ht had been too dim on his &ettin& into the ho#se to allo' him to see either her face or the man0s face at all clearly" The 'oman came in first, 'ith the man she called :en;amin at her heels, and set the candle on the mantel?piece" Trottle ta$es leave to describe her as an offensively? cheerf#l old 'oman, a'f#lly lean and 'iry, and sharp all over, at eyes, nose, and chin4 devilishly bris$, smilin&, and restless, 'ith a dirty false front and a dirty blac$ cap, and short fid&etty arms, and lon& hoo$ed fin&er?nails4an #nnat#rally l#sty old 'oman, 'ho 'al$ed 'ith a sprin& in her 'ic$ed old feet, and spo$e 'ith a smir$ on her 'ic$ed old face4the sort of old 'oman @as Trottle thin$sA 'ho o#&ht to have lived in the dar$ a&es, and been d#c$ed in a horse?pond, instead of flo#rishin& in the nineteenth cent#ry, and ta$in& char&e of a Christian ho#se" 5Do#0ll please to exc#se my son, :en;amin, 'on0t yo#, sir>6 says this 'itch 'itho#t a broomstic$, pointin& to the man behind her, propped a&ainst the bare 'all of the dinin&? room, exactly as he had been propped a&ainst the bare 'all of the passa&e" 5He0s &ot his inside dreadf#l bad a&ain, has my son :en;amin" Cnd he 'on0t &o to bed, and he 'ill follo' me abo#t the ho#se, #p?stairs and do'nstairs, and in my lady0s chamber, as

the son& says, yo# $no'" 3t0s his indis&estion, poor dear, that so#rs his temper and ma$es him so a&ravatin&4and indis&estion is a 'earin& thin& to the best of #s, ain0t it, sir>6 5Cin0t it, sir>6 chimes in a&ravatin& :en;amin, 'in$in& at the candle?li&ht li$e an o'l at the s#nshine" Trottle examined the man c#rio#sly, 'hile his horrid old mother 'as spea$in& of him" He fo#nd 5.y son :en;amin6 to be little and lean, and b#ttoned?#p slovenly in a fro'sy old &reat?coat that fell do'n to his ra&&ed carpet?slippers" His eyes 'ere very 'atery, his chee$s very pale, and his lips very red" His breathin& 'as so #ncommonly lo#d, that it so#nded almost li$e a snore" His head rolled helplessly in the monstro#s bi& collar of his &reat?coat9 and his limp, laEy hands pottered abo#t the 'all on either side of him, as if they 'ere &ropin& for a ima&inary bottle" 3n plain %n&lish, the complaint of 5.y son :en;amin6 'as dr#n$enness, of the st#pid, pi&?headed, sottish $ind" Dra'in& this concl#sion easily eno#&h, after a moment0s observation of the man, Trottle fo#nd himself, nevertheless, $eepin& his eyes fixed m#ch lon&er than 'as necessary on the #&ly dr#n$en face rollin& abo#t in the monstro#s bi& coat collar, and loo$in& at it 'ith a c#riosity that he co#ld hardly acco#nt for at first" -as there somethin& familiar to him in the man0s feat#res> He t#rned a'ay from them for an instant, and then t#rned bac$ to him a&ain" Cfter that second loo$, the notion forced itself into his mind, that he had certainly seen a face some'here, of 'hich that sot0s face appeared li$e a $ind of slovenly copy" 5-here>6 thin$s he to himself, 5'here did 3 last see the man 'hom this a&ravatin& :en;amin, here, so very stron&ly reminds me of>6 3t 'as no time, ;#st then4'ith the cheerf#l old 'oman0s eye searchin& him all over, and the cheerf#l old 'oman0s ton&#e tal$in& at him, nineteen to the doEen4for Trottle to be ransac$in& his memory for small matters that had &ot into 'ron& corners of it" He p#t by in his mind that very c#rio#s circ#mstance respectin& :en;amin0s face, to be ta$en #p a&ain 'hen a fit opport#nity offered itself9 and $ept his 'its abo#t him in prime order for present necessities" 5Do# 'o#ldn0t li$e to &o do'n into the $itchen, 'o#ld yo#>6 says the 'itch 'itho#t the broomstic$, as familiar as if she had been Trottle0s mother, instead of :en;amin0s" 5There0s a bit of fire in the &rate, and the sin$ in the bac$ $itchen don0t smell to matter m#ch to?day, and it0s #ncommon chilly #p here 'hen a person0s flesh don0t hardly cover a person0s bones" :#t yo# don0t loo$ cold, sir, do yo#> Cnd then, 'hy, 2ord bless my so#l, o#r little bit of b#siness is so very, very little, it0s hardly 'orth 'hile to &o do'nstairs abo#t it, after all" <#ite a &ame at b#siness, ain0t it, sir> /ive?and?ta$e that0s 'hat 3 call it4&ive?and?ta$e76 -ith that, her 'ic$ed old eyes settled h#n&rily on the re&ion ro#nd abo#t Trottle0s 'aistcoat?poc$et, and she be&an to ch#c$le li$e her son, holdin& o#t one of her s$inny hands, and tappin& cheerf#lly in the palm 'ith the $n#c$les of the other" C&ravatin& :en;amin, seein& 'hat she 'as abo#t, ro#sed #p a little, ch#c$led and tapped in imitation of her, &ot an idea of his o'n into his m#ddled head all of a s#dden, and bolted it o#t charitably for the benefit of Trottle" 53 say76 says :en;amin, settlin& himself a&ainst the 'all and noddin& his head vicio#sly at his cheerf#l old mother" 53 say7 2oo$ o#t" (he0ll s$in yo#76

Cssisted by these si&ns and 'arnin&s, Trottle fo#nd no diffic#lty in #nderstandin& that the b#siness referred to 'as the &ivin& and ta$in& of money, and that he 'as expected to be the &iver" 3t 'as at this sta&e of the proceedin&s that he first felt decidedly #ncomfortable, and more than half inclined to 'ish he 'as on the street?side of the ho#se?door a&ain" He 'as still c#d&ellin& his brains for an exc#se to save his poc$et, 'hen the silence 'as s#ddenly interr#pted by a so#nd in the #pper part of the ho#se" 3t 'as not at all lo#d4it 'as a 8#iet, still, scrapin& so#nd4so faint that it co#ld hardly have reached the 8#ic$est ears, except in an empty ho#se" 5Do yo# hear that, :en;amin>6 says the old 'oman" 5He0s at it a&ain, even in the dar$, ain0t he> P0raps yo#0d li$e to see him, sir76 says she, t#rnin& on Trottle, and po$in& her &rinnin& face close to him" 5,nly name it9 only say if yo#0d li$e to see him before 'e do o#r little bit of b#siness4and 30ll sho' &ood *orley0s friend #p?stairs, ;#st as if he 'as &ood .r" *orley himself" My le&s are all ri&ht, 'hatever :en;amin0s may be" 3 &et yo#n&er and yo#n&er, and stron&er and stron&er, and ;ollier and ;ollier, every day4 that0s 'hat 3 do7 Don0t mind the stairs on my acco#nt, sir, if yo#0d li$e to see him"6 5Him>6 Trottle 'ondered 'hether 5him6 meant a man, or a boy, or a domestic animal of the male species" -hatever it meant, here 'as a chance of p#ttin& off that #ncomfortable &ive?and?ta$e?b#siness, and, better still, a chance perhaps of findin& o#t one of the secrets of the mysterio#s Ho#se" Trottle0s spirits be&an to rise a&ain and he said 5Des,6 directly, 'ith the confidence of a man 'ho $ne' all abo#t it" :en;amin0s mother too$ the candle at once, and li&hted Trottle bris$ly to the stairs9 and :en;amin himself tried to follo' as #s#al" :#t &ettin& #p several fli&hts of stairs, even helped by the bannisters, 'as more, 'ith his partic#lar complaint, than he seemed to feel himself inclined to vent#re on" He sat do'n obstinately on the lo'est step, 'ith his head a&ainst the 'all, and the tails of his bi& &reat?coat spreadin& o#t ma&nificently on the stairs behind him and above him, li$e a dirty imitation of a co#rt lady0s train" 5Don0t sit there, dear,6 says his affectionate mother, stoppin& to sn#ff the candle on the first landin&" 53 shall sit here,6 says :en;amin, a&ravatin& to the last, 5till the mil$ comes in the mornin&"6 The cheerf#l old 'oman 'ent on nimbly #p the stairs to the first floor, and Trottle follo'ed, 'ith his eyes and ears 'ide open" He had seen nothin& o#t of the common in the front?parlo#r, or #p the staircase, so far" The Ho#se 'as dirty and dreary and close? smellin&4b#t there 'as nothin& abo#t it to excite the least c#riosity, except the faint scrapin& so#nd, 'hich 'as no' be&innin& to &et a little clearer4tho#&h still not at all lo#d4as Trottle follo'ed his leader #p the stairs to the second floor" Bothin& on the second?floor landin&, b#t cob'ebs above and bits of bro$en plaster belo', crac$ed off from the ceilin&" :en;amin0s mother 'as not a bit o#t of breath, and loo$ed all ready to &o to the top of the mon#ment if necessary" The faint scrapin&

so#nd had &ot a little clearer still9 b#t Trottle 'as no nearer to &#essin& 'hat it mi&ht be, than 'hen he first heard it in the parlo#r do'nstairs" ,n the third, and last, floor, there 'ere t'o doors9 one, 'hich 'as sh#t, leadin& into the front &arret9 and one, 'hich 'as a;ar, leadin& into the bac$ &arret" There 'as a loft in the ceilin& above the landin&9 b#t the cob'ebs all over it vo#ched s#fficiently for its not havin& been opened for some little time" The scrapin& noise, plainer than ever here, so#nded on the other side of the bac$ &arret door9 and, to Trottle0s &reat relief, that 'as precisely the door 'hich the cheerf#l old 'oman no' p#shed open" Trottle follo'ed her in9 and, for once in his life, at any rate, 'as str#c$ d#mb 'ith amaEement, at the si&ht 'hich the inside of the room revealed to him" The &arret 'as absol#tely empty of everythin& in the shape of f#rnit#re" 3t m#st have been #sed at one time or other, by somebody en&a&ed in a profession or a trade 'hich re8#ired for the practice of it a &reat deal of li&ht9 for the one 'indo' in the room, 'hich loo$ed o#t on a 'ide open space at the bac$ of the ho#se, 'as three or fo#r times as lar&e, every 'ay, as a &arret?'indo' #s#ally is" Close #nder this 'indo', $neelin& on the bare boards 'ith his face to the door, there appeared, of all the creat#res in the 'orld to see alone at s#ch a place and at s#ch a time, a mere mite of a child4a little, lonely, 'iEen, stran&ely?clad boy, 'ho co#ld not at the most, have been more than five years old" He had a &reasy old bl#e sha'l crossed over his breast, and rolled #p, to $eep the ends from the &ro#nd, into a &reat bi& l#mp on his bac$" C strip of somethin& 'hich loo$ed li$e the remains of a 'oman0s flannel petticoat, sho'ed itself #nder the sha'l, and, belo' that a&ain, a pair of r#sty blac$ stoc$in&s, 'orlds too lar&e for him, covered his le&s and his shoeless feet" C pair of old cl#msy m#ffetees, 'hich had 'or$ed themselves #p on his little frail red arms to the elbo's, and a bi& cotton ni&htcap that had dropped do'n to his very eyebro's, finished off the stran&e dress 'hich the poor little man seemed not half bi& eno#&h to fill o#t, and not near stron& eno#&h to 'al$ abo#t in" :#t there 'as somethin& to see even more extraordinary than the clothes the child 'as s'addled #p in, and that 'as the &ame 'hich he 'as playin& at, all by himself9 and 'hich, moreover, explained in the most #nexpected manner the faint scrapin& noise that had fo#nd its 'ay do'n?stairs, thro#&h the half?opened door, in the silence of the empty ho#se" 3t has been mentioned that the child 'as on his $nees in the &arret, 'hen Trottle first sa' him" He 'as not sayin& his prayers, and not cro#chin& do'n in terror at bein& alone in the dar$" He 'as, odd and #nacco#ntable as it may appear, doin& nothin& more or less than playin& at a char'oman0s or ho#semaid0s b#siness of sco#rin& the floor" :oth his little hands had ti&ht hold of a man&y old blac$in&?br#sh, 'ith hardly any bristles left in it, 'hich he 'as r#bbin& bac$'ards and for'ards on the boards, as &ravely and steadily as if he had been at sco#rin&?'or$ for years, and had &ot a lar&e family to $eep by it" The comin&?in of Trottle and the old 'oman did not startle or dist#rb him in the least" He ;#st loo$ed #p for a min#te at the candle, 'ith a pair of very bri&ht, sharp eyes, and then 'ent on 'ith his 'or$ a&ain, as if nothin& had happened" ,n one side of him 'as a battered pint sa#cepan 'itho#t a handle, 'hich 'as his ma$e? believe pail9 and on the other a morsel of slate?colo#red cotton ra&, 'hich stood for his flannel to 'ipe #p 'ith" Cfter scr#bbin& bravely for a min#te or t'o, he too$ the bit of

ra&, and mopped #p, and then s8#eeEed ma$e?believe 'ater o#t into his ma$e?believe pail, as &rave as any ;#d&e that ever sat on a :ench" :y the time he tho#&ht he had &ot the floor pretty dry, he raised himself #pri&ht on his $nees, and ble' o#t a &ood lon& breath, and set his little red arms a$imbo, and nodded at Trottle" 5There76 says the child, $nittin& his little do'ny eyebro's into a fro'n" 5Drat the dirt7 30ve cleaned #p" -here0s my beer>6 :en;amin0s mother ch#c$led till Trottle tho#&ht she 'o#ld have cho$ed herself" 52ord ha0 mercy on #s76 says she, 5;#st hear the imp" Do# 'o#ld never thin$ he 'as only five years old, 'o#ld yo#, sir> Please to tell &ood .r" *orley yo# sa' him &oin& on as nicely as ever, playin& at bein& me sco#rin& the parlo#r floor, and callin& for my beer after'ards" That0s his re&#lar &ame, mornin&, noon, and ni&ht4he0s never tired of it" ,nly loo$ ho' sn#& 'e0ve been and dressed him" That0s my sha'l a $eepin his precio#s little body 'arm, and :en;amin0s ni&htcap a $eepin his precio#s little head 'arm, and :en;amin0s stoc$in&s, dra'ed over his tro'sers, a $eepin his precio#s little le&s 'arm" He0s sn#& and happy if ever a imp 'as yet" H-here0s my beer704say it a&ain, little dear, say it a&ain76 3f Trottle had seen the boy, 'ith a li&ht and a fire in the room, clothed li$e other children, and playin& nat#rally 'ith a top, or a box of soldiers, or a bo#ncin& bi& 3ndia? r#bber ball, he mi&ht have been as cheerf#l #nder the circ#mstances as :en;amin0s mother herself" :#t seein& the child red#ced @as he co#ld not help s#spectin&A for 'ant of proper toys and proper child0s company, to ta$e #p 'ith the moc$in& of an old 'oman at her sco#rin&?'or$, for somethin& to stand in the place of a &ame, Trottle, tho#&h not a family man, nevertheless felt the si&ht before him to be, in its 'ay, one of the saddest and the most pitiable that he had ever 'itnessed" 5-hy, my man,6 says he, 5yo#0re the boldest little chap in all %n&land" Do# don0t seem a bit afraid of bein& #p here all by yo#rself in the dar$"6 5The bi& 'inder,6 says the child, pointin& #p to it, 5sees in the dar$9 and 3 see 'ith the bi& 'inder"6 He stops a bit, and &ets #p on his le&s, and loo$s hard at :en;amin0s mother" 530m a &ood 0#n,6 says he, 5ain0t 3> 3 save candle"6 Trottle 'ondered 'hat else the forlorn little creat#re had been bro#&ht #p to do 'itho#t, besides candle?li&ht9 and ris$ed p#ttin& a 8#estion as to 'hether he ever &ot a r#n in the open air to cheer him #p a bit" ,, yes, he had a r#n no' and then, o#t of doors @to say nothin& of his r#ns abo#t the ho#seA, the lively little cric$et4a r#n accordin& to &ood .r" *orley0s instr#ctions, 'hich 'ere follo'ed o#t caref#lly, as &ood .r" *orley0s friend 'o#ld be &lad to hear, to the very letter" Cs Trottle co#ld only have made one reply to this, namely, that &ood .r" *orley0s instr#ctions 'ere, in his opinion, the instr#ctions of an infernal scamp9 and as he felt that s#ch an ans'er 'o#ld nat#rally prove the death?blo' to all f#rther discoveries on his part, he &#lped do'n his feelin&s before they &ot too many for him, and held his ton&#e, and loo$ed ro#nd to'ards the 'indo' a&ain to see 'hat the forlorn little boy 'as &oin& to am#se himself 'ith next"

The child had &athered #p his blac$in&?br#sh and bit of ra&, and had p#t them into the old tin sa#cepan9 and 'as no' 'or$in& his 'ay, as 'ell as his clothes 'o#ld let him, 'ith his ma$e?believe pail h#&&ed #p in his arms, to'ards a door of comm#nication 'hich led from the bac$ to the front &arret" 53 say,6 says he, loo$in& ro#nd sharply over his sho#lder, 5'hat are yo# t'o stoppin& here for> 30m &oin& to bed no'4and so 3 tell yo#76 -ith that, he opened the door, and 'al$ed into the front room" (eein& Trottle ta$e a step or t'o to follo' him, :en;amin0s mother opened her 'ic$ed old eyes in a state of &reat astonishment" 5.ercy on #s76 says she, 5haven0t yo# seen eno#&h of him yet>6 5Bo,6 says Trottle" 53 sho#ld li$e to see him &o to bed"6 :en;amin0s mother b#rst into s#ch a fit of ch#c$lin& that the loose extin&#isher in the candlestic$ clattered a&ain 'ith the sha$in& of her hand" To thin$ of &ood .r" *orley0s friend ta$in& ten times more tro#ble abo#t the imp than &ood .r" *orley himself7 (#ch a ;o$e as that, :en;amin0s mother had not often met 'ith in the co#rse of her life, and she be&&ed to be exc#sed if she too$ the liberty of havin& a la#&h at it" 2eavin& her to la#&h as m#ch as she pleased, and comin& to a pretty positive concl#sion, after 'hat he had ;#st heard, that .r" *orley0s interest in the child 'as not of the fondest possible $ind, Trottle 'al$ed into the front room, and :en;amin0s mother, en;oyin& herself immensely, follo'ed 'ith the candle" There 'ere t'o pieces of f#rnit#re in the front &arret" ,ne, an old stool of the sort that is #sed to stand a cas$ of beer on9 and the other a &reat bi& ric$etty straddlin& old tr#c$le bedstead" 3n the middle of this bedstead, s#rro#nded by a dim bro'n 'aste of sac$in&, 'as a $ind of little island of poor beddin&4an old bolster, 'ith nearly all the feathers o#t of it, do#bled in three for a pillo'9 a mere shred of patch'or$ co#nter?pane, and a blan$et9 and #nder that, and peepin& o#t a little on either side beyond the loose clothes, t'o faded chair c#shions of horsehair, laid alon& to&ether for a sort of ma$eshift mattress" -hen Trottle &ot into the room, the lonely little boy had scrambled #p on the bedstead 'ith the help of the beer?stool, and 'as $neelin& on the o#ter rim of sac$in& 'ith the shred of co#nterpane in his hands, ;#st ma$in& ready to t#c$ it in for himself #nder the chair c#shions" 530ll t#c$ yo# #p, my man,6 says Trottle" 5)#mp into bed, and let me try"6 53 mean to t#c$ myself #p,6 says the poor forlorn child, 5and 3 don0t mean to ;#mp" 3 mean to cra'l, 3 do4and so 3 tell yo#76 -ith that, he set to 'or$, t#c$in& in the clothes ti&ht all do'n the sides of the c#shions, b#t leavin& them open at the foot" Then, &ettin& #p on his $nees, and loo$in& hard at Trottle as m#ch as to say, 5-hat do yo# mean by offerin& to help s#ch a handy little chap as me>6 he be&an to #ntie the bi& sha'l for himself, and did it, too, in less than half a min#te" Then, do#blin& the sha'l #p loose over the foot of the bed, he says, 53 say, loo$ here,6 and d#c$s #nder the clothes, head first, 'ormin& his 'ay #p and #p

softly, #nder the blan$et and co#nterpane, till Trottle sa' the top of the lar&e ni&htcap slo'ly peep o#t on the bolster" This over?siEed head?&ear of the child0s had so shoved itself do'n in the co#rse of his ;o#rney to the pillo', #nder the clothes, that 'hen he &ot his face fairly o#t on the bolster, he 'as all ni&htcap do'n to his mo#th" He soon freed himself, ho'ever, from this sli&ht enc#mbrance by t#rnin& the ends of the cap #p &ravely to their old place over his eyebro's4loo$ed at Trottle4said, 5(n#&, ain0t it> /ood?bye764popped his face #nder the clothes a&ain4and left nothin& to be seen of him b#t the empty pea$ of the bi& ni&htcap standin& #p st#rdily on end in the middle of the bolster" 5-hat a yo#n& limb it is, ain0t it>6 says :en;amin0s mother, &ivin& Trottle a cheerf#l di& 'ith her elbo'" 5Come on7 yo# 'on0t see no more of him to?ni&ht76 5Cnd so 3 tell yo#76 sin&s o#t a shrill, little voice #nder the bedclothes, chimin& in 'ith a playf#l finish to the old 'oman0s last 'ords" 3f Trottle had not been, by this time, positively resolved to follo' the 'ic$ed secret 'hich accident had mixed him #p 'ith, thro#&h all its t#rnin&s and 'indin&s, ri&ht on to the end, he 'o#ld have probably snatched the boy #p then and there, and carried him off from his &arret prison, bed?clothes and all" Cs it 'as, he p#t a stron& chec$ on himself, $ept his eye on f#t#re possibilities, and allo'ed :en;amin0s mother to lead him do'n? stairs a&ain" 5.ind them top bannisters,6 says she, as Trottle laid his hand on them" 5They are as rotten as medlars every one of 0em"6 5-hen people come to see the premises,6 says Trottle, tryin& to feel his 'ay a little farther into the mystery of the Ho#se, 5yo# don0t brin& many of them #p here, do yo#>6 5:less yo#r heart alive76 says she, 5nobody ever comes no'" The o#tside of the ho#se is 8#ite eno#&h to 'arn them off" .ores the pity, as 3 say" 3t #sed to $eep me in spirits, sta&&erin& 0em all, one after another, 'ith the fri&htf#l hi&h rent4specially the 'omen, drat 0em" H-hat0s the rent of this ho#se>04HH#ndred and t'enty po#nd a? year704HH#ndred and t'enty> 'hy, there ain0t a ho#se in the street as lets for more than ei&hty7042i$ely eno#&h, ma0am9 other landlords may lo'er their rents if they please9 b#t this here landlord stic$s to his ri&hts, and means to have as m#ch for his ho#se as his father had before him704H:#t the nei&hbo#rhood0s &one off since then704HH#ndred and t'enty po#nd, ma0am"04HThe landlord m#st be mad704HH#ndred and t'enty po#nd, ma0am"04H,pen the door yo# impertinent 'oman70 2ord7 'hat a happiness it 'as to see 0em bo#nce o#t, 'ith that a'f#l rent a? rin&in& in their ears all do'n the street76 (he stopped on the second?floor landin& to treat herself to another ch#c$le, 'hile Trottle privately posted #p in his memory 'hat he had ;#st heard" 5T'o points made o#t,6 he tho#&ht to himself+ 5the ho#se is $ept empty on p#rpose, and the 'ay it0s done is to as$ a rent that nobody 'ill pay"6 5Ch, deary me76 says :en;amin0s mother, chan&in& the s#b;ect on a s#dden, and t'istin& bac$ 'ith a horrid, &reedy 8#ic$ness to those a'$'ard money?matters 'hich she had broached do'n in the parlo#r" 5-hat 'e0ve done, one 'ay and another for .r"

*orley, it isn0t in 'ords to tell7 That nice little bit of b#siness of o#rs o#&ht to be a bi&&er bit of b#siness, considerin& the tro#ble 'e ta$e, :en;amin and me, to ma$e the imp #pstairs as happy as the day is lon&" 3f &ood .r" *orley 'o#ld only please to thin$ a little more of 'hat a deal he o'es to :en;amin and me46 5That0s ;#st it,6 says Trottle, catchin& her #p short in desperation, and seein& his 'ay, by the help of those last 'ords of hers, to slippin& cleverly thro#&h her fin&ers" 5-hat sho#ld yo# say, if 3 told yo# that .r" *orley 'as nothin& li$e so far from thin$in& abo#t that little matter as yo# fancy> Do# 'o#ld be disappointed, no', if 3 told yo# that 3 had come to?day 'itho#t the money>64@her lan$ old ;a' fell, and her villaino#s old eyes &lared, in a perfect state of panic, at that7A45:#t 'hat sho#ld yo# say, if 3 told yo# that .r" *orley 'as only 'aitin& for my report, to send me here next .onday, at d#s$, 'ith a bi&&er bit of b#siness for #s t'o to do to&ether than ever yo# thin$ for> -hat sho#ld yo# say to that>6 The old 'retch came so near to Trottle, before she ans'ered, and ;ammed him #p confidentially so close into the corner of the landin&, that his throat, in a manner, rose at her" 5Can yo# co#nt it off, do yo# thin$, on more than that>6 says she, holdin& #p her fo#r s$inny fin&ers and her lon& croo$ed th#mb, all of a tremble, ri&ht before his face" 5-hat do yo# say to t'o hands, instead of one>6 says he, p#shin& past her, and &ettin& do'n?stairs as fast as he co#ld" -hat she said Trottle thin$s it best not to report, seein& that the old hypocrite, &ettin& next door to li&ht?headed at the &olden prospect before her, too$ s#ch liberties 'ith #nearthly names and persons 'hich o#&ht never to have approached her lips, and rained do'n s#ch an a'f#l sho'er of blessin&s on Trottle0s head, that his hair almost stood on end to hear her" He 'ent on do'n?stairs as fast as his feet 'o#ld carry him, till he 'as bro#&ht #p all standin&, as the sailors say, on the last fli&ht, by a&ravatin& :en;amin, lyin& ri&ht across the stair, and fallen off, as mi&ht have been expected, into a heavy dr#n$en sleep" The si&ht of him instantly reminded Trottle of the c#rio#s half li$eness 'hich he had already detected bet'een the face of :en;amin and the face of another man, 'hom he had seen at a past time in very different circ#mstances" He determined, before leavin& the Ho#se, to have one more loo$ at the 'retched m#ddled creat#re9 and accordin&ly shoo$ him #p smartly, and propped him a&ainst the staircase 'all, before his mother co#ld interfere" 52eave him to me9 30ll freshen him #p,6 says Trottle to the old 'oman, loo$in& hard in :en;amin0s face, 'hile he spo$e" The fri&ht and s#rprise of bein& s#ddenly 'o$e #p, seemed, for abo#t a 8#arter of a min#te, to sober the creat#re" -hen he first opened his eyes, there 'as a ne' loo$ in them for a moment, 'hich str#c$ home to Trottle0s memory as 8#ic$ and as clear as a flash of li&ht" The old ma#dlin sleepy expression came bac$ a&ain in another instant, and bl#rred o#t all f#rther si&ns and to$ens of the past" :#t Trottle had seen eno#&h in the moment before it came9 and he tro#bled :en;amin0s face 'ith no more in8#iries"

5Bext .onday, at d#s$,6 says he, c#ttin& short some more of the old 'oman0s palaver abo#t :en;amin0s indis&estion" 530ve &ot no more time to spare, ma0am, to?ni&ht+ please to let me o#t"6 -ith a fe' last blessin&s, a fe' last d#tif#l messa&es to &ood .r" *orley, and a fe' last friendly hints not to for&et next .onday at d#s$, Trottle contrived to str#&&le thro#&h the sic$enin& b#siness of leave?ta$in&9 to &et the door opened9 and to find himself, to his o'n indescribable relief, once more on the o#ter side of the Ho#se To 2et"

LET AT LAST
5There, ma0am76 said Trottle, foldin& #p the man#script from 'hich he had been readin&, and settin& it do'n 'ith a smart tap of tri#mph on the table" 5.ay 3 vent#re to as$ 'hat yo# thin$ of that plain statement, as a &#ess on my part @and not on .r" )arber0sA at the riddle of the empty Ho#se>6 *or a min#te or t'o 3 'as #nable to say a 'ord" -hen 3 recovered a little, my first 8#estion referred to the poor forlorn little boy" 5To?day is .onday the t'entieth,6 3 said" 5(#rely yo# have not let a 'hole 'ee$ &o by 'itho#t tryin& to find o#t somethin& more>6 5%xcept at bed?time, and meals, ma0am,6 ans'ered Trottle, 53 have not let an ho#r &o by" Please to #nderstand that 3 have only come to an end of 'hat 3 have 'ritten, and not to an end of 'hat 3 have done" 3 'rote do'n those first partic#lars, ma0am, beca#se they are of &reat importance, and also beca#se 3 'as determined to come for'ard 'ith my 'ritten doc#ments, seein& that .r" )arber chose to come for'ard, in the first instance, 'ith his" 3 am no' ready to &o on 'ith the second part of my story as shortly and plainly as possible, by 'ord of mo#th" The first thin& 3 m#st clear #p, if yo# please, is the matter of .r" *orley0s family affairs" 3 have heard yo# spea$ of them, ma0am, at vario#s times9 and 3 have #nderstood that .r" *orley had t'o children only by his deceased 'ife, both da#&hters" The eldest da#&hter married, to her father0s entire satisfaction, one .r" :ayne, a rich man, holdin& a hi&h &overnment sit#ation in Canada" (he is no' livin& there 'ith her h#sband, and her only child, a little &irl of ei&ht or nine years old" 1i&ht so far, 3 thin$, ma0am>6 5<#ite ri&ht,6 3 said" 5The second da#&hter,6 Trottle 'ent on, 5and .r" *orley0s favo#rite, set her father0s 'ishes and the opinions of the 'orld at flat defiance, by r#nnin& a'ay 'ith a man of lo' ori&in4a mate of a merchant?vessel, named Gir$land" .r" *orley not only never for&ave that marria&e, b#t vo'ed that he 'o#ld visit the scandal of it heavily in the f#t#re on h#sband and 'ife" :oth escaped his ven&eance, 'hatever he meant it to be" The h#sband 'as dro'ned on his first voya&e after his marria&e, and the 'ife died in child?bed" 1i&ht a&ain, 3 believe, ma0am>6 5C&ain 8#ite ri&ht"6 5Havin& &ot the family matter all ri&ht, 'e 'ill no' &o bac$, ma0am, to me and my doin&s" 2ast .onday, 3 as$ed yo# for leave of absence for t'o days9 3 employed the

time in clearin& #p the matter of :en;amin0s face" 2ast (at#rday 3 'as o#t of the 'ay 'hen yo# 'anted me" 3 played tr#ant, ma0am, on that occasion, in company 'ith a friend of mine, 'ho is mana&in& cler$ in a la'yer0s office9 and 'e both spent the mornin& at Doctors0 Commons, over the last 'ill and testament of .r" *orley0s father" 2eavin& the 'ill?b#siness for a moment, please to follo' me first, if yo# have no ob;ection, into the #&ly s#b;ect of :en;amin0s face" Cbo#t six or seven years a&o @than$s to yo#r $indnessA 3 had a 'ee$0s holiday 'ith some friends of mine 'ho live in the to'n of Pendleb#ry" ,ne of those friends @the only one no' left in the placeA $ept a chemist0s shop, and in that shop 3 'as made ac8#ainted 'ith one of the t'o doctors in the to'n, named :arsham" This :arsham 'as a first?rate s#r&eon, and mi&ht have &ot to the top of his profession, if he had not been a first?rate blac$&#ard" Cs it 'as, he both dran$ and &ambled9 nobody 'o#ld have anythin& to do 'ith him in Pendleb#ry9 and, at the time 'hen 3 'as made $no'n to him in the chemist0s shop, the other doctor, .r" Dix, 'ho 'as not to be compared 'ith him for s#r&ical s$ill, b#t 'ho 'as a respectable man, had &ot all the practice9 and :arsham and his old mother 'ere livin& to&ether in s#ch a condition of #tter poverty, that it 'as a marvel to everybody ho' they $ept o#t of the parish 'or$ho#se"6 5:en;amin and :en;amin0s mother76 5%xactly, ma0am" 2ast Th#rsday mornin& @than$s to yo#r $indness, a&ainA 3 'ent to Pendleb#ry to my friend the chemist, to as$ a fe' 8#estions abo#t :arsham and his mother" 3 'as told that they had both left the to'n abo#t five years since" -hen 3 in8#ired into the circ#mstances, some stran&e partic#lars came o#t in the co#rse of the chemist0s ans'er" Do# $no' 3 have no do#bt, ma0am, that poor .rs" Gir$land 'as confined 'hile her h#sband 'as at sea, in lod&in&s at a villa&e called *latfield, and that she died and 'as b#ried there" :#t 'hat yo# may not $no' is, that *latfield is only three miles from Pendleb#ry9 that the doctor 'ho attended on .rs" Gir$land 'as :arsham9 that the n#rse 'ho too$ care of her 'as :arsham0s mother9 and that the person 'ho called them both in, 'as .r" *orley" -hether his da#&hter 'rote to him, or 'hether he heard of it in some other 'ay, 3 don0t $no'9 b#t he 'as 'ith her @tho#&h he had s'orn never to see her a&ain 'hen she marriedA a month or more before her confinement, and 'as bac$'ards and for'ards a &ood deal bet'een *latfield and Pendleb#ry" Ho' he mana&ed matters 'ith the :arshams cannot at present be discovered9 b#t it is a fact that he contrived to $eep the dr#n$en doctor sober, to everybody0s amaEement" 3t is a fact that :arsham 'ent to the poor 'oman 'ith all his 'its abo#t him" 3t is a fact that he and his mother came bac$ from *latfield after .rs" Gir$land0s death, pac$ed #p 'hat fe' thin&s they had, and left the to'n mysterio#sly by ni&ht" Cnd, lastly, it is also a fact that the other doctor, .r" Dix, 'as not called in to help, till a 'ee$ after the birth and burial of the child, 'hen the mother 'as sin$in& from exha#stion4exha#stion @to &ive the va&abond, :arsham, his d#eA not prod#ced, in .r" Dix0s opinion, by improper medical treatment, b#t by the bodily 'ea$ness of the poor 'oman herself46 5:#rial of the child>6 3 interr#pted, tremblin& all over" 5Trottle7 yo# spo$e that 'ord Hb#rial0 in a very stran&e 'ay4yo# are fixin& yo#r eyes on me no' 'ith a very stran&e loo$46 Trottle leaned over close to me, and pointed thro#&h the 'indo' to the empty ho#se"

5The child0s death is re&istered, at Pendleb#ry,6 he said, 5on :arsham0s certificate, #nder the head of .ale 3nfant, (till?:orn" The child0s coffin lies in the mother0s &rave, in *latfield ch#rchyard" The child himself4as s#rely as 3 live and breathe, is livin& and breathin& no'4a casta'ay and a prisoner in that villaino#s ho#se76 3 san$ bac$ in my chair" 53t0s &#ess?'or$, so far, b#t it is borne in on my mind, for all that, as tr#th" 1o#se yo#rself, ma0am, and thin$ a little" The last 3 hear of :arsham, he is attendin& .r" *orley0s disobedient da#&hter" The next 3 see of :arsham, he is in .r" *orley0s ho#se, tr#sted 'ith a secret" He and his mother leave Pendleb#ry s#ddenly and s#spicio#sly five years bac$9 and he and his mother have &ot a child of five years old, hidden a'ay in the ho#se" -ait7 please to 'ait43 have not done yet" The 'ill left by .r" *orley0s father, stren&thens the s#spicion" The friend 3 too$ 'ith me to Doctors0 Commons, made himself master of the contents of that 'ill9 and 'hen he had done so, 3 p#t these t'o 8#estions to him" HCan .r" *orley leave his money at his o'n discretion to anybody he pleases>0 HBo,0 my friend says, Hhis father has left him 'ith only a life interest in it"0 H(#ppose one of .r" *orley0s married da#&hters has a &irl, and the other a boy, ho' 'o#ld the money &o>0 H3t 'o#ld all &o,0 my friend says, Hto the boy, and it 'o#ld be char&ed 'ith the payment of a certain ann#al income to his female co#sin" Cfter her death, it 'o#ld &o bac$ to the male descendant, and to his heirs"0 Consider that, ma0am7 The child of the da#&hter 'hom .r" *orley hates, 'hose h#sband has been snatched a'ay from his ven&eance by death, ta$es his 'hole property in defiance of him9 and the child of the da#&hter 'hom he loves, is left a pensioner on her lo'?born boy?co#sin for life7 There 'as &ood4too &ood reason4'hy that child of .rs" Gir$land0s sho#ld be re&istered stillborn" Cnd if, as 3 believe, the re&ister is fo#nded on a false certificate, there is better, still better reason, 'hy the existence of the child sho#ld be hidden, and all trace of his parenta&e blotted o#t, in the &arret of that empty ho#se"6 He stopped, and pointed for the second time to the dim, d#st?covered &arret?'indo's opposite" Cs he did so, 3 'as startled4a very sli&ht matter s#fficed to fri&hten me no' 4by a $noc$ at the door of the room in 'hich 'e 'ere sittin&" .y maid came in, 'ith a letter in her hand" 3 too$ it from her" The mo#rnin& card, 'hich 'as all the envelope enclosed, dropped from my hands" /eor&e *orley 'as no more" He had departed this life three days since, on the evenin& of *riday" 5Did o#r last chance of discoverin& the tr#th,6 3 as$ed, 5rest 'ith him> Has it died 'ith his death>6 5Co#ra&e, ma0am7 3 thin$ not" ,#r chance rests on o#r po'er to ma$e :arsham and his mother confess9 and .r" *orley0s death, by leavin& them helpless, seems to p#t that po'er into o#r hands" -ith yo#r permission, 3 'ill not 'ait till d#s$ to?day, as 3 at first intended, b#t 'ill ma$e s#re of those t'o people at once" -ith a policeman in plain clothes to 'atch the ho#se, in case they try to leave it9 'ith this card to vo#ch for the fact of .r" *orley0s death9 and 'ith a bold ac$no'led&ment on my part of havin& &ot possession of their secret, and of bein& ready to #se it a&ainst them in case of need, 3

thin$ there is little do#bt of brin&in& :arsham and his mother to terms" 3n case 3 find it impossible to &et bac$ here before d#s$, please to sit near the 'indo', ma0am, and 'atch the ho#se, a little before they li&ht the street?lamps" 3f yo# see the front?door open and close a&ain, 'ill yo# be &ood eno#&h to p#t on yo#r bonnet, and come across to me immediately> .r" *orley0s death may, or may not, prevent his messen&er from comin& as arran&ed" :#t, if the person does come, it is of importance that yo#, as a relative of .r" *orley0s sho#ld be present to see him, and to have that proper infl#ence over him 'hich 3 cannot pretend to exercise"6 The only 'ords 3 co#ld say to Trottle as he opened the door and left me, 'ere 'ords char&in& him to ta$e care that no harm happened to the poor forlorn little boy" 2eft alone, 3 dre' my chair to the 'indo'9 and loo$ed o#t 'ith a beatin& heart at the &#ilty ho#se" 3 'aited and 'aited thro#&h 'hat appeared to me to be an endless time, #ntil 3 heard the 'heels of a cab stop at the end of the street" 3 loo$ed in that direction, and sa' Trottle &et o#t of the cab alone, 'al$ #p to the ho#se, and $noc$ at the door" He 'as let in by :arsham0s mother" C min#te or t'o later, a decently?dressed man sa#ntered past the ho#se, loo$ed #p at it for a moment, and sa#ntered on to the corner of the street close by" Here he leant a&ainst the post, and li&hted a ci&ar, and stopped there smo$in& in an idle 'ay, b#t $eepin& his face al'ays t#rned in the direction of the ho#se?door" 3 'aited and 'aited still" 3 'aited and 'aited, 'ith my eyes riveted to the door of the ho#se" Ct last 3 tho#&ht 3 sa' it open in the d#s$, and then felt s#re 3 heard it sh#t a&ain softly" Tho#&h 3 tried hard to compose myself, 3 trembled so that 3 'as obli&ed to call for Pe&&y to help me on 'ith my bonnet and cloa$, and 'as forced to ta$e her arm to lean on, in crossin& the street" Trottle opened the door to #s, before 'e co#ld $noc$" Pe&&y 'ent bac$, and 3 'ent in" He had a li&hted candle in his hand" 53t has happened, ma0am, as 3 tho#&ht it 'o#ld,6 he 'hispered, leadin& me into the bare, comfortless, empty parlo#r" 5:arsham and his mother have cons#lted their o'n interests, and have come to terms" .y &#ess?'or$ is &#ess?'or$ no lon&er" 3t is no' 'hat 3 felt it 'as4Tr#th76 (omethin& stran&e to me4somethin& 'hich 'omen 'ho are mothers m#st often $no' 4trembled s#ddenly in my heart, and bro#&ht the 'arm tears of my yo#thf#l days thron&in& bac$ into my eyes" 3 too$ my faithf#l old servant by the hand, and as$ed him to let me see .rs" Gir$land0s child, for his mother0s sa$e" 53f yo# desire it, ma0am,6 said Trottle, 'ith a &entleness of manner that 3 had never noticed in him before" 5:#t pray don0t thin$ me 'antin& in d#ty and ri&ht feelin&, if 3 be& yo# to try and 'ait a little" Do# are a&itated already, and a first meetin& 'ith the child 'ill not help to ma$e yo# so calm, as yo# 'o#ld 'ish to be, if .r" *orley0s messen&er comes" The little boy is safe #p?stairs" Pray thin$ first of tryin& to compose yo#rself for a meetin& 'ith a stran&er9 and believe me yo# shall not leave the ho#se after'ards 'itho#t the child"6

3 felt that Trottle 'as ri&ht, and sat do'n as patiently as 3 co#ld in a chair he had tho#&htf#lly placed ready for me" 3 'as so horrified at the discovery of my o'n relation0s 'ic$edness that 'hen Trottle proposed to ma$e me ac8#ainted 'ith the confession 'r#n& from :arsham and his mother, 3 be&&ed him to spare me all details, and only to tell me 'hat 'as necessary abo#t /eor&e *orley" 5Cll that can be said for .r" *orley, ma0am, is, that he 'as ;#st scr#p#lo#s eno#&h to hide the child0s existence and blot o#t its parenta&e here, instead of consentin&, at the first, to its death, or after'ards, 'hen the boy &re' #p, to t#rnin& him adrift, absol#tely helpless in the 'orld" The fra#d has been mana&ed, ma0am, 'ith the c#nnin& of (atan himself" .r" *orley had the hold over the :arshams, that they had helped him in his villany, and that they 'ere dependent on him for the bread they eat" He bro#&ht them #p to 2ondon to $eep them sec#rely #nder his o'n eye" He p#t them into this empty ho#se @ta$in& it o#t of the a&ent0s hands previo#sly, on pretence that he meant to mana&e the lettin& of it himselfA9 and by $eepin& the ho#se empty, made it the s#rest of all hidin& places for the child" Here, .r" *orley co#ld come, 'henever he pleased, to see that the poor lonely child 'as not absol#tely starved9 s#re that his visits 'o#ld only appear li$e loo$in& after his o'n property" Here the child 'as to have been trained to believe himself :arsham0s child, till he sho#ld be old eno#&h to be provided for in some sit#ation, as lo' and as poor as .r" *orley0s #neasy conscience 'o#ld let him pic$ o#t" He may have tho#&ht of atonement on his death?bed9 b#t not before43 am only too certain of it4not before76 C lo', do#ble $noc$ startled #s" 5The messen&er76 said Trottle, #nder his breath" He 'ent o#t instantly to ans'er the $noc$9 and ret#rned, leadin& in a respectable?loo$in& elderly man, dressed li$e Trottle, all in blac$, 'ith a 'hite cravat, b#t other'ise not at all resemblin& him" 53 am afraid 3 have made some mista$e,6 said the stran&er" Trottle, considerately ta$in& the office of explanation into his o'n hands, ass#red the &entleman that there 'as no mista$e9 mentioned to him 'ho 3 'as9 and as$ed him if he had not come on b#siness connected 'ith the late .r" *orley" 2oo$in& &reatly astonished, the &entleman ans'ered, 5Des"6 There 'as an a'$'ard moment of silence, after that" The stran&er seemed to be not only startled and amaEed, b#t rather distr#stf#l and fearf#l of committin& himself as 'ell" Boticin& this, 3 tho#&ht it best to re8#est Trottle to p#t an end to f#rther embarrassment, by statin& all partic#lars tr#thf#lly, as he had stated them to me9 and 3 be&&ed the &entleman to listen patiently for the late .r" *orley0s sa$e" He bo'ed to me very respectf#lly, and said he 'as prepared to listen 'ith the &reatest interest" 3t 'as evident to me4and, 3 co#ld see, to Trottle also4that 'e 'ere not dealin&, to say the least, 'ith a dishonest man" 5:efore 3 offer any opinion on 'hat 3 have heard,6 he said, earnestly and anxio#sly, after Trottle had done, 53 m#st be allo'ed, in ;#stice to myself, to explain my o'n apparent connection 'ith this very stran&e and very shoc$in& b#siness" 3 'as the confidential le&al adviser of the late .r" *orley, and 3 am left his exec#tor" 1ather more than a fortni&ht bac$, 'hen .r" *orley 'as confined to his room by illness, he sent for

me, and char&ed me to call and pay a certain s#m of money here, to a man and 'oman 'hom 3 sho#ld find ta$in& char&e of the ho#se" He said he had reasons for 'ishin& the affair to be $ept a secret" He be&&ed me so to arran&e my en&a&ements that 3 co#ld call at this place either on .onday last, or to?day, at d#s$9 and he mentioned that he 'o#ld 'rite to 'arn the people of my comin&, 'itho#t mentionin& my name @Dalcott is my nameA, as he did not 'ish to expose me to any f#t#re import#nities on the part of the man and 'oman" 3 need hardly tell yo# that this commission str#c$ me as bein& a stran&e one9 b#t, in my position 'ith .r" *orley, 3 had no reso#rce b#t to accept it 'itho#t as$in& 8#estions, or to brea$ off my lon& and friendly connection 'ith my client" 3 chose the first alternative" :#siness prevented me from doin& my errand on .onday last4and if 3 am here to?day, not'ithstandin& .r" *orley0s #nexpected death, it is emphatically beca#se 3 #nderstood nothin& of the matter, on $noc$in& at this door9 and therefore felt myself bo#nd, as exec#tor, to clear it #p" That, on my 'ord of hono#r, is the 'hole tr#th, so far as 3 am personally concerned"6 53 feel 8#ite s#re of it, sir,6 3 ans'ered" 5Do# mentioned .r" *orley0s death, ;#st no', as #nexpected" .ay 3 in8#ire if yo# 'ere present, and if he has left any last instr#ctions>6 5Three ho#rs before .r" *orley0s death,6 said .r" Dalcott, 5his medical attendant left him apparently in a fair 'ay of recovery" The chan&e for the 'orse too$ place so s#ddenly, and 'as accompanied by s#ch severe s#fferin&, to prevent him from comm#nicatin& his last 'ishes to any one" -hen 3 reached his ho#se, he 'as insensible" 3 have since examined his papers" Bot one of them refers to the present time or to the serio#s matter 'hich no' occ#pies #s" 3n the absence of instr#ctions 3 m#st act ca#tio#sly on 'hat yo# have told me9 b#t 3 'ill be ri&idly fair and ;#st at the same time" The first thin& to be done,6 he contin#ed, addressin& himself to Trottle, 5is to hear 'hat the man and 'oman, do'n?stairs, have to say" 3f yo# can s#pply me 'ith 'ritin&? materials, 3 'ill ta$e their declarations separately on the spot, in yo#r presence, and in the presence of the policeman 'ho is 'atchin& the ho#se" To?morro' 3 'ill send copies of those declarations, accompanied by a f#ll statement of the case, to .r" and .rs" :ayne in Canada @both of 'hom $no' me 'ell as the late .r" *orley0s le&al adviserA9 and 3 'ill s#spend all proceedin&s, on my part, #ntil 3 hear from them, or from their solicitor in 2ondon" 3n the present post#re of affairs this is all 3 can safely do"6 -e co#ld do no less than a&ree 'ith him, and than$ him for his fran$ and honest manner of meetin& #s" 3t 'as arran&ed that 3 sho#ld send over the 'ritin&?materials from my lod&in&s9 and, to my #n#tterable ;oy and relief, it 'as also readily ac$no'led&ed that the poor little orphan boy co#ld find no fitter ref#&e than my old arms 'ere lon&in& to offer him, and no safer protection for the ni&ht than my roof co#ld &ive" Trottle hastened a'ay #p?stairs, as actively as if he had been a yo#n& man, to fetch the child do'n" Cnd he bro#&ht him do'n to me 'itho#t another moment of delay, and 3 'ent on my $nees before the poor little .ite, and embraced him, and as$ed him if he 'o#ld &o 'ith me to 'here 3 lived> He held me a'ay for a moment, and his 'an, shre'd little eyes loo$ed sharp at me" Then he cl#n& close to me all at once, and said+ 530m a?&oin& alon& 'ith yo#, 3 am4and so 3 tell yo#76

*or inspirin& the poor ne&lected child 'ith this tr#st in my old self, 3 than$ed Heaven, then, 'ith all my heart and so#l, and 3 than$ it no'7 3 b#ndled the poor darlin& #p in my o'n cloa$, and 3 carried him in my o'n arms across the road" Pe&&y 'as lost in speechless amaEement to behold me tr#d&in& o#t of breath #p?stairs, 'ith a stran&e pair of poor little le&s #nder my arm9 b#t, she be&an to cry over the child the moment she sa' him, li$e a sensible 'oman as she al'ays 'as, and she still cried her eyes o#t over him in a comfortable manner, 'hen he at last lay fast asleep, t#c$ed #p by my hands in Trottle0s bed" 5Cnd Trottle, bless yo#, my dear man,6 said 3, $issin& his hand, as he loo$ed on+ 5the forlorn baby came to this ref#&e thro#&h yo#, and he 'ill help yo# on yo#r 'ay to Heaven"6 Trottle ans'ered that 3 'as his dear mistress, and immediately 'ent and p#t his head o#t at an open 'indo' on the landin&, and loo$ed into the bac$ street for a 8#arter of an ho#r" That very ni&ht, as 3 sat thin$in& of the poor child, and of another poor child 'ho is never to be tho#&ht abo#t eno#&h at Christmas?time, the idea came into my mind 'hich 3 have lived to exec#te, and in the realisation of 'hich 3 am the happiest of 'omen this day" 5The exec#tor 'ill sell that Ho#se, Trottle>6 said 3" 5Bot a do#bt of it, ma0am, if he can find a p#rchaser"6 530ll b#y it"6 3 have often seen Trottle pleased9 b#t, 3 never sa' him so perfectly enchanted as he 'as 'hen 3 confided to him, 'hich 3 did, then and there, the p#rpose that 3 had in vie'" To ma$e short of a lon& story4and 'hat story 'o#ld not be lon&, comin& from the lips of an old 'oman li$e me, #nless it 'as made short by main force743 bo#&ht the Ho#se" .rs" :ayne had her father0s blood in her9 she evaded the opport#nity of for&ivin& and &enero#s reparation that 'as offered her, and diso'ned the child9 b#t, 3 'as prepared for that, and loved him all the more for havin& no one in the 'orld to loo$ to, b#t me" 3 am &ettin& into a fl#rry by bein& over?pleased, and 3 dare say 3 am as incoherent as need be" 3 bo#&ht the Ho#se, and 3 altered it from the basement to the roof, and 3 t#rned it into a Hospital for (ic$ Children" Bever mind by 'hat de&rees my little adopted boy came to the $no'led&e of all the si&hts and so#nds in the streets, so familiar to other children and so stran&e to him9 never mind by 'hat de&rees he came to be pretty, and childish, and 'innin&, and companionable, and to have pict#res and toys abo#t him, and s#itable playmates" Cs 3 'rite, 3 loo$ across the road to my Hospital, and there is the darlin& @'ho has &one over to playA noddin& at me o#t of one of the once lonely 'indo's, 'ith his dear ch#bby face bac$ed #p by Trottle0s 'aistcoat as he lifts my pet for 5/randma6 to see"

.any an %ye 3 see in that Ho#se no', b#t it is never in solit#de, never in ne&lect" .any an %ye 3 see in that Ho#se no', that is more and more radiant every day 'ith the li&ht of ret#rnin& health" Cs my precio#s darlin& has chan&ed beyond description for the bri&hter and the better, so do the not less precio#s darlin&s of poor 'omen chan&e in that Ho#se every day in the year" *or 'hich 3 h#mbly than$ that /racio#s :ein& 'hom the restorer of the -ido'0s son and of the 1#ler0s da#&hter, instr#cted all man$ind to call their *ather" III%BD ,* TH% P1,)%CT /FT%B:%1/ %:,,G C H,F(% T, 2%TIII

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