第7章

"Blessyourheartalive!"saysshe，"nobodyevercomesnow。Theoutsideofthehouseisquiteenoughtowarnthemoff。Moresthepity，asIsay。Itusedtokeepmeinspirits，staggering"emall，oneafteranother，withthefrightfulhighrent——speciallythewomen，drat"em。"What"stherentofthishouse?"——"Hundredandtwentypounda-year!"——"Hundredandtwenty?why，thereain"tahouseinthestreetasletsformorethaneighty!"——Likelyenough，ma"am；

otherlandlordsmaylowertheirrentsiftheyplease；butthisherelandlordstickstohisrights，andmeanstohaveasmuchforhishouseashisfatherhadbeforehim!"——"Buttheneighbourhood"sgoneoffsincethen!"——"Hundredandtwentypound，ma"am。"——"Thelandlordmustbemad!"——"Hundredandtwentypound，ma"am。"——"Openthedooryouimpertinentwoman!"Lord!whatahappinessitwastosee"embounceout，withthatawfulrenta-ringingintheirearsalldownthestreet!"

Shestoppedonthesecond-floorlandingtotreatherselftoanotherchuckle，whileTrottleprivatelypostedupinhismemorywhathehadjustheard。"Twopointsmadeout，"hethoughttohimself:"thehouseiskeptemptyonpurpose，andthewayit"sdoneistoaskarentthatnobodywillpay。"

"Ah，dearyme!"saysBenjamin"smother，changingthesubjectonasudden，andtwistingbackwithahorrid，greedyquicknesstothoseawkwardmoney-matterswhichshehadbroacheddownintheparlour。

"Whatwe"vedone，onewayandanotherforMr。Forley，itisn"tinwordstotell!Thatnicelittlebitofbusinessofoursoughttobeabiggerbitofbusiness，consideringthetroublewetake，Benjaminandme，tomaketheimpupstairsashappyasthedayislong。IfgoodMr。ForleywouldonlypleasetothinkalittlemoreofwhatadealheowestoBenjaminandme——"

"That"sjustit，"saysTrottle，catchingherupshortindesperation，andseeinghisway，bythehelpofthoselastwordsofhers，toslippingcleverlythroughherfingers。"Whatshouldyousay，ifItoldyouthatMr。Forleywasnothinglikesofarfromthinkingaboutthatlittlematterasyoufancy?Youwouldbedisappointed，now，ifItoldyouthatIhadcometo-daywithoutthemoney?"——(herlankoldjawfell，andhervillainousoldeyesglared，inaperfectstateofpanic，atthat!)——"Butwhatshouldyousay，ifItoldyouthatMr。Forleywasonlywaitingformyreport，tosendmeherenextMonday，atdusk，withabiggerbitofbusinessforustwotodotogetherthaneveryouthinkfor?Whatshouldyousaytothat?"

TheoldwretchcamesoneartoTrottle，beforesheanswered，andjammedhimupconfidentiallysocloseintothecornerofthelanding，thathisthroat，inamanner，roseather。

"Canyoucountitoff，doyouthink，onmorethanthat?"saysshe，holdingupherfourskinnyfingersandherlongcrookedthumb，allofatremble，rightbeforehisface。

"Whatdoyousaytotwohands，insteadofone?"sayshe，pushingpasther，andgettingdown-stairsasfastashecould。

WhatshesaidTrottlethinksitbestnottoreport，seeingthattheoldhypocrite，gettingnextdoortolight-headedatthegoldenprospectbeforeher，tooksuchlibertieswithunearthlynamesandpersonswhichoughtnevertohaveapproachedherlips，andraineddownsuchanawfulshowerofblessingsonTrottle"shead，thathishairalmoststoodonendtohearher。Hewentondown-stairsasfastashisfeetwouldcarryhim，tillhewasbroughtupallstanding，asthesailorssay，onthelastflight，byagravatingBenjamin，lyingrightacrossthestair，andfallenoff，asmighthavebeenexpected，intoaheavydrunkensleep。

ThesightofhiminstantlyremindedTrottleofthecurioushalflikenesswhichhehadalreadydetectedbetweenthefaceofBenjaminandthefaceofanotherman，whomhehadseenatapasttimeinverydifferentcircumstances。Hedetermined，beforeleavingtheHouse，tohaveonemorelookatthewretchedmuddledcreature；andaccordinglyshookhimupsmartly，andproppedhimagainstthestaircasewall，beforehismothercouldinterfere。

"Leavehimtome；I"llfreshenhimup，"saysTrottletotheoldwoman，lookinghardinBenjamin"sface，whilehespoke。

Thefrightandsurpriseofbeingsuddenlywokeup，seemed，foraboutaquarterofaminute，tosoberthecreature。Whenhefirstopenedhiseyes，therewasanewlookinthemforamoment，whichstruckhometoTrottle"smemoryasquickandasclearasaflashoflight。

Theoldmaudlinsleepyexpressioncamebackagaininanotherinstant，andblurredoutallfurthersignsandtokensofthepast。

ButTrottlehadseenenoughinthemomentbeforeitcame；andhetroubledBenjamin"sfacewithnomoreinquiries。

"NextMonday，atdusk，"sayshe，cuttingshortsomemoreoftheoldwoman"spalaveraboutBenjamin"sindisgestion。"I"vegotnomoretimetospare，ma"am，to-night:pleasetoletmeout。"

Withafewlastblessings，afewlastdutifulmessagestogoodMr。

Forley，andafewlastfriendlyhintsnottoforgetnextMondayatdusk，Trottlecontrivedtostrugglethroughthesickeningbusinessofleave-taking；togetthedooropened；andtofindhimself，tohisownindescribablerelief，oncemoreontheoutersideoftheHouseToLet。

LETATLAST

"There，ma"am!"saidTrottle，foldingupthemanuscriptfromwhichhehadbeenreading，andsettingitdownwithasmarttapoftriumphonthetable。"MayIventuretoaskwhatyouthinkofthatplainstatement，asaguessonmypart(andnotonMr。Jarber"s)attheriddleoftheemptyHouse?"

ForaminuteortwoIwasunabletosayaword。WhenIrecoveredalittle，myfirstquestionreferredtothepoorforlornlittleboy。

"To-dayisMondaythetwentieth，"Isaid。"Surelyyouhavenotletawholeweekgobywithouttryingtofindoutsomethingmore?"

"Exceptatbed-time，andmeals，ma"am，"answeredTrottle，"Ihavenotletanhourgoby。PleasetounderstandthatIhaveonlycometoanendofwhatIhavewritten，andnottoanendofwhatIhavedone。Iwrotedownthosefirstparticulars，ma"am，becausetheyareofgreatimportance，andalsobecauseIwasdeterminedtocomeforwardwithmywrittendocuments，seeingthatMr。Jarberchosetocomeforward，inthefirstinstance，withhis。Iamnowreadytogoonwiththesecondpartofmystoryasshortlyandplainlyaspossible，bywordofmouth。ThefirstthingImustclearup，ifyouplease，isthematterofMr。Forley"sfamilyaffairs。Ihaveheardyouspeakofthem，ma"am，atvarioustimes；andIhaveunderstoodthatMr。Forleyhadtwochildrenonlybyhisdeceasedwife，bothdaughters。Theeldestdaughtermarried，toherfather"sentiresatisfaction，oneMr。Bayne，arichman，holdingahighgovernmentsituationinCanada。Sheisnowlivingtherewithherhusband，andheronlychild，alittlegirlofeightornineyearsold。Rightsofar，Ithink，ma"am?"

"Quiteright，"Isaid。

"Theseconddaughter，"Trottlewenton，"andMr。Forley"sfavourite，setherfather"swishesandtheopinionsoftheworldatflatdefiance，byrunningawaywithamanofloworigin——amateofamerchant-vessel，namedKirkland。Mr。Forleynotonlyneverforgavethatmarriage，butvowedthathewouldvisitthescandalofitheavilyinthefutureonhusbandandwife。Bothescapedhisvengeance，whateverhemeantittobe。Thehusbandwasdrownedonhisfirstvoyageafterhismarriage，andthewifediedinchild-bed。

Rightagain，Ibelieve，ma"am?"

"Againquiteright。"

"Havinggotthefamilymatterallright，wewillnowgoback，ma"am，tomeandmydoings。LastMonday，Iaskedyouforleaveofabsencefortwodays；IemployedthetimeinclearingupthematterofBenjamin"sface。LastSaturdayIwasoutofthewaywhenyouwantedme。Iplayedtruant，ma"am，onthatoccasion，incompanywithafriendofmine，whoismanagingclerkinalawyer"soffice；andwebothspentthemorningatDoctors"Commons，overthelastwillandtestamentofMr。Forley"sfather。Leavingthewill-businessforamoment，pleasetofollowmefirst，ifyouhavenoobjection，intotheuglysubjectofBenjamin"sface。Aboutsixorsevenyearsago(thankstoyourkindness)Ihadaweek"sholidaywithsomefriendsofminewholiveinthetownofPendlebury。Oneofthosefriends(theonlyonenowleftintheplace)keptachemist"sshop，andinthatshopIwasmadeacquaintedwithoneofthetwodoctorsinthetown，namedBarsham。ThisBarshamwasafirst-ratesurgeon，andmighthavegottothetopofhisprofession，ifhehadnotbeenafirst-rateblackguard。Asitwas，hebothdrankandgambled；nobodywouldhaveanythingtodowithhiminPendlebury；and，atthetimewhenIwasmadeknowntohiminthechemist"sshop，theotherdoctor，Mr。Dix，whowasnottobecomparedwithhimforsurgicalskill，butwhowasarespectableman，hadgotallthepractice；andBarshamandhisoldmotherwerelivingtogetherinsuchaconditionofutterpoverty，thatitwasamarveltoeverybodyhowtheykeptoutoftheparishworkhouse。"

"BenjaminandBenjamin"smother!"

"Exactly，ma"am。LastThursdaymorning(thankstoyourkindness，again)IwenttoPendleburytomyfriendthechemist，toaskafewquestionsaboutBarshamandhismother。Iwastoldthattheyhadbothleftthetownaboutfiveyearssince。WhenIinquiredintothecircumstances，somestrangeparticularscameoutinthecourseofthechemist"sanswer。YouknowIhavenodoubt，ma"am，thatpoorMrs。Kirklandwasconfinedwhileherhusbandwasatsea，inlodgingsatavillagecalledFlatfield，andthatshediedandwasburiedthere。Butwhatyoumaynotknowis，thatFlatfieldisonlythreemilesfromPendlebury；thatthedoctorwhoattendedonMrs。KirklandwasBarsham；thatthenursewhotookcareofherwasBarsham"smother；andthatthepersonwhocalledthembothin，wasMr。Forley。

Whetherhisdaughterwrotetohim，orwhetherheheardofitinsomeotherway，Idon"tknow；buthewaswithher(thoughhehadswornnevertoseeheragainwhenshemarried)amonthormorebeforeherconfinement，andwasbackwardsandforwardsagooddealbetweenFlatfieldandPendlebury。HowhemanagedmatterswiththeBarshamscannotatpresentbediscovered；butitisafactthathecontrivedtokeepthedrunkendoctorsober，toeverybody"samazement。ItisafactthatBarshamwenttothepoorwomanwithallhiswitsabouthim。ItisafactthatheandhismothercamebackfromFlatfieldafterMrs。Kirkland"sdeath，packedupwhatfewthingstheyhad，andleftthetownmysteriouslybynight。And，lastly，itisalsoafactthattheotherdoctor，Mr。Dix，wasnotcalledintohelp，tillaweekafterthebirthANDBURIALofthechild，whenthemotherwassinkingfromexhaustion——exhaustion(togivethevagabond，Barsham，hisdue)notproduced，inMr。Dix"sopinion，byimpropermedicaltreatment，butbythebodilyweaknessofthepoorwomanherself——"

"Burialofthechild?"Iinterrupted，tremblingallover。"Trottle!

youspokethatword"burial"inaverystrangeway——youarefixingyoureyesonmenowwithaverystrangelook——"

Trottleleanedoverclosetome，andpointedthroughthewindowtotheemptyhouse。

"Thechild"sdeathisregistered，atPendlebury，"hesaid，"onBarsham"scertificate，undertheheadofMaleInfant，Still-Born。

Thechild"scoffinliesinthemother"sgrave，inFlatfieldchurchyard。Thechildhimself——assurelyasIliveandbreathe，islivingandbreathingnow——acastawayandaprisonerinthatvillainoushouse!"

Isankbackinmychair。

"It"sguess-work，sofar，butitisborneinonmymind，forallthat，astruth。Rouseyourself，ma"am，andthinkalittle。ThelastIhearofBarsham，heisattendingMr。Forley"sdisobedientdaughter。ThenextIseeofBarsham，heisinMr。Forley"shouse，trustedwithasecret。HeandhismotherleavePendleburysuddenlyandsuspiciouslyfiveyearsback；andheandhismotherhavegotachildoffiveyearsold，hiddenawayinthehouse。Wait!pleasetowait——Ihavenotdoneyet。ThewillleftbyMr。Forley"sfather，strengthensthesuspicion。ThefriendItookwithmetoDoctors"

Commons，madehimselfmasterofthecontentsofthatwill；andwhenhehaddoneso，Iputthesetwoquestionstohim。"CanMr。Forleyleavehismoneyathisowndiscretiontoanybodyhepleases?""No，"

myfriendsays，"hisfatherhaslefthimwithonlyalifeinterestinit。""SupposeoneofMr。Forley"smarrieddaughtershasagirl，andtheotheraboy，howwouldthemoneygo?""Itwouldallgo，"myfriendsays，"totheboy，anditwouldbechargedwiththepaymentofacertainannualincometohisfemalecousin。Afterherdeath，itwouldgobacktothemaledescendant，andtohisheirs。"

Considerthat，ma"am!ThechildofthedaughterwhomMr。Forleyhates，whosehusbandhasbeensnatchedawayfromhisvengeancebydeath，takeshiswholepropertyindefianceofhim；andthechildofthedaughterwhomheloves，isleftapensioneronherlow-bornboy-

cousinforlife!Therewasgood——toogoodreason——whythatchildofMrs。Kirkland"sshouldberegisteredstillborn。Andif，asI

believe，theregisterisfoundedonafalsecertificate，thereisbetter，stillbetterreason，whytheexistenceofthechildshouldbehidden，andalltraceofhisparentageblottedout，inthegarretofthatemptyhouse。"

Hestopped，andpointedforthesecondtimetothedim，dust-coveredgarret-windowsopposite。Ashedidso，Iwasstartled——averyslightmattersufficedtofrightenmenow——byaknockatthedooroftheroominwhichweweresitting。

Mymaidcamein，withaletterinherhand。Itookitfromher。

Themourningcard，whichwasalltheenvelopeenclosed，droppedfrommyhands。

GeorgeForleywasnomore。Hehaddepartedthislifethreedayssince，ontheeveningofFriday。

"Didourlastchanceofdiscoveringthetruth，"Iasked，"restwithHIM?HasitdiedwithHISdeath?"

"Courage，ma"am!Ithinknot。OurchancerestsonourpowertomakeBarshamandhismotherconfess；andMr。Forley"sdeath，byleavingthemhelpless，seemstoputthatpowerintoourhands。Withyourpermission，Iwillnotwaittillduskto-day，asIatfirstintended，butwillmakesureofthosetwopeopleatonce。Withapolicemaninplainclothestowatchthehouse，incasetheytrytoleaveit；withthiscardtovouchforthefactofMr。Forley"sdeath；andwithaboldacknowledgmentonmypartofhavinggotpossessionoftheirsecret，andofbeingreadytouseitagainstthemincaseofneed，IthinkthereislittledoubtofbringingBarshamandhismothertoterms。IncaseIfinditimpossibletogetbackherebeforedusk，pleasetositnearthewindow，ma"am，andwatchthehouse，alittlebeforetheylightthestreet-lamps。Ifyouseethefront-dooropenandcloseagain，willyoubegoodenoughtoputonyourbonnet，andcomeacrosstomeimmediately?Mr。

Forley"sdeathmay，ormaynot，preventhismessengerfromcomingasarranged。But，ifthepersondoescome，itisofimportancethatyou，asarelativeofMr。Forley"sshouldbepresenttoseehim，andtohavethatproperinfluenceoverhimwhichIcannotpretendtoexercise。"

TheonlywordsIcouldsaytoTrottleasheopenedthedoorandleftme，werewordscharginghimtotakecarethatnoharmhappenedtothepoorforlornlittleboy。

Leftalone，Idrewmychairtothewindow；andlookedoutwithabeatingheartattheguiltyhouse。Iwaitedandwaitedthroughwhatappearedtometobeanendlesstime，untilIheardthewheelsofacabstopattheendofthestreet。Ilookedinthatdirection，andsawTrottlegetoutofthecabalone，walkuptothehouse，andknockatthedoor。HewasletinbyBarsham"smother。Aminuteortwolater，adecently-dressedmansaunteredpastthehouse，lookedupatitforamoment，andsaunteredontothecornerofthestreetcloseby。Hereheleantagainstthepost，andlightedacigar，andstoppedtheresmokinginanidleway，butkeepinghisfacealwaysturnedinthedirectionofthehouse-door。

Iwaitedandwaitedstill。Iwaitedandwaited，withmyeyesrivetedtothedoorofthehouse。AtlastIthoughtIsawitopeninthedusk，andthenfeltsureIhearditshutagainsoftly。

ThoughItriedhardtocomposemyself，ItrembledsothatIwasobligedtocallforPeggytohelpmeonwithmybonnetandcloak，andwasforcedtotakeherarmtoleanon，incrossingthestreet。

Trottleopenedthedoortous，beforewecouldknock。Peggywentback，andIwentin。Hehadalightedcandleinhishand。

"Ithashappened，ma"am，asIthoughtitwould，"hewhispered，leadingmeintothebare，comfortless，emptyparlour。"Barshamandhismotherhaveconsultedtheirowninterests，andhavecometoterms。Myguess-workisguess-worknolonger。ItisnowwhatI

feltitwas——Truth!"

Somethingstrangetome——somethingwhichwomenwhoaremothersmustoftenknow——trembledsuddenlyinmyheart，andbroughtthewarmtearsofmyyouthfuldaysthrongingbackintomyeyes。Itookmyfaithfuloldservantbythehand，andaskedhimtoletmeseeMrs。

Kirkland"schild，forhismother"ssake。

"Ifyoudesireit，ma"am，"saidTrottle，withagentlenessofmannerthatIhadnevernoticedinhimbefore。"Butpraydon"tthinkmewantingindutyandrightfeeling，ifIbegyoutotryandwaitalittle。Youareagitatedalready，andafirstmeetingwiththechildwillnothelptomakeyousocalm，asyouwouldwishtobe，ifMr。Forley"smessengercomes。Thelittleboyissafeup-stairs。

Praythinkfirstoftryingtocomposeyourselfforameetingwithastranger；andbelievemeyoushallnotleavethehouseafterwardswithoutthechild。"

IfeltthatTrottlewasright，andsatdownaspatientlyasIcouldinachairhehadthoughtfullyplacedreadyforme。Iwassohorrifiedatthediscoveryofmyownrelation"swickednessthatwhenTrottleproposedtomakemeacquaintedwiththeconfessionwrungfromBarshamandhismother，Ibeggedhimtosparemealldetails，andonlytotellmewhatwasnecessaryaboutGeorgeForley。

"AllthatcanbesaidforMr。Forley，ma"am，is，thathewasjustscrupulousenoughtohidethechild"sexistenceandblotoutitsparentagehere，insteadofconsenting，atthefirst，toitsdeath，orafterwards，whentheboygrewup，toturninghimadrift，absolutelyhelplessintheworld。Thefraudhasbeenmanaged，ma"am，withthecunningofSatanhimself。Mr。ForleyhadtheholdovertheBarshams，thattheyhadhelpedhiminhisvillany，andthattheyweredependentonhimforthebreadtheyeat。HebroughtthemuptoLondontokeepthemsecurelyunderhisowneye。Heputthemintothisemptyhouse(takingitoutoftheagent"shandspreviously，onpretencethathemeanttomanagethelettingofithimself)；andbykeepingthehouseempty，madeitthesurestofallhidingplacesforthechild。Here，Mr。Forleycouldcome，wheneverhepleased，toseethatthepoorlonelychildwasnotabsolutelystarved；surethathisvisitswouldonlyappearlikelookingafterhisownproperty。HerethechildwastohavebeentrainedtobelievehimselfBarsham"schild，tillheshouldbeoldenoughtobeprovidedforinsomesituation，aslowandaspoorasMr。Forley"suneasyconsciencewouldlethimpickout。Hemayhavethoughtofatonementonhisdeath-bed；butnotbefore——Iamonlytoocertainofit——notbefore!"

Alow，doubleknockstartledus。

"Themessenger!"saidTrottle，underhisbreath。Hewentoutinstantlytoanswertheknock；andreturned，leadinginarespectable-lookingelderlyman，dressedlikeTrottle，allinblack，withawhitecravat，butotherwisenotatallresemblinghim。

"IamafraidIhavemadesomemistake，"saidthestranger。

Trottle，consideratelytakingtheofficeofexplanationintohisownhands，assuredthegentlemanthattherewasnomistake；mentionedtohimwhoIwas；andaskedhimifhehadnotcomeonbusinessconnectedwiththelateMr。Forley。Lookinggreatlyastonished，thegentlemananswered，"Yes。"Therewasanawkwardmomentofsilence，afterthat。Thestrangerseemedtobenotonlystartledandamazed，butratherdistrustfulandfearfulofcommittinghimselfaswell。

Noticingthis，IthoughtitbesttorequestTrottletoputanendtofurtherembarrassment，bystatingallparticularstruthfully，ashehadstatedthemtome；andIbeggedthegentlemantolistenpatientlyforthelateMr。Forley"ssake。Hebowedtomeveryrespectfully，andsaidhewaspreparedtolistenwiththegreatestinterest。

Itwasevidenttome——and，Icouldsee，toTrottlealso——thatwewerenotdealing，tosaytheleast，withadishonestman。

"BeforeIofferanyopiniononwhatIhaveheard，"hesaid，earnestlyandanxiously，afterTrottlehaddone，"Imustbeallowed，injusticetomyself，toexplainmyownapparentconnectionwiththisverystrangeandveryshockingbusiness。IwastheconfidentiallegaladviserofthelateMr。Forley，andIamlefthisexecutor。Rathermorethanafortnightback，whenMr。Forleywasconfinedtohisroombyillness，hesentforme，andchargedmetocallandpayacertainsumofmoneyhere，toamanandwomanwhomI

shouldfindtakingchargeofthehouse。Hesaidhehadreasonsforwishingtheaffairtobekeptasecret。HebeggedmesotoarrangemyengagementsthatIcouldcallatthisplaceeitheronMondaylast，orto-day，atdusk；andhementionedthathewouldwritetowarnthepeopleofmycoming，withoutmentioningmyname(Dalcottismyname)，ashedidnotwishtoexposemetoanyfutureimportunitiesonthepartofthemanandwoman。Ineedhardlytellyouthatthiscommissionstruckmeasbeingastrangeone；but，inmypositionwithMr。Forley，Ihadnoresourcebuttoacceptitwithoutaskingquestions，ortobreakoffmylongandfriendlyconnectionwithmyclient。Ichosethefirstalternative。BusinesspreventedmefromdoingmyerrandonMondaylast——andifIamhereto-day，notwithstandingMr。Forley"sunexpecteddeath，itisemphaticallybecauseIunderstoodnothingofthematter，onknockingatthisdoor；andthereforefeltmyselfbound，asexecutor，toclearitup。That，onmywordofhonour，isthewholetruth，sofarasI

ampersonallyconcerned。"

"Ifeelquitesureofit，sir，"Ianswered。

"YoumentionedMr。Forley"sdeath，justnow，asunexpected。MayI

inquireifyouwerepresent，andifhehasleftanylastinstructions?"

"ThreehoursbeforeMr。Forley"sdeath，"saidMr。Dalcott，"hismedicalattendantlefthimapparentlyinafairwayofrecovery。

Thechangefortheworsetookplacesosuddenly，andwasaccompaniedbysuchseveresuffering，topreventhimfromcommunicatinghislastwishestoanyone。WhenIreachedhishouse，hewasinsensible。I

havesinceexaminedhispapers。Notoneofthemreferstothepresenttimeortotheseriousmatterwhichnowoccupiesus。IntheabsenceofinstructionsImustactcautiouslyonwhatyouhavetoldme；butIwillberigidlyfairandjustatthesametime。Thefirstthingtobedone，"hecontinued，addressinghimselftoTrottle，"istohearwhatthemanandwoman，down-stairs，havetosay。Ifyoucansupplymewithwriting-materials，Iwilltaketheirdeclarationsseparatelyonthespot，inyourpresence，andinthepresenceofthepolicemanwhoiswatchingthehouse。To-morrowIwillsendcopiesofthosedeclarations，accompaniedbyafullstatementofthecase，toMr。andMrs。BayneinCanada(bothofwhomknowmewellasthelateMr。Forley"slegaladviser)；andIwillsuspendallproceedings，onmypart，untilIhearfromthem，orfromtheirsolicitorinLondon。InthepresentpostureofaffairsthisisallIcansafelydo。"

Wecoulddonolessthanagreewithhim，andthankhimforhisfrankandhonestmannerofmeetingus。ItwasarrangedthatIshouldsendoverthewriting-materialsfrommylodgings；and，tomyunutterablejoyandrelief，itwasalsoreadilyacknowledgedthatthepoorlittleorphanboycouldfindnofitterrefugethanmyoldarmswerelongingtoofferhim，andnosaferprotectionforthenightthanmyroofcouldgive。Trottlehastenedawayup-stairs，asactivelyasifhehadbeenayoungman，tofetchthechilddown。

Andhebroughthimdowntomewithoutanothermomentofdelay，andI

wentonmykneesbeforethepoorlittleMite，andembracedhim，andaskedhimifhewouldgowithmetowhereIlived?Heheldmeawayforamoment，andhiswan，shrewdlittleeyeslookedsharpatme。

Thenheclungclosetomeallatonce，andsaid:

"I"ma-goingalongwithyou，Iam——andsoItellyou!"

Forinspiringthepoorneglectedchildwiththistrustinmyoldself，IthankedHeaven，then，withallmyheartandsoul，andI

thankitnow!

Ibundledthepoordarlingupinmyowncloak，andIcarriedhiminmyownarmsacrosstheroad。Peggywaslostinspeechlessamazementtobeholdmetrudgingoutofbreathup-stairs，withastrangepairofpoorlittlelegsundermyarm；but，shebegantocryoverthechildthemomentshesawhim，likeasensiblewomanasshealwayswas，andshestillcriedhereyesoutoverhiminacomfortablemanner，whenheatlastlayfastasleep，tuckedupbymyhandsinTrottle"sbed。

"AndTrottle，blessyou，mydearman，"saidI，kissinghishand，ashelookedon:"theforlornbabycametothisrefugethroughyou，andhewillhelpyouonyourwaytoHeaven。"

TrottleansweredthatIwashisdearmistress，andimmediatelywentandputhisheadoutatanopenwindowonthelanding，andlookedintothebackstreetforaquarterofanhour。

Thatverynight，asIsatthinkingofthepoorchild，andofanotherpoorchildwhoisnevertobethoughtaboutenoughatChristmas-

time，theideacameintomymindwhichIhavelivedtoexecute，andintherealisationofwhichIamthehappiestofwomenthisday。

"TheexecutorwillsellthatHouse，Trottle?"saidI。

"Notadoubtofit，ma"am，ifhecanfindapurchaser。"

"I"llbuyit。"

IhaveoftenseenTrottlepleased；but，IneversawhimsoperfectlyenchantedashewaswhenIconfidedtohim，whichIdid，thenandthere，thepurposethatIhadinview。

Tomakeshortofalongstory——andwhatstorywouldnotbelong，comingfromthelipsofanoldwomanlikeme，unlessitwasmadeshortbymainforce!——IboughttheHouse。Mrs。Baynehadherfather"sbloodinher；sheevadedtheopportunityofforgivingandgenerousreparationthatwasofferedher，anddisownedthechild；

but，Iwaspreparedforthat，andlovedhimallthemoreforhavingnooneintheworldtolookto，butme。

Iamgettingintoaflurrybybeingover-pleased，andIdaresayI

amasincoherentasneedbe。IboughttheHouse，andIaltereditfromthebasementtotheroof，andIturneditintoaHospitalforSickChildren。

Nevermindbywhatdegreesmylittleadoptedboycametotheknowledgeofallthesightsandsoundsinthestreets，sofamiliartootherchildrenandsostrangetohim；nevermindbywhatdegreeshecametobepretty，andchildish，andwinning，andcompanionable，andtohavepicturesandtoysabouthim，andsuitableplaymates。AsIwrite，IlookacrosstheroadtomyHospital，andthereisthedarling(whohasgoneovertoplay)noddingatmeoutofoneoftheoncelonelywindows，withhisdearchubbyfacebackedupbyTrottle"swaistcoatasheliftsmypetfor"Grandma"tosee。

ManyanEyeIseeinthatHousenow，butitisneverinsolitude，neverinneglect。ManyanEyeIseeinthatHousenow，thatismoreandmoreradianteverydaywiththelightofreturninghealth。Asmypreciousdarlinghaschangedbeyonddescriptionforthebrighterandthebetter，sodothenotlesspreciousdarlingsofpoorwomenchangeinthatHouseeverydayintheyear。ForwhichIhumblythankthatGraciousBeingwhomtherestoreroftheWidow"ssonandoftheRuler"sdaughter，instructedallmankindtocalltheirFather。