\"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。
