r's with the diamond, and received
seven guineas for it, and coming back put the money into the landlady's
hand, and told her to get what was needful. My wife was still asleep
when I came back; and when she woke, we persuaded her to go downstairs to
the landlady's parlour; and meanwhile the necessary preparations were
made, and the poor child consigned to its coffin.

The next day, after all was over, Mrs. Stokes gave me back three out of
the seven guineas; and then I could not help sobbing out to her my doubts
and wretchedness, telling her that this was the last money I had; and
when that was gone I knew not what was to become of the best wife that
ever a man was blest with.

My wife was downstairs with the woman. Poor Gus, who was with me, and
quite as much affected as any of the party, took me by the arm, and led
me downstairs; and we quite forgot all about the prison and the rules,
and walked a long long way across Blackfriars Bridge, the kind fellow
striving as much as possible to console me.

When we came back, it was in the evening. The first person who met me in
the house was my kind mother, who fell into my arms with many tears, and
who rebuked me tenderly for not having told her of my necessities. She
never should have known of them, she said; but she had not heard from me
since I wrote announcing the birth of the child, and she felt uneasy
about my silence; and meeting Mr. Smithers in the street, asked from him
news concerning me: whereupon that gentleman, with some little show of
alarm, told her that he thought her daughter-in-law was confined in an
uncomfortable place; that Mrs. Hoggarty had left us; finally, that I was
in prison. This news at once despatched my poor mother on her travels,
and she had only just come from the prison, where she learned my address.

I asked her whether she had seen my wife, and how she found her. Rather
to my amaze she said that Mary was out with the landlady when she
arrived; and eight--nine o'clock came, and she was absent still.

At ten o'clock returned--not my wife, but Mrs. Stokes, and with her a
gentleman, who shook hands with me on coming into the room, and said,
"Mr. Titmarsh! I don't know whether you will remember me: my name is
Tiptoff. I have brought you a note from Mrs. Titmarsh, and a message
from my wife, who sincerely commiserates your loss, and begs you will not
be uneasy at Mrs. Titmarsh's absence. She has been good enough to
promise to pass the n