or baby to grow up in.'

'Tell me all about it,' said Robert Fleming, looking at Kitty, but
still holding his little daughter in his arms; and Kitty told him all
she knew of her lonely life and troubles up in the solitary attic,
which no one had been allowed to enter; and from time to time Meg's
father groaned aloud, and kissed Meg's pale and wrinkled forehead
fondly. But he asked how it was she never let any of the neighbours,
Kitty herself, for instance, stay with her, and help her sometimes.

'I promised mother,' whispered Meg in his ear, 'never to let nobody
come in, for fear they'd find out the box under the bed, and get into
it somehow. We was afraid for the money, you know, but it's all safe
for your mate, father; and here's the key, and a letter as came for
mother after she was dead.'

'But this letter's from me to Peggy,' said her father, turning it over
and over; 'leastways it was wrote by the chaplain at the hospital, to
tell her what she must do. The money in the box was mine, Meg, no
mate's; and I sent her word to take some of it for herself and the
children.'

'Mother thought it belonged to a mate of yours,' said Meg, 'and we was
the more afeared of it being stole.'

'It's my fault,' replied Robert Fleming. 'I told that to mother for
fear she'd waste it if she knew it were mine. But if I'd only
known----'

He could not finish his sentence, but stroked Meg's hair with his large
hand, and she felt some hot tears fall from his eyes upon her forehead.

'Don't cry, father,' she said, lifting her small feeble hand to his
face. 'God took care of us, and baby too, though she's dead. There's
nothink now that He hasn't done. He's done everythink I asked Him.'

'Did you ask Him to make me a good father?' said Fleming.

'Why, you're always good to us, father,' answered Meg, in a tone of
loving surprise. 'You never beat us much when you get drunk. But
Robin and me always say, "Pray God, bless father." I don't quite know
what bless means, but it's something good.'

'Ah!' said Fleming, with a deep sigh, 'He has blessed me. When I was
ill He showed me what a poor sinner I was, and how Jesus Christ came
into the world to save sinners, "of whom I am chief." Sure I can say
that if anybody can. But it says in the Bible, "He loved me, and gave
Himself for me." Yes, little Meg, He died to save me. I felt it. I
believed it. I came to see that I'd nobody to fly to but Jesus if I
wanted to be aught el