at matter, Car'line.'

'I do feel a little hungered. But I can keep it off,' she murmured.

'Folk shouldn't do that,' he said gruffly. . . . 'There come along!' he
caught up the child, as he added, 'You must bide here to-night, anyhow, I
s'pose! What can you do otherwise? I'll get 'ee some tea and victuals;
and as for this job, I'm sure I don't know what to say! This is the way
out.'

They pursued their way, without speaking, to Ned's lodgings, which were
not far off. There he dried them and made them comfortable, and prepared
tea; they thankfully sat down. The ready-made household of which he
suddenly found himself the head imparted a cosy aspect to his room, and a
paternal one to himself. Presently he turned to the child and kissed her
now blooming cheeks; and, looking wistfully at Car'line, kissed her also.

'I don't see how I can send 'ee back all them miles,' he growled, 'now
you've come all the way o' purpose to join me. But you must trust me,
Car'line, and show you've real faith in me. Well, do you feel better
now, my little woman?'

The child nodded, her mouth being otherwise occupied.

'I did trust you, Ned, in coming; and I shall always!'

Thus, without any definite agreement to forgive her, he tacitly
acquiesced in the fate that Heaven had sent him; and on the day of their
marriage (which was not quite so soon as he had expected it could be, on
account of the time necessary for banns) he took her to the Exhibition
when they came back from church, as he had promised. While standing near
a large mirror in one of the courts devoted to furniture, Car'line
started, for in the glass appeared the reflection of a form exactly
resembling Mop Ollamoor's--so exactly, that it seemed impossible to
believe anybody but that artist in person to be the original. On passing
round the objects which hemmed in Ned, her, and the child from a direct
view, no Mop was to be seen. Whether he were really in London or not at
that time was never known; and Car'line always stoutly denied that her
readiness to go and meet Ned in town arose from any rumour that Mop had
also gone thither; which denial there was no reasonable ground for
doubting.

And then the year glided away, and the Exhibition folded itself up and
became a thing of the past. The park trees that had been enclosed for
six months were again exposed to the winds and storms, and the sod grew
green anew. Ned found that Car'line resolved herself into a very