"I thought I never could forgive the
man who did that cruel deed to me, and I had never injured any one. But
it is hard to know one's own mind, let alone another man's. Now I look
at him lying pale and battered there, it seems all wiped out. I forgive
you, my poor fellow, and I hope God will forgive you too."

"Nay. He is not so soft as thou. This is how He forgives me. But I knew
no better. Old gal, learn the young 'un to read, that's coming just as
I'm going; it is sore against a chap if he can't read. Right and wrong
d--n 'em, they are locked up in books, I think: locked away from a chap
like me. I know a little better now. But, eh, dear, dear, it is come too
late." And now the poor wretch began to cry at a gleam of knowledge of
right and wrong having come to him only just when he could no longer
profit by it.

Henry left him at last, with the tears in his eyes. He promised them all
to come every day.

He called on Dr. Amboyne, and said, "You are always right, doctor.
Simmons was the man, he has owned it, and I forgave him."

He then went and told Mr. Holdfast. That gentleman was much pleased at
the discovery, and said, "Ah, but who employed him? That is what you
must discover."

"I will try," said Henry. "The poor fellow had half a mind to make a
clean breast; but I didn't like to worry him over it."

Returning home he fell in with Grotait and Parkin. They were talking
earnestly at the door of a public-house, and the question they were
discussing was whether or not Little's affair should be revived.

They were both a good deal staggered by the fate of Simmons, Parkin
especially, who was rather superstitious. He had changed sides, and was
now inclined to connive, or, at all events to temporize; to abandon the
matter till a more convenient time. Grotait, on the other hand, whose
vanity the young man had irritated, was bent on dismounting his forge.
But even he had cooled a little, and was now disinclined to violence.
He suggested that it must be easy to drive a smith out of a church, by
going to the parochial authorities; and they could also send Little an
anonymous letter, to tell him the Trades had their eyes on him; by this
double stroke, they would probably bring him to some reasonable terms.

It certainly was a most unfortunate thing that Little passed that way
just then; unfortunate that Youth is so impetuous.

He crossed the street to speak to these two potentates, whom it was his
interest to let alon