me up to him. I told him how and
why I had got the clothes; he patted my head, said I was a good lad, and
that he would take me to the chapel at the hospital, where I could sit
with the school-children; he could manage that. Then I met Ben and
others, and they were all so surprised. I went to the chapel, and
although I could not hear well what was said, for I was a long way off
from the parson, and the old pensioners coughed so much, I was very much
pleased, although a little tired before it was over. When the service
was finished, I was proceeding to my mother's, when I met her and little
Virginia coming home from the town church.

"There's a nice little boy, Virginia," said my mother; "wouldn't you
like to walk with him?"

My mother did not know me, but Virginia did immediately; she burst away
from her mother and ran into my arms, laughing and crying as she clung
to me, and then she cried out, "Mother, yes, mother, I will walk with
him!" and she hastened me away with her, much to my mother's annoyance,
who would have run after us to stop her, but she didn't think it genteel
to go so fast; so Virginia and I went off together, leaving my mother
very angry indeed. We walked along towards the hospital, Virginia
crying out to every one she knew, her large hazel eyes beaming with
delight, "Look, this is brother Jack!" and I went with her to Peter
Anderson and old Ben. I was so proud to have my sister with me; and
Peter Anderson said:--

"This is as it should have been a long while ago." And then he
continued, "Jack, you may happen not to earn any money in the week, and
if so, come to me, for old Nanny must not be disappointed; but,
recollect, you must pay for your own clothes out of your own earnings."

When it was dinner-time Virginia and I went home together. As we came
to Fisher's Alley I said to her, "Mother will be angry with you."

"I can't help it, Jack," replied she; "you are my own brother, and we
are not doing wrong."

When we went in my mother looked hard at me, but, to my surprise, said
nothing: she was sulky, but whether it was with Virginia or with me, or
with my new clothes, or whether her conscience smote her for her neglect
of me, I do not know. She put the dinner on the table in silence, and
after it was over she went upstairs. Virginia and I did not neglect
this opportunity;--she put on her bonnet, we slipped out, and walked
about together till tea-time. When we came back my mother seized