only too glad if he could do what you have done."

"Then his taste must be a queer one," the landlord replied, as he
illustrated sadly the discovery reserved for a riper age--that human
fingers have attained their present flexibility, form, and skill by
habit of assuaging, for some millions of ages, the woes of the human
body.

"Now don't waste my time like that," cried Mordacks; and seeing him
draw near again, his host became right active. "Benevolence must be
inculcated," continued the factor, following strictly in pursuit. "I
have done you a world of good, my dear friend; and reflection will
compel you to heap every blessing on me."

"I don't know about that," replied the landlord. It is certain, however,
that this exhibition of philanthropic vigor had a fine effect. In five
minutes all the resources of the house were at the disposal of this
rapid agent, who gave his orders right and left, clapped down a bag of
cash, and took it up again, and said, "Now just you mind my horse, twice
as well as you mind your fellow-creatures. Take a leg of mutton out, and
set it roasting. Have your biggest bed hot for a lot of frozen children.
By the Lord, if you don't look alive, I'll have you up for murder." As
he spoke, a stout fish-woman came in from the quay; and he beckoned to
her, and took her with him.

"You can't come in," said a little weak voice, when Mr. Mordacks, having
knocked in vain, began to prise open the cottage door. "Mother is so
poorly; and you mustn't think of coming in. Oh, whatever shall I do, if
you won't stop when I tell you?"

"Where are all the rest of you? Oh, in the kitchen, are they? You poor
little atomy, how many of you are dead?"

"None of us dead, sir; without it is the baby;" here Geraldine
burst into a wailing storm of tears. "I gave them every bit," she
sobbed--"every bit, sir, but the rush-lights; and them they wouldn't
eat, sir, or I never would have touched them. But mother is gone off her
head, and baby wouldn't eat it."

"You are a little heroine," said Mordacks, looking at her--the pinched
face, and the hollow eyes, and the tottering blue legs of her. "You are
greater than a queen. No queen forgets herself in that way."

"Please, sir, no; I ate almost a box of rush-lights, and they were only
done last night. Oh, if baby would have took to them!"

"Hot bread and milk in this bottle; pour it out; feed her first, Molly,"
Mr. Mordacks ordered. "The world can't spare such girls as thi