at Mrs. Burton's words; and yet there was a pensive shade upon his
brow. Miss Jemima scrutinised the little regiment, and actually uttered a
grunt of satisfaction. Miss Owen glanced from the happy child-faces to
that of "Cobbler" Horn with eyes of reverent love. The children were not
uniformly dressed; and they might very well have passed for the actual
offspring of the kindly man and woman whom they were to know as "father"
and "mother" from henceforth.

"Is everything ready, Mr. Gray?" asked "Cobbler" Horn.

"Yes, sir."

"Then let us begin."

At a signal from Mr. Gray, the people drew more closely up to the foot of
the steps; and it was noticeable that Tommy Dudgeon had withdrawn to a
modest position amongst the crowd. A hymn was then announced by Mr.
Durnford, and sung from printed papers which had been distributed amongst
the people. Then, while every head was bowed, the minister offered a
brief, but fervent and appropriate prayer. Next came an address from
"Cobbler" Horn, in which, after explaining the purpose to which the
Hall was to be devoted, he took the opportunity of assuring those of his
tenants who were present that he would, as their landlord, do his utmost
to promote their welfare. His hearty words were received with great
applause, which was redoubled when he led Miss Jemima to the front. The
minister then stepped forward, and presented Miss Jemima with a golden
key, with which she deftly unlocked the great door, and, having pushed
it open, turned to the people, and bowing gravely in response to their
cheers, made, for the first and last time in her life, a public speech.
She had much pleasure, she said, in declaring the old Hall open for the
reception of friendless children, many of whom, she trusted, would find a
happy home within its walls, and be there trained for a useful life. Here
Miss Jemima stopped abruptly, and looked straight before her, with a very
stern face, as though angry with herself for what she had done. And then,
under cover of the renewed cheers of the people, she withdrew into the
background.

The simple ceremony being over, the people were invited to enter the
building and pass through the rooms. This invitation was freely accepted;
and soon the various apartments of the renovated Hall were filled with
people, who did not hesitate to express their admiration of what they
saw.

When all the visitors had passed through the rooms, and admired to their
hearts' content, the ringi