efully preserved in the chest-of-drawers in one
corner, just as if her boy had been still living, all ready for use.
These, she now told me, with tears in her eyes, I was heartily welcome
to, if I were not too proud to accept them, as, in wearing them, she
said, I should make her think that she yet had poor Ted to comfort her,
and I would take his vacant place in her heart. The good woman,
however, with housewifely care, brought up to the room a large tub with
a plentiful supply of hot water and soap, so that I might have "a
thorough wash," as she called it, before putting on the clean clothes.
Thus, through the kind hospitality of brother and sister alike, before
the day was out, I was as thoroughly at home in the household as if--
having stepped into the lost Teddy's shoes metaphorically as well as
practically--I had lived there for years!

It would take a volume for me to tell of all the kindness I received
from these people, the brother and sister vying with each other in their
endeavours to make me feel comfortable and at ease with them in my new
home.

Sam Pengelly, thinking it the right thing to do, wrote to Uncle George,
informing him where I now was; and saying, that, if my relatives had no
objection, he should like to be allowed to look after my future as if I
were his own son.

To this a reply soon came, to the effect that, as I had of my own will
thrown away all the advantages that had been secured for me in putting
me to a good school and holding out the offer of a situation afterwards
in a merchant's office, my uncle "washed his hands of me" on account of
my ungrateful and abandoned behaviour; and that, henceforth, he did not
care what became of me, nor would he be answerable for my support!

"That's a good 'un," said Sam Pengelly, as he read this. "That cranky
Aunt Matilda, you told me about, laddie, must ha' had a hand in this,
sartin; for, perhaps you don't know that I've diskivered as your uncle
drawed what they calls a `compassionate allowance' from My Lords of th'
Admiralty for your keep all them years they starved you under their roof
and pretended you was livin' on their charity!"

Sam Pengelly looked quite fierce and indignant as he made this, to me,
new revelation.

"Really?" I asked him, eagerly.

"Yes, laddie, it's true enough, for I've taken the pains to find it out
for a fact from a friend o' mine at head-quarters. Th' Admiralty allers
give an annual 'lowance for the support of th