uncle, dear Charles. You know our dear mother had a brother
who lived in India that she used frequently to talk about. Well, when he
came home, and heard that mother was dead, and we were in distress, he
came to nurse's cottage, and took me home to his house, and has now come
to find you, for he is very good and kind, and loves us both for our
dear mother's sake.'

'And will he take me home too?' said Charles.

'Yes, my boy,' said Charles's uncle, taking him by the hand, 'because
you are good and kind, and are no longer cross and proud, as I heard you
used to be. You shall come home with me this very day, if you please,
and I will teach you everything that a young gentleman should know, and
you and Clara shall be my children so long as you continue to be
deserving of my love, and are not unkind, nor despise those who are
beneath you in situation.'

'Indeed, uncle,' said Charles, 'I can now feel for the poor, and I would
rather remain as I am than be rich if I thought I should ever behave as
I used to do.'

'My dear child,' said his uncle, kissing him with great affection,
'continue to think so, and you will never act amiss. The first and
greatest step toward amendment is acknowledging our faults. What is
passed shall be remembered no more, and I doubt not but that we shall
all be happy for the time to come.'

'But, uncle,' said Charles, laying his hand on his uncle's arm, 'I have
something to ask of you.'

'Well, Charles, and what would you have of me?' said his uncle.

Then Charles led Giles to his uncle, and related all he had done for
him; how he had taken him to his own home, and given him half of his
food and his bed, and taught him to read and to work; he, likewise, told
his uncle how ill he had behaved to Giles in depriving him of his pretty
Snowball, and he said: 'Dear uncle, will you allow Giles to share my
good fortune, for I cannot be happy while he is in want, and he is
better than me, for he returned good for evil.'

Then his uncle said: 'Charles, I should not have loved you had you
forgotten your kind friend.' And he asked Giles if he would like to go
to his house and live with him, and spend his time in learning to read
and write, and in improving his mind, instead of hard labour.

'I should like it very much indeed, sir,' said Giles, 'but I cannot
accept your kind offer.'

'And why not, my good little friend?'

'Because, sir,' said Giles, bursting into tears, 'my poor mother and
sisters mu