now very, very poor.

When the auction was over and all the things were sold, and it was
getting quite dark (for it was in the month of November), Clara and
Charles stood in one of the empty parlors, and wondered what they
should do for supper, and where they should sleep that night; for all
the beds were sold, and they saw the servants go away one after
another.

At last nurse came in with her bonnet and cloak, and said: "Miss
Clara, I am going away to my own cottage, and as you have always been
a kind, good child, you shall go with me, and I will take care of
you."

Then Clara said, "Thank you; but will you not take Charles also?"

"No," said nurse; "he has always been such a proud bad boy that I will
not take him. I have very little to spare, for I am a poor woman, and
what I have is not more than will keep my own children and you, Miss
Clara."

Saying this, she got into the cart, and took Clara on her lap, and one
of the footmen got in after her, and drove away from the door.

Charles stood on the step of the door, and looked after them till they
were out of sight; and then he began to cry as if his heart would
break. The servant of the gentleman who had purchased the house came
and locked the door, so Charles could not get in any more, and he sat
down on the stone steps, and covered his face with his hands, and
cried bitterly.

"Unhappy child that I am," sobbed he; "what will become of me? Oh, if
I had but been good like Clara, I should have found a friend, as she
has; but no one cares what becomes of me, because I have been so
wicked. I used to despise the poor, and God, to punish me, has made me
poor indeed."

It was very cold, and the snow began to fall fast, and it grew quite
dark. Charles rested his head on his knees, and was afraid to look
round; his clothes were almost wet through, and his limbs were
benumbed with cold; he had no place where he could ask shelter, for no
one loved him; and he thought he should be obliged to stay there all
night, and perhaps be frozen to death.

Just then some one softly touched his hand, and said: "Master Charles,
I have been looking for you for more than an hour."

Charles looked up; but when he saw it was Giles Bloomfield who had
come to seek him in his distress, he remembered how ill he had behaved
to him, so he hid his face, and began to weep afresh.

Then Giles sat down by him on the steps, and said: "Dear Master
Charles, you must not stay here. See how f