s who go to low lodging-houses
regularly to preach; but unless you go for that purpose it--"

"Yes, my dear, it would be quite out of place," interposed Twitter.
"Come, it is _my_ duty to go to this place. Can you lead me to it, Mr
Scott?"

"Oh! and I should like to go too--so much, so _very_ much!"

It was little Di who spoke, but her father said that the idea was
preposterous.

"Pardon me, Sir Richard," said Mr Seaward, "this happens to be my night
for preaching in the common lodging-house where Mr Scott says poor Sam
is staying. If you choose to accompany me, there is nothing to prevent
your little daughter going. Of course it would be as well that no one
whom the boy might recognise should accompany us, but his father might
go and stand at the door outside, while the owner of the lodging might
be directed to tell Sam that some one wishes to see him."

"Your plan is pretty good, but I will arrange my plans myself," said Mr
Twitter, who suddenly roused himself to action with a degree of vigour
that carried all before it. "Go and do your own part, Mr Seaward.
Give no directions to the proprietor of the lodging, and leave Sammy to
me. I will have a cab ready for him, and his mother in the cab waiting,
with a suit of his own clothes. Are you ready?"

"Quite ready," said the missionary, amused as well as interested by the
good man's sudden display of resolution. Mrs Twitter, also, was
reduced to silence by surprise, as well as by submission. Sir Richard
agreed to go and take Di with him, if Giles promised to hold himself in
readiness within call.

"You see," he said, "I have been in similar places before now, but--not
with my little child!"

As for Loper, Larrabel, Crackaby, Stickler, and Company--feeling that it
would be improper to remain after the host and hostess were gone; that
it would be equally wrong to offer to go with them, and quite
inappropriate to witness the home-coming,--they took themselves off, but
each resolved to flutter unseen in the neighbourhood until he, or she,
could make quite sure that the prodigal had returned.

It was to one of the lowest of the common lodging-houses that Sam
Twitter the younger had resorted on the night he had been discovered by
Number 666. That day he had earned sixpence by carrying a carpet bag to
a railway station. One penny he laid out in bread, one penny in cheese.
With the remaining fourpence he could purchase the right to sit in the
lodging-house ki