but about Poll Doolin, the child-cadger?"

"Child-cadger! that is a term I don't understand, Sam."

"Why, sir, it means a woman who carries--"

"Sam, hold; if it be associated with human frailty, it is best left
unspoken. The woman, however, be she what she may--and I know not what
she is--but that she is a responsible being--a partaker of our common
nature, and is entitled to our sympathy. She is, I understand, in some
difficulty, out of which, it seems, professional advice may help to take
her. I expect her, therefore, about this time; and will you, Samuel,
just stand at that window, and when you see her approach the house,
do just, quietly, and without noise, open the hall door. Something has
occurred to discompose the Christian tone which usually prevails in our
household; and poor Susanna is going. But, at all events, Sam, you are
aware, it is said, that we ought not to let our left hand know what our
right hand doeth."

"I know the text, sir, well; it ends with--'and he that giveth in
secret, will reward thee openly.'"

"He--hem--ahem! yes it does so end; heigho! I feel, Sam, slightly
depressed in spirit, as it were, and moved, as if somewhat of my usual
support were withdrawn from me."

"Here she is, sir," said Sam.

"Very well, Sam; please to let her in as quietly as may be, and then
take this declaration to the back office, and copy it as soon as you
can--it is of importance. We should always endeavor to render services
to our fellow creatures."

In the mean time, Sam very softly opened the hall door, and the next
moment Poll entered.

Solomon, as usual, was certainly seated at his office, and held his
features composed and serious to a degree; still, in spite of everything
he could do, there was an expression half of embarrassment, and half
of the very slightest perceptible tendency to a waggish simile, we can
scarcely call it--but, whatever it might be, there it certainly was,
betraying to Poll, in spite of all his efforts, that there was still the
least tincture imaginable of human frailty associated with such a vast
mass of sanctity.

Polly, when she entered, took a seat, and loosening the strings of her
bonnet, raised it a little, and without uttering a word sat silently
looking in M'Slime's face, with a very comic and significant expression
on her own.

"No, Polly," said he, with a serious smile, "no, you are mistaken
indeed--frail we all are, I grant you; but in this case am acting for
an