old Nurse soothingly. "Now I don't mind
him at all myself. I don't take any count of what he says, and I always
think `hard words break no bones;' but it's different for such as you."

"Who looks after the poor thing while she's so ill and helpless?" asked
Miss Unity, taking out her purse.

"That's the wonder of it," said Nurse. "The eldest's a girl of Miss
Pennie's age, but not near so big. That child would shame many grown-up
people, Miss, by the way she carries on. Nurses her mother and looks
after the children, (there's a baby in arms), and she's on her feet from
morning till night. If it wasn't for Kettles they'd all have been in
the workhouse long ago."

Miss Unity here offered some money, but Nurse shook her head sagely.

"No use to give 'em money, Miss. He'd get hold of it and drink it in no
time."

"Well, you must spend it for the poor woman in the way you think best,"
said Miss Unity, "and let me know when you want more."

Pennie had listened eagerly to every word. Here indeed was news of
Kettles and her family at last. How interested Nancy would be!

"Oh!" she exclaimed, taking her godmother's hand, "do let me go to see
them with Nurse and take them the things she buys."

But to this Miss Unity would not listen for a moment. She would not
even consider such a thing possible. All she would promise was that
they would soon come again to the College and hear from Mrs Margetts
how the poor woman was getting on, and with this Pennie was obliged to
be contented.

Miss Unity herself was strangely stirred and interested by what she had
been told. The story of Kettles and her mother seemed to cast a
different light on Anchor and Hope Alley, that "scandal to Nearminster,"
as the dean had called it. She had always considered it the abode of
outcasts and wickedness, but surely it could not be right that these
people should remain uncared for and uncomforted in sickness and want.
They were surrounded by clergymen, district visitors, schools, churches,
societies of all sorts established on purpose for their help, and yet
here was Kettles' mother three weeks down with the rheumatism, and only
a little child to look after her. What did it mean?

And then, Miss Unity went on to think, her mind getting tangled with
perplexity, what of their spiritual privileges? The great Cathedral
lifted its spire and pointed heavenwards in vain for them, so near, yet
so very far-off. The peace and rest of its sole