riend, for the Lord Jesus Christ could never come into such a wicked
place as this, which was the only home he had. He had given him the
crossing and the broom, and that was the end of it. He must take care of
himself now, and keep out of gaol if he could, and if not, why then he
had better make a business of thieving, and become as good a pickpocket
as "Clever Dog Tom," who had once stolen a watch from a policeman
himself.

Clever Dog Tom was the first to greet Tony when he slipped in at last,
and he seemed inclined to make much of him; but Tony was too troubled
for receiving any consolation from Tom's friendly advances. He crept
away into the darkest corner, and stretched himself on the thin straw
which covered the damp and dirty floor, but he could not fall asleep.
There was a good deal of quarreling among the boys, and the men who
wished to sleep swore long and loudly at them. Then there followed a
fight, which grew so exciting at last that every person in the place,
except Tony, gathered about the boys in a ring, encouraging and cheering
them. It was long after midnight before silence and rest came, and then
he fell into a broken slumber, dreaming of Dolly and old Oliver, until
he awoke and found his face wet with tears. He got up before any of his
bed-fellows were aroused, and made his way out into the fresh keen air
of a December morning.

Day after day went by, and night after night Tony was growing more
indifferent again to the swearing and fighting of his old comrades. He
began to listen with delight to the tales of Clever Dog Tom, who told him
that hands like his would work well in his line, and his innocent-looking
face would go a long way towards softening any judge and jury, or would
bring him favour with the chaplain, and easy times in gaol. He kept his
crossing still, and did tolerably well, earning enough to keep himself in
food, and to pay for his night's shelter; but he was beginning to hanker
after something more. If he could not be good, and be on the same side as
old Oliver and Dolly, he thought it would be better to be altogether on
the other side, like Tom, who dressed well, and lived well, and was
looked up to by other boys. It was a week after he had left old Oliver's
house, and he was about to leave his crossing for the night, when a
gentleman stopped him suddenly, and looked keenly into his face.

"Hollo, my lad!" he said, "you're the boy I gave fourpence to a week
ago for holding my horse.