ed on the little fellow.

"I'm going to look after you now," he whispered. Then he remembered
Denys's presence and he turned to her.

"Thank you for bringing him up, Miss. They say as you was very kind to
my poor sister, and I thank you for that too. I'll do my best by the
little chap."

"There was one thing," said Denys, hesitatingly. It did not seem
so easy to say as she had thought. The handsome, tall young workman
before her took away her breath somewhat, and she wished she had
written what Nellie Lyon had particularly asked her to impress upon
Jim.

"Yes, Miss," said Jim wonderingly.

"She wanted him to be brought up an abstainer," explained Denys, "as
she and you were brought up."

Jim's eyes dropped.

"Yes," he said after a moment, "Yes, he shall, and so shall my own
baby! I'll give 'em all the chance I can to start right. I've been
trying to do without anything myself for this two months," he added,
with a shy little laugh.

"I'm glad of that--we were all brought up so," said Denys, heartily,
"now Mr. Adams, I may come and see Harry if I am in Mixham any time,
mayn't I? He's such a dear, lovable little chap."

"That you may, Miss! any time," cried Jim earnestly, "and I thank you
once again, and I'll do my best--every way."

He strode off with Harry still in his arms, well pleased with his new
possession, and turned his steps towards home. But as he drew nearer
to his own door, his speed slackened. What sort of a welcome would
Jane give him--and the child?

He had the sense to put him down and let him walk into his new home,
and so, hand in hand, the big uncle and the little nephew presented
themselves before Jane.

She looked at the pair for a moment in silence, and then burst into a
loud, ironical laugh.

"I always knew you were a cheat, Jim Adams! You talked enough about
your sister's _boy_ and you've brought a baby in petticoats."

"I'm not a baby--I'm going in four," said Harry gravely, "that's a
baby in there," pointing to the cradle. He crossed the room and looked
curiously down at the baby, and the baby, pleased with the kind little
face, laughed and threw out its arms.

"Can't I have him out to play with? He likes me," cried Harry, "look,
Uncle Jim, he's pulling my finger."

Jim lifted out his baby and sat down, and Harry stood beside him, lost
in admiration.

"Well, this _is_ a nice set-out," said Jane crossly, as she looked at
the happy little trio, "the first thing you do, Jim