se but a poor, wicked, lost rascal, as got drunk,
and was no better than a brute. And so I turned it over and over in my
mind, lying abed; and now, please God, I'm a bit more like being a
Christian than I was. I reckon that's what bless means, little Meg.'

As he spoke the door opened, and Mrs Blossom came in with Robin. It
was twelve months since Robin had seen his father, and now he was shy,
and hung back a little behind Mrs Blossom; but Meg called to him in a
joyful voice.

'Come here, little Robbie,' she said; 'it's father, as we've watched
for so long.--He's a little bit afeared at first, father, but you'll
love him ever so when he knows you.'

It was not long before Robin knew his father sufficiently to accept of
a seat on his knee, when Meg was put back into bed at Mrs Blossom's
entreaties. Fleming nursed his boy in silence for some time, while now
and then a tear glistened in his deep eyes as he thought over the
history of little Meg's sorrows.

'I'm thinking,' said Mrs Blossom cheerfully, 'as this isn't the sort o'
place for a widow man and his children to stop in. I'm just frightened
to death o' going up and down the court. I suppose you're not thinking
o' settling here, Mr Fleming?'

'No, no,' said Fleming, shaking his head: 'a decent man couldn't stop
here, let alone a Christian.'

'Well, then, come home to us till you can turn yourself round,'
continued Mrs Blossom heartily; 'me and Mr George have talked it over,
and he says, "When little Meg's father do come, let 'em all come here:
Posy, and the little 'uns, and all. You'll have Posy and the little
'uns in your room, and I'll have him in mine. We'll give him some sort
o' a shakedown, and sailors don't use to lie soft." So if you've no
objections to raise, it's settled; and if you have, please to raise 'em
at once.'

Robert Fleming had no objections to raise, but he accepted the cordial
invitation thankfully, for he was in haste to get out of the miserable
life of Angel Court. He brought the hidden box into the back attic,
and opened it before little Meg, taking out of it the packet of forty
pounds, and a number of pawn-tickets, which he looked at very
sorrowfully. After securing these he locked up the attic again, and
carrying Meg in his arms, he led the way down the stairs, and through
the court, followed closely by Mrs Blossom, Posy, and Robin. The sound
of brawling and quarrelling was loud as usual, and the children
crawling about th