t's her name, little woman?" asked
Solomon.

"Her name is Miss Lillycrop, sir, and she lives in Pimlico."

"Well, make your mind easy, little woman. It's a curious coincidence
that I happen to know Miss Lillycrop. Her house lies rather far from my
beat, but I happen to have a messenger who does his work both cheaply
and quickly. I do a deal of work for him too, so, no doubt, he'll do a
little for me. His name is Post-Office.--What is your's, my dear?"

"Tottie Bones," replied the child, with the air of a full-grown woman.
"An' please, sir, tell 'er I meant to go back to her at the end of three
days, as I promised; but I couldn't leave the 'ouse with baby inside,
an' the fire, an' the kittle, with nobody to take care on 'em--could I,
sir?"

"Cer'nly not, little woman," returned the letter-carrier, with a solemn
look at the overburdened creature who appealed to him. Giving her
twopence, and a kindly nod, Solomon Flint walked smartly away--with a
reproving conscience--to make up for lost time.

That evening Mrs Bones returned without her husband, but with an
additional black eye, and other signs of bad treatment. She found the
baby sound asleep, and Tottie in the same condition by his side, on the
outside of the poor counterpane, with one arm round her charge, and her
hair tumbled in confusion over him. She had evidently been herself
overcome while in the act of putting the baby to sleep.

Mrs Bones rushed to the bed, seized Tottie, clasped her tightly to her
bosom, sat down on a stool, and began to rock herself to and fro.

The child, nothing loath to receive such treatment, awoke sufficiently
to be able to throw her arms round her mother's neck, fondled her for a
moment, and then sank again into slumber.

"Oh! God help me! God save my Abel from drink and bad men!" exclaimed
the poor woman, in a voice of suppressed agony.

It seemed as if her prayer had been heard, for at that moment the door
opened and a tall thin man entered. He was the man who had accosted
George Aspel on his first visit to that region.

"You've not found him, I fear?" he said kindly, as he drew a stool near
to Mrs Bones and sat down, while Tottie, who had been re-awakened by
his entrance, began to bustle about the room with something of the
guilty feeling of a sentry who has been found sleeping at his post.

"Yes, Mr Sterling; thank you kindly for the interest you take in 'im.
I found 'im at the old place, but 'e knocked me down