s, and who were learning their trade. She
was quiet for a few minutes, but presently returned to the charge.

"You _must_ take Tom. Why shouldn't you give him what you give the other
boys?"

"Really, Catharine," said her mother, "why _must_?"

"Must!" cried the little miss--"yes, I say _must_, because Mike lost his
eyes for you, and you've done nothing for him; it's a shame."

"Catharine, Catharine!" said her father, but in accordance with his usual
habit he said nothing more, and the mother, also in accordance with her
usual habit, collapsed.

Miss Catharine generally, even at that early age, carried all before her,
much to her own detriment. Her parents unfortunately were perpetually
making a brief show of resistance and afterwards yielding. Frequently
they had no pretext for resistance, for Catharine was right and they were
wrong. Consequently the child grew up accustomed to see everything bend
to her own will, and accustomed to believe that what she willed was in
accordance with the will of the universe--not a healthy education, for
the time is sure to come when a destiny which will not bend stands in the
path before us, and we are convinced by the roughest processes that what
we purpose is to a very small extent the purpose of Nature. The shock
then is serious, especially if the collision be postponed till mature
years. The parental opposition, such as it was, was worse than none,
because it enabled her to feel her strength. She continued to press her
point, and not only was victorious, but was empowered to tell Mike that
his son would be taken into the foundry and paid five shillings and
sixpence a week--"a most special case," as Mr. Furze told Mike, in order
to stimulate his gratitude.

Mike was now able to find his way about by himself, but before the date
of the first chapter in this history he had left the bridge, and Tom
supported him.

The morning after the fire beheld the Furze family at breakfast with the
hospitable Hopkins. They had saved scarcely any clothes, but Tom and his
master were equipped from a ready-made shop. The women had to remain
indoors in borrowed garments till they could be made presentable by the
dressmaker. Mr. Furze was so unfitted to deal with events which did not
follow in anticipated, regular order, that he was bewildered. He and Tom
went out to look at the ruins, and everything which had to be done seemed
to crowd in upon him at once, one thing tumbling incessant