had
a pleasant word for everybody, however unpleasant and unpromising they
might seem, and bore all the remarks and jests of unfriendly loafers
with great good-humour and composure.

The sight of him in the midst of our difficulties was most welcome. We
quickened our steps to meet him. The knot of roughs who were following
us looked on this as a rout, and set up a yell of defiance. Others,
seeing us walking rapidly away, joined in the demonstration, and one or
two, not content with following us with their voices, followed us with
stones.

Just as we came up to the clergyman a stone intended for one of us
whizzed past my ear, and struck him on the cheek. He never moved a
muscle, or even looked to see where it came from, but walked on to meet
us.

"Oh! sir," said Jack, stepping forward, "we're so glad to meet you.
We're looking for a little boy called Billy, who lives in this court,
who generally comes to our ragged school, but wasn't there this evening.
He's a shoeblack. Do you know where he lives?"

"I wish I could tell you," said the clergyman, "but this is my first
visit here. Where is your school?"

"Oh, it's not properly a school, but Billy and sometimes one or two
others come to our lodgings, and learn to write and read. He has never
missed before. That's what makes me fear something is wrong."

At that moment the object of our search stood before us, with his usual
grin wider than ever.

"What cheer, blokes?" was his greeting. "Oh, 'ere, governor, I reckon
you're a-goin' to turn me up 'cos I wasn't at the racket school. But my
old gal, she's a-missin'. She's always a-skylarkin' somewheres, she is,
and I was a-lookin' for her."

"Have you found her?" asked Jack, whose pleasure at finding his young
_protege_ was unconcealed.

"Found 'er! No; but I knows where she is."

"Where?"

"In the station, for smashin' winders. Ain't she a wonner?"

"My poor boy!" said the clergyman, sympathisingly.

"Ga on! I ain't your boy. Don't know yer; I'm this 'ere bloke's chap,
and I ain't a-goin' to be larned by no one else."

It was impossible to avoid smiling at this frank declaration, seriously
as it was uttered.

"When did your mother get into trouble?" asked Jack.

"This very afternoon, bless 'er old 'art. She was on the fly all
yesterday, a-goin' on any'ow. So I comes round afore the racket school,
to see if she was a-coolin' down, and, there! if she 'adn't hooked it!
I 'as a good look up