"Yes, child, I was married. Now, what's the next question?" continued
she, impatiently.

"Had you any children?"

"Yes, boy, I had one--one that was a source of misery and shame to his
doting mother." Old Nanny pressed her eyeballs with her knuckles as if
in agony.

"I won't ask you any more questions," said I mournfully.

"Not now, Jack, that's a good boy; some other day, perhaps, I'll tell
you all. There's a lesson in every life, and a warning in too many.
You'll come again, Jack--yes, I know you'll come to hear my story, so I
shall see you once more before you leave: go now." Old Nanny rose and
went indoors, taking her stool in her hand, and leaving the presents
where they lay, outside--a proof that she was in great agitation. I put
them inside the threshold, and then went homewards.

I could not help remarking, as I walked home, that old Nanny's language
and manner appeared very superior when she broke out in these
reminiscences of the past, and I felt more interest in her then I ever
had before. On my return, I found Bramble, who had come down sooner
than he was expected, sitting in the parlour with Peter Anderson and my
father, all smoking, with porter on the table.

"Well, Tom," said Bramble, "here I am two days before my time, but
that's better than being two days after it, and, what's more, I've got
the money, both yours and mine. They told me I should not get it for
three months at least; but I sent up my name to the Board, and explained
to them that a pilot could not wait like a purser while they were
passing accounts, so the gentleman laughed, and gave me an order for it;
and I've got all my pilotage too, so I'm a rich man just now. Come,
I'll give you yours at once, and I hope it may not be the last hundred
pounds that you'll pick up."

Bramble pulled his leathern case out of his pilot jacket, and counted
out ten ten-pound notes. "There, Jack, you ought to give me a receipt,
for I signed for you at the India House."

"Oh, you've plenty of witnesses," replied I, as I collected the notes,
and giving them to Virginia, told her to take them to my mother, who was
upstairs in her room.

"To tell you the truth, Jack, this two hundred pounds, which I earned so
easily, has just come in the right time, and with it and my pilotage I
shall now be able to do what I have long wished."

"And what's that?" inquired I. "Something for Bessy, I suppose."

"Exactly, Tom, it is something for Bessy; that