y still
breathing, but in a state of exhaustion, and quite insensible. By
throwing water on her face, after some little while I brought her to her
senses. The flaring of the candle reminded me that the shop door was
open; I went and made it fast, and then spoke to her. It was a long
while before I could obtain any rational answer. She continued to groan
and cry at intervals, "Don't leave me, Jack, don't leave me." At last
she fell into a sort of slumber from exhaustion, and in this state she
remained for more than an hour. One thing was evident to me, which was,
that the party, whoever it might be, had attempted to smother the poor
old woman, and that in a few seconds more he would have perpetrated the
deed.

At last old Nanny roused up, and turning to me, said, "It's Jack, is it
not? I thought so. Oh, my poor head! What has happened?"

"That's what I want to know from you, mother," replied I; "but first I
will tell you what I know of the business." Which I did, to give her
time to collect her thoughts.

"Yes," said she, "so it was. I was just in bed, and my candle was not
out, when I heard a noise at the door, as if they were turning a key in
it, and then a man entered; but he had something over his face, I
thought, or he had blacked it. `What do you want?' cried I. `I come
for a light, old woman,' said he. I cried, `Thieves! murder!' as loud
as I could, and he ran up to me just as I was getting out of bed, and
tried to smother me. I don't recollect anything more till I heard your
voice. Thank you, Jack, and God bless you; if you hadn't come to the
assistance of a poor old wretch like me, I should have been dead by this
time."

I felt that what she said was true, and I then asked her many questions,
so as to lead to the discovery of the party.

"How was he dressed?" inquired I.

"I can't exactly say. But, do you know, Jack, I fancied that he had a
pensioner's coat on; indeed, I am almost sure of it. I think I tore off
one of his buttons, I recollect its giving way; I may be wrong,--my head
wanders."

But I thought that most likely Nanny was right, so I looked down on the
floor with the candle, and there I picked up a pensioner's button.

"You're right, Nanny; here is the button."

"Well, now, Jack, I can't talk any more; you won't leave me tonight, I'm
sure."

"No, no, mother, that I will not. Try to go to sleep."

Hardly had Nanny laid her head down again, when it came across my mind