erceived the candle and candlestick lying on
the floor. I picked it up, lighted it, and then turned to the bed; the
flock mattress was above all, and the groans proceeded from beneath. I
threw it off, and found old Nanny 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