th; "I mean to prevent this
from happening again--don't speak!--I'll take that injured, beautiful,
patient little angel away from this villainous place: I will, if I go
before a magistrate!"

The woman stopped him by pointing suddenly to the child.

She had put back the handkerchief, and was approaching him. She came
close and laid one hand on his knee, and timidly raised the other as
high as she could towards his neck. Standing so, she looked up quietly
into his face. The pretty lips tried hard to smile once more; but they
only trembled for an instant, and then closed again. The clear, soft
eyes, still dim with tears, sought his with an innocent gaze of inquiry
and wonder. At that moment, the expression of the sad and lovely little
face seemed to say--"You look as if you wanted to be kind to me; I wish
you could find out some way of telling me of it."

Valentine's heart told him what was the only way. He caught her up in
his arms, and half smothered her with kisses. The frail, childish hands
rose trembling, and clasped themselves gently round his neck; and
the fair head drooped lower and lower, wearily, until it lay on his
shoulder.

The clown's wife turned away her face, desperately stifling with
both hands the sobs that were beginning to burst from her afresh. She
whispered, "Oh, go, sir,--pray go! Some of the riders will be in here
directly; you'll get us into dreadful trouble!"

Valentine rose, still holding the child in his arms. "I'll go if you
promise me--"

"I'll promise you anything, sir!"

"You know the rectory! Doctor Joyce's--the clergyman--my kind friend--"

"Yes, sir; I know it. Do please, for little Mary's sake be quick as you
can!"

"Mary! Her name's Mary!" Valentine drew back into a corner, and began
kissing the child again.

"You must be out of your senses to keep on in that way after what I've
told you!" cried the clown's wife, wringing her hands in despair, and
trying to drag him out of the corner. "Jubber will be in here in another
minute. She'll be beaten again, if you're caught with her; oh Lord! oh
Lord! will nothing make you understand that?"

He understood it only too well, and put the child down instantly, his
face turning pale again; his agitation becoming so violent that he never
noticed the hand which she held out towards him, or the appealing look
that said so plainly and pathetically: "I want to bid you good-bye; but
I can't say it as other children can." He never observed