"May I ask how you know that the child you refer to has been at my house
to-day?" asked Doctor Joyce, without taking the slightest notice of Mr.
Jubber's indignation.

"One of my people saw that swindling hypocrite of a Peckover taking her
in, and told me of it when I missed them at dinner. There! that's good
evidence, I rather think! Deny it if you can."

"I have not the slightest intention of denying it. The child is now in
my house."

"And has gone through all her performances, of course? Ah! shabby!
shabby! I should be ashamed of myself, if _I'd_ tried to do a man out of
his rights like that."

"I am most unaffectedly rejoiced to hear that you are capable, under
any circumstances, of being ashamed of yourself at all," rejoined the
rector. "The child, however, has gone through no performances here, not
having been sent for with any such purpose as you suppose. But, as you
said just now, that's not the point. Pray, why did you speak of the
little girl, a moment ago, as _your_ child?"

"Because she's one of my performers, of course. But, come! I've had
enough of this; I can't stop talking here all day; I want the child--so
just deliver her up at once, will you?--and turn out Peck as soon as you
like after. I'll cure them both of ever doing this sort of thing again!
I'll make them stick tight to the circus for the future! I'll show
them--"

"You would be employing your time much more usefully," said Doctor
Joyce, "if you occupied it in altering the bills of your performance,
so as to inform the public that the deaf and dumb child will not appear
before them again."

"Not appear again?--not appear to-night in my circus? Why, hang me! if
I don't think you're trying to be funny all of a sudden! Alter my
bills--eh? Not bad! Upon my soul, not at all bad for a parson! Give us
another joke, sir; I'm all attention." And Mr. Jubber put his hand to
his ear, grinning in a perfect fury of sarcasm.

"I am quite in earnest," said the rector. "A friend of mine has adopted
the child, and will take her home with him tomorrow morning. Mrs.
Peckover (the only person who has any right to exercise control over
her) has consented to this arrangement. If your business here was to
take the child back to your circus, it is right to inform you that
she will not leave my house till she goes to London to-morrow with my
friend."

"And you think I'm the sort of man to stand this?--and give up the
child?--and alter the bills?--and los