il of the children, but
if you aren't, you had better stay here and let me talk matters over.
You always were a fearful one for gossip, and perhaps you have picked
up news. Yes, I see you have--you have got something at the back of
your head this blessed minute, Matty Bell."

"That I have," replied Mrs. Bell. "But please don't ask me a word
more, only let me get on my bonnet and cloak."

Mrs. Bell left the room, and quickly returned dressed in her widow's
weeds, for though Bell had been dead for over ten years, his widow was
still faithful to his memory; she slipped a thick crepe veil over her
face, and went out, looking the very essence of respectability. She
was not more than twenty minutes away, and when she came back she
looked much excited. On each of her smooth, pasty cheeks might even be
seen a little flush of color, and her dull blue eyes were brighter
than their wont.

"Fortune," she cried, "as there's a heaven above me, I've found 'em!"

"Bless you, Matty; but where--where?"

"Why, at no less a place than Jonathan Darling's."

"Jonathan Darling? Who may he be?"

"He's as honest a fellow, Fortune, as you can find in the whole of
Madersley--he drives a milk cart. He found the two little dears three
mornings ago, wandering about in their circus dresses, and he took 'em
home."

"Well," said Fortune, "well--then _that's_ all right. It was a
trouble, but it's over, thank the good God. I could fall on my knees
this moment and offer up a prayer; that I could, Matty Bell."

Fortune's small, twinkling eyes were full of tears; she caught her
neighbor's hand and wrung it hard.

"And I bless you, Matty," she continued, "for you have put me on the
right trail. I'll never blame a gossiping neighbor again, never as
long as I live."

"But you haven't heard me out to the end," said Matty, "for one of the
little 'uns is very ill. You have found 'em, it is true; but it isn't
all beer and skittles, Fortune Squeers."

"One of the children ill?" said Fortune.

"Yes; little Miss Diana. You come along and see her at once. They say
she fell on her head out of a ring at the circus, and she must have
hurt herself rather bad. Anyhow, she don't know a word she is saying,
poor little dear."

When Fortune heard this news she shut up her mouth very tight, tied
her bonnet-strings, and followed her neighbor out of the house.

The Darlings' humble little domicile happened to be in the next
street, and in less than five minute