ou will have
to engage a secretary. Well, we'll look at them by and bye."

Scarcely was breakfast over than there came a modest knock at the door,
which, on being opened by Miss Jemima, revealed the presence of the elder
of the little twin hucksters, who still carried on business across the
way.

Miss Jemima drew herself up like a sentry; and little Tommy Dudgeon,
finding himself confronted by this formidable lady, would have beaten
a hasty retreat. But it was too late.

"I beg your pardon, ma'am," he began humbly; "I came to see your brother."

"I don't know," was the lady's lofty reply. "My brother has much business
on hand."

"No doubt, ma'am; but--but--"

At this point "Cobbler" Horn himself came to the door, and Miss Jemima
retreated into the house.

"Good morning, Tommy," said "Cobbler" Horn heartily, "step in."

"Thank you, Mr. Horn," was the modest reply, "I'm afraid I can't. Business
presses, you know. But I've just come to congratulate you if I may make so
bold. Brother would have come too; but he's minding the twins. It's
washing day, you see. He'll pay his respects another time."

John Dudgeon had been married for some years, and amongst the troubles
which had varied for him the joys of that blissful state, there had
recently come the crowning calamity of twins--an affliction which would
seem to have run in the Dudgeon family.

"We are glad you have inherited this vast wealth, Mr. Horn," said Tommy
Dudgeon. "We think the arrangement excellent. The ways of Providence are
indeed wonderful."

"Cobbler" Horn made suitable acknowledgment of the congratulations of his
humble little friend.

"There is only one thing we regret," resumed the little man; "and that is
that your change of fortune will remove you to another sphere."

"Cobbler" Horn smiled.

"Well, well," he said, "we shall see."

Whereupon Tommy Dudgeon, feeling comforted, he scarcely knew why, said
"Good morning" and ambled back to his shop.

About the middle of the morning "Cobbler" Horn and his sister sat down to
deal with the letters. First they glanced at those which had arrived that
morning, and then laid them aside for the time, until, in fact, they had
dealt with those previously received. First came that of the assumed
widow, to which Miss Jemima induced her brother to write a cautious reply,
asking for a reference. To the man who asked for the loan of twenty
pounds, Miss Jemima would have sent no reply at all; but "Cobbler"