yes read the
applicant's state, and the door closed upon the strangely assorted pair.

CHAPTER TWO.

THE TRAMP'S LEGACY.

The doctor shook his head as he stood beside a plain bed in a
whitewashed ward where the tramp lay muttering fiercely, and the
brisk-looking master of the workhouse and a couple of elderly women
stood in a group.

"No, Hippetts," said the doctor; "the machinery is all to pieces and
beyond repair. No."

Just then there was a loud cry, consequent upon one of the women taking
the child from where it had been seated upon the foot of the bed, and
carrying it toward the door.

In a moment the sick man sprang up in bed, glaring wildly and stretching
out his hands.

"Quick! take the boy away," said the master; but the doctor held up his
finger, watching the sick man the while.

Then he whispered a few words to the master, who seemed to give an
unwilling consent, and the boy was placed within the tramp's reach.

The man had been trying to say something, but the words would not come.
As he touched the child's hand, though, he gave vent to a sigh of
satisfaction, and sank back upon the coarse pillow, while the child
nestled to his side, sobbing convulsively, but rapidly calming down.

"Against all rule and precedent, doctor," said the master, in an
ill-used tone.

"Yes, my dear Mr Hippetts," said the doctor, smiling; "but I order it
as a sedative medicine. It will do more good than anything I can give.
It will not be for long."

The master nodded.

"Mrs Curdley," continued the doctor, "you will sit up with him."

"Yes, sir," said one of the old women with a curtsey.

"Keep an eye to the child, in case he turns violent; but I don't think
he will--I don't think he will."

"And send for you, sir, if he do!"

"Yes."

The little party left the workhouse infirmary, all but Mrs Curdley, who
saw to lighting a fire for providing herself with a cup of tea, to
comfort her from time to time during her long night-watch, and then all
was very still in the whitewashed place.

The child took the bread and butter the old woman gave him, and sat on
the bed smiling at her as he ate it hungrily, quite contented now; and
the only sounds that broke the silence after a time were the mutterings
of the sick man.

But these did not disturb the child, who finished his bread and butter,
and drank some sweet tea which the old woman gave him, after which his
little head sank sidewise, his eyes closed, and h