sed on the
check aprons of some women, while one particularly sour creature was
rocking a monstrous cradle, made like a port-wine basket, with six
compartments, in every one of which was an unfortunate babe.

"Which he's a very good affectionate boy, sir," said a woman, coming up
with the doctor's choice clinging to her apron; "and good-bye, and good
luck, and there, God bless you, my dear!" she said, as she kissed the
boy in a true motherly way, he clinging to her as the only being he had
felt that he could love.

That burst of genuine affection won Mother Curdley five shillings, which
she pocketed with one hand, as she wiped her eyes with the other, and
then had a furtive pinch of snuff, which made several babies sneeze as
if they had bad colds.

"Very eccentric man," said Mr Hippetts.

"Very," assented Mr Sibery.

"But he'll bring the young ruffian back."

The doctor did not hear, for he was walking defiantly down the main
street, waving his gold-headed cane, while the boy clung to his hand,
and walked with bent head, crying silently, but fighting hard to keep it
back.

The doctor saw it, and pressed the boy's hand kindly.

"Yes," he said to himself; "I'll show old Danby now. The very boy I
wanted. Ah," he added aloud; "here we are."

CHAPTER FIVE.

A "REG'LAR" BAD ONE.

Maria, the doctor's maid, opened the door, and as she admitted her
master and his charge, her countenance was suggestive of round O's.

Her face was round, and her eyes opened into two round spots, while her
mouth became a perfectly circular orifice, as the doctor himself took
off the boy's cap, and marched him into the drawing-room, where Helen
Grayson was seated.

On his way to the house, and with his young heart swelling at having to
part from the only being who had been at all kind to him--for the
recollection of the rough tramp had become extremely faint--the boy had
had hard work to keep back his tears, but no sooner had he passed the
doctor's door than the novelty of all he saw changed the current of his
thoughts, and he was full of eagerness and excitement.

The first inkling of this was shown as his eyes lit upon Maria's round
face, and it tickled him so that he began to smile.

"Such impidence!" exclaimed Maria. "And a workus boy. My! what's
master going to do with him?"

She hurried to the housekeeper's room, where Mrs Millett, who had kept
the doctor's house, and attended to the cooking as well, ever since Mrs