en an hour later he entered the house,
borne in the strong arms of his friend. A couch was ready for him, and
everything was made as simple and homelike as possible. Jeffreys stayed
long enough to help the boy into the civilised garments provided for
him, and then quietly betook himself once more to Storr Alley.

The curiosity roused by the departure of `Black Sal's Forrester' in a
cab was redoubled when, late that afternoon, Jeffreys was seen walking
out of the alley with the baby in one arm and Tim holding onto the
other. He had considered it best to make no public announcement of his
departure. If he had, he might have found it more difficult than it was
to take the important step. As it was, he had to run a gauntlet of a
score of inquisitive idlers, who were by no means satisfied with the
assurance that he was going to give the children an airing.

The general opinion seemed to be that he was about to take the children
to the workhouse, and a good deal of odium was worked up in consequence.
Some went so far as to say he was going to sell or drown the infants;
and others, Driver's Alley refugees, promised him a warm reception if he
returned without them! He neither returned with nor without them. They
saw him no more. But it was given to the respectable inhabitants of a
crescent near Regent's Park, about half an hour later, to witness the
strange spectacle of a big young man, carrying a small baby in his arms
and a big one on his shoulder--for Tim had turned restive on his hands--
walk solemnly along the footpath till he reached the door of Colonel
Atherton's, where he rang.

The colonel and Raby had a queer tea-party that evening. When the meal
was ended, Jeffreys was called upon to put his infants to bed, and a
wonderful experience to those small mortals was the warm bath and the
feather-bed to which they were severally introduced. Jeffreys was
thankful that the baby was restless, and gave him an excuse for
remaining in retirement most of the evening. At length, however,
silence reigned; and he had no further excuse.

Entering the parlour, he perceived almost with a shock that Mr Rimbolt
was there. He had called in accidentally, and had just been told the
news.

"My dear fellow," said he, as he took his old librarian's hand, "how we
have longed for this day!"

Raby and her father were occupied with Forrester, and Jeffreys and his
old employer were left undisturbed.

What they talked about I need