that, of course it cannot be. And while we must all
wish that he were acting from a higher motive than any of these, still
it is a great point gained, that he is so learning to control himself;
the habit will be formed, and he will learn to be his own master. But I
fear that Theodore Yorke is not a truthful or upright boy. Even our own
boys, who see so little of him, call him a sneak; and although he has a
bold, self-assertive manner, it has none of Jim's frankness. Oh, uncle
Rutherford, I wish that you could have seen things differently!"

But as uncle Rutherford had not only seen things in his own light, but
had acted thereon, there was nothing for us to do beyond giving Jim
what help we could. There was little, however, a lady could do to help
a boy in a public school in his struggle with adverse circumstances,
save by advice and encouragement; and Milly did not fail him in these.

Taking a hint from what I had seen of Jim's influence over Matty, I now
based my plans for her benefit and regeneration upon that, in addition
to the play upon her vanity by means of that wonderful and much-prized
hair. Jim, too, I knew would paint me and all my doings in glowing
colors, making much of any little kindness I might do for her.

The blue dress and other decent clothes were kept at kind Mrs.
Petersen's "for fear of the drink," and Matty donned them there when
she found occasion to wear them; and this led me to carry out the idea
of rescuing the children, Matty and Tony, entirely from the intemperate
wretches who dishonored the names of father and mother, and placing
them under the care of Mrs. Petersen. So long as the two little
cripples brought home such portion of their weekly earnings as Jim had
agreed should be allowed to Blair and his wife, the latter cared little
where or how the neglected children spent their time, especially as
they were now provided with their dinner as a part of the price of
their services at the peanut-stand.

The disapprobation in Milly's manner, which I had noticed and wondered
at, when my new enterprise was under consideration, had altogether
vanished after that first afternoon; and she had not only helped with
all her might in the making of the blue dress, but she had ever since
been interested and full of thoughtful suggestion.

"Milly," I said to her one day soon after, "why did you seem so
unwilling to have me undertake to care for that little cripple? You
surely had formed a precedent fo