then of subjecting you to all you have since
undergone with me,--I who did not know one useful thing in life by
which a man can turn a penny. And then, as I was all alone in a village
ale-house, on my way back from--it does not signify from what, or from
whence, but I was disappointed and despairing, Providence mercifully
threw in my way--Mr. Rugge, and ordained me to be of great service to
that ruffian, and that ruffian of great use to me."

SOPHY.--"Ah, how was that?"

WAIFE.--"It was fair time in the village wherein I stopped, and Rugge's
principal actor was taken off by delirium tremens, which is Latin for a
disease common to men who eat little and drink much. Rugge came into the
alehouse bemoaning his loss. A bright thought struck me. Once in my day
I had been used to acting. I offered to try my chance on Mr. Rugge's
stage: he caught at me, I at him. I succeeded: we came to terms, and my
little Sophy was thus taken from that ringleted crocodile, and placed
with Christian females who wore caps and read their Bible. Is not Heaven
good to us, Sophy; and to me too--me, such a scamp?"

"And you did all that,--suffered all that for my sake?"

"Suffered, but I liked it. And, besides, I must have done something; and
there were reasons--in short, I was quite happy; no, not actually happy,
but comfortable and merry. Providence gives thick hides to animals that
must exist in cold climates; and to the man whom it reserves for sorrow,
Providence gives a coarse, jovial temper. Then, when by a mercy I
was saved from what I most disliked and dreaded, and never would have
thought of but that I fancied it might be a help to you,--I mean the
London stage,--and had that bad accident on the railway, how did it end?
Oh! in saving you" (and Waife closed his eyes and shuddered), "in saving
your destiny from what might be much worse for you, body and soul, than
the worst that has happened to you with me. And so we have been thrown
together; and so you have supported me; and so, when we could exist
without Mr. Rugge, Providence got rid of him for us. And so we are now
walking along the high road; and through yonder trees you can catch a
peep of the roof under which we are about to rest for a while; and there
you will learn what I have done with the Three Pounds!"

"It is not the Spotted Boy, Grandy?"

"No," said Waife, sighing; "the Spotted Boy is a handsome income; but
let us only trust in Providence, and I should not wonder if our ne