a tone of
anxious pleading.

"To get work might take a long time," said the Honourable John Ruffin
gravely.

"Yes, sir; it might," said Pollyooly no less gravely, for she knew well
the difficulty of getting work in London.

"And do you propose to keep her till she finds work?" said the
Honourable John Ruffin in the tone of one who finds it difficult to
believe his ears.

"Oh, yes, sir. She wouldn't eat much," said Pollyooly in a tone of
cheerful serenity.

"Out of the exiguous wages Mr. Gedge-Tomkins and I pay you?"

"Yes, sir. I can do it quite well," said Pollyooly confidently; and
then she added hopefully: "And perhaps it wouldn't be for long."

"On the other hand it may be for years and it may be forever," said the
Honourable John Ruffin in a despondent tone.

"Oh, no, sir: I'm sure it wouldn't be as long as that," said Pollyooly
confidently.

The Honourable John Ruffin looked at her earnest, anxious pleading face
for half a minute. Then he said:

"Let's get it quite exact: you want to saddle yourself with the
maintenance of a little girl for weeks, or it may be months, or even
years, just to save her from the chief of England's representative
institutions?"

Pollyooly's anxious frown grew deeper as she said:

"From the workhouse? Yes, sir."

"Where shall the watchful sun,
England, my England,
Match the master-work you've done,
England my own?"

quoted the Honourable John Ruffin with deep feeling. Then he added
sententiously: "Well, we must by no means check the generous impulses
of the young. But before I decide I should like to see your protegee.
I take it that she does not rise to those heights of cleanliness at
which you maintain yourself and the Lump; but does she display
sufficient of our chief English virtue?"

"Oh, yes, sir: I couldn't have her about with the Lump if she wasn't,"
said Pollyooly firmly. "But I'll fetch her, sir." She paused,
hesitatingly, and added: "She isn't in mourning, sir. The funeral took
all the money."

"Then it can not be helped," said the Honourable John Ruffin sadly.

Pollyooly hurried up-stairs to Millicent, awoke her, and helped her
tidy her hair. She bade her be sure and curtsey nicely to the
Honourable John Ruffin, brought her into the sitting-room, and
presented her to him. Millicent's big eyes were shining brightly from
her sleep; her silken hair was prettily waved by its so recent washing;
and the excitement of this fateful m