Title: Post Haste
Author: Ballantyne, R. M. (Robert Michael), 1825-1894
Language: English
As this book started as an ASCII text book there are no pictures available.


*** Start of this LibraryBlog Digital Book "Post Haste" ***


POST HASTE, BY R.M. BALLANTYNE.

Preface.

This tale is founded chiefly on facts furnished by the
Postmaster-General's Annual Reports, and gathered, during personal
intercourse and investigation, at the General Post-Office of London and
its Branches.

It is intended to illustrate--not by any means to exhaust--the subject
of postal work, communication, and incident throughout the Kingdom.

I have to render my grateful acknowledgments to SIR ARTHUR BLACKWOOD;
his private secretary, CHARLES EDEN, ESQUIRE; and those other officers
of the various Departments who have most kindly afforded me every
facility for investigation, and assisted me to much of the information
used in the construction of the tale.

If it does not greatly enlighten, I hope that it will at all events
interest and amuse the reader.

R.M. BALLANTYNE.



CHAPTER ONE.

A HERO AND HIS WORSHIPPER.

Once upon a time--only once, observe, she did not do it twice--a widow
of the name of Maylands went, in a fit of moderate insanity, and took up
her abode in a lonely, tumble-down cottage in the west of Ireland.

Mrs Maylands was very poor.  She was the widow of an English clergyman,
who had left her with a small family and the smallest income that was
compatible with that family's maintenance.  Hence the migration to
Ireland, where she had been born, and where she hoped to live
economically.

The tumble-down cottage was near the sea, not far from a little bay
named Howlin Cove.  Though little it was a tremendous bay, with mighty
cliffs landward, and jutting ledges on either side, and forbidding rocks
at the entrance, which waged continual warfare with the great Atlantic
billows that rolled into it.  The whole place suggested shipwreck and
smugglers.

The small family of Mrs Maylands consisted of three babes--so their
mother styled them.  The eldest babe, Mary--better known as May--was
seventeen years of age, and dwelt in London, to which great city she had
been tempted by an elderly English cousin, Miss Sarah Lillycrop, who
held out as baits a possible situation and a hearty welcome.

The second babe, Philip, was verging on fifteen.  Having kicked,
crashed, and smashed his way though an uproarious infancy and a stormy
childhood, he had become a sedate, earnest, energetic boy, with a slight
dash of humour in his spirit, and more than a dash of determination.

The third babe was still a baby.  As it plays little or no part in our
tale we dismiss it with the remark that it was of the male sex, and was
at once the hope, fear, joy and anxiety of its distracted mother.  So,
too, we may dismiss Miss Madge Stevens, a poor relation, who was worth
her weight in gold to the widow, inasmuch as she acted the part of
general servant, nurse, mender of the household garments, and recipient
of joys and sorrows, all of which duties she fulfilled for love, and for
just shelter and sustenance sufficient to keep her affectionate spirit
within her rather thin but well-favoured body.

Phil Maylands was a hero-worshipper.  At the time when our tale opens he
worshipped a youth--the son of a retired naval officer,--who possessed
at least some of the qualities that are occasionally found in a hero.
George Aspel was daring, genial, enthusiastic, tall, broad-shouldered,
active, and young--about twenty.  But George had a tendency to
dissipation.

His father, who had recently died, had been addicted to what he styled
good-fellowship and grog.  Knowing his so-called weakness, Captain Aspel
had sent his boy to be brought up in the family of the Reverend James
Maylands, but some time before the death of that gentleman he had called
him home to help to manage the small farm with which he amused his
declining years.  George and his father amused themselves with it to
such an extent that they became bankrupt about the time of the father's
death, and thus the son was left with the world before him and nothing
whatever in his pocket except a tobacco-pipe and a corkscrew.

One day Phil met George Aspel taking a ramble and joined him.  These two
lived near to each other.  Indeed, Mrs Maylands had been partly
influenced in her choice of a residence by her desire to be near George.

It was a bitterly cold December afternoon.  As the friends reached the
summit of the grey cliffs, a squall, fresh from the Arctic regions, came
sweeping over the angry sea, cutting the foam in flecks from the waves,
and whistling, as if in baffled fury, among the opposing crags.

"Isn't it a grand sight?" said Phil, as they sought shelter under the
lee of a projecting rock.

"Glorious!  I never look upon that sight," said Aspel, with flashing
eyes, "without wishing that I had lived in the days of the old Vikings."

The youth traced his descent from the sea-kings of Norway--those
tremendous fellows who were wont in days of yore to ravage the shores of
the known and unknown world, east and west, north and south, leaving
their indelible mark alike on the hot sands of Africa and the icebound
rocks of Greenland.  As Phil Maylands knew nothing of his own lineage
further back than his grandfather, he was free to admire the immense
antiquity of his friend's genealogical tree.  Phil was not, however, so
completely under the fascination of his hero as to be utterly blind to
his faults; but he loved him, and that sufficed to cover them up.

"Sure, they were a wild lot, after all?" he said in a questioning tone,
as he looked up at the glowing countenance of his friend, who, with his
bold mien, bulky frame, blue eyes, and fair curls, would have made a
very creditable Viking indeed, had he lived in the tenth century.

"Of course they were, Phil," he replied, looking down at his admirer
with a smile.  "Men could not well be otherwise than wild and warlike in
those days; but it was not all ravage and plunder with them.  Why, it is
to them and to their wise laws that we owe much of the freedom, coupled
with the order, that prevails in our happy land; and didn't they cross
the Atlantic Ocean in things little better than herring-boats, without
chart or compass, and discover America long before Columbus was born?"

"You don't mean that?" said Phil, with increased admiration; for the boy
was not only smitten by his friend's physical powers, but by his
supposed intellectual attainments.

"Yes, I do mean that," returned Aspel.  "If the Norsemen of old did
mischief, as no one can deny, they were undoubtedly grand old
scoundrels, and it is certain that they did much good to the world,
whether they meant it or not."

Phil Maylands made no reply, but continued to look meditatively at his
friend, until the latter laughed, and asked what he was thinking about.

"It's thinking I am, what I wouldn't give if my legs were only as long
as yours, George."

"That they will soon be," returned George, "if they go on at the rate
they've been growing of late."

"That's a true word, anyhow; but as men's legs don't go on growing at
the same rate for ever, it's not much hope I have of mine.  No, George,
it's kind of you to encourage me, but the Maylands have ever been a
short-legged and long-bodied race.  So it's said.  However, it's some
comfort to know that short men are often long-headed, and that many of
them get on in the world pretty well."

"Of course they do," returned Aspel, "and though they can't grow long,
they never stop short in the race of life.  Why, look at Nelson--he was
short; and Wellington wasn't long, and Bonny himself was small in every
way except in his intellect--who's that coming up the hill?"

"It's Mike Kenny, the postman, I think.  I wonder if he has brought a
letter from sister May.  Mother expects one, I know."

The man who had attracted their attention was ascending towards them
with the slow, steady gait of a practised mountaineer.  He was the
post-runner of the district.  Being a thinly-peopled and remote region,
the "runner's walk" was a pretty extensive one, embracing many a mile of
moorland, vale and mountain.  He had completed most of his walk at that
time, having only one mountain shoulder now between him and the little
village of Howlin Cove, where his labours were to terminate for that
day.

"Good-evening, Mike," said George Aspel, as the man approached.  "Any
letters for me to-night?"

"No, sur, not wan," answered Mike, with something of a twinkle in his
eye; "but I've left wan at Rocky Cottage," he added, turning to Philip
Maylands.

"Was it May's handwriting?" asked the boy eagerly.

"Sure I don't know for sartin whose hand it is i' the inside, but it's
not Miss May's on the cover.  Niver a wan in these parts could write
like her--copperplate, no less."

"Come, George, let's go back," said Phil, quickly, "we've been looking
out for a letter for some days past."

"It's not exactly a letter, Master Phil," said the post-runner slowly.

"Ah, then, she'd never put us off with a newspaper," said Phil.

"No, it's a telegram," returned Mike.

Phil Maylands looked thoughtfully at the ground.  "A telegram," he said,
"that's strange.  Are ye sure, Mike?"

"Troth am I."

Without another word the boy started off at a quick walk, followed by
his friend and the post-runner.  The latter had to diverge at that place
to leave a letter at the house of a man named Patrick Grady.  Hence, for
a short distance, they followed the same road.

Young Maylands would have passed the house, but as Grady was an intimate
friend of George Aspel, he agreed to stop just to shake hands.

Patrick Grady was the soul of hospitality.  He was not to be put off
with a mere shake of the hand, not he--telegrams meant nothing
now-a-days, he said, everybody sent them.  No cause for alarm.  They
must stop and have a glass of mountain dew.

Aspel was resolute, however; he would not sit down, though he had no
objection to the mountain dew.  Accordingly, the bottle was produced,
and a full glass was poured out for Aspel, who quaffed off the pure
spirit with a free-and-easy toss and smack of the lips, that might have
rendered one of the beery old sea-kings envious.

"No, sur, I thank ye," said Mike, when a similar glass was offered to
him.

"What! ye haven't taken the pledge, have ye?" said Grady.

"No, sur; but I've had three glasses already on me walk, an' that's as
much as I can rightly carry."

"Nonsense, Mike.  You've a stiff climb before you--here, take it off."

The facile postman did take it off without further remonstrance.

"Have a dhrop, Phil?"

"No, thank ee," said Phil, firmly, but without giving a reason for
declining.

Being a boy, he was not pressed to drink, and the party left the house.
A short distance farther on the road forked, and here the post-runner
turned off to the right, taking the path which led towards the hill
whose rugged shoulder he had yet to scale.

Mike Kenny breasted it not only with the energy of youth and strength,
but with the additional and artificial energy infused by the spirits, so
that, much to his own surprise, his powers began to fail prematurely.
Just then a storm of wind and sleet came down from the heights above,
and broke with bitter fury in his face.  He struggled against it
vigorously for a time till he gained a point whence he saw the dark blue
sea lashing on the cliffs below.  He looked up at the pass which was
almost hid by the driving sleet.  A feeling of regret and
self-condemnation at having so readily given in to Grady was mingled
with a strong sense of the duty that he had to discharge as he once more
breasted the steep.  The bitter cold began to tell on his exhausted
frame.  In such circumstances a small matter causes a man to stumble.
Kenny's foot caught on something--a root it might be--and he fell
headlong into a ditch and was stunned.  The cold did its work, and from
that ditch he never rose again.

Meanwhile Mr Grady looked out from the window of his cottage upon the
gathering storm, expressed some satisfaction that it did not fall to his
lot to climb hills on such a day, and comforted himself--though he did
not appear to stand in need of special comfort--with another glass of
whisky.

George Aspel and Philip Maylands, with their backs to the storm, hurried
homewards; the former exulting in the grand--though somewhat
disconnected--thoughts infused into his fiery soul by the fire-water he
had imbibed, and dreaming of what he would have dared and done had he
only been a sea-king of the olden time; the latter meditating somewhat
anxiously on the probable nature of his sister's telegram.



CHAPTER TWO.

TELLS OF WOMAN'S WORK AND SOME OF WOMAN'S WAYS.

Many, and varied, and strange, are the duties which woman has to perform
in this life--especially in that wonderful and gigantic phase of this
life which is comprehended in the word London.

One chill December afternoon there sat in front of a strange-looking
instrument a woman--at least she was as nearly a woman as is compatible
with the age of seventeen.  She was also pretty--not beautiful, observe,
but pretty--sparklingly pretty; dark, dimpled, demure and delightful in
every way; with a turn-up nose, a laughing eye, and a kindly look.

Her chief duty, from morning to night, consisted in playing with her
pretty little fingers on three white pianoforte keys.  There were no
other keys--black or white--in connection with these three.  They stood
alone and had no music whatever in them--nothing but a click.
Nevertheless this young woman, whose name was May Maylands, played on
them with a constancy and a deft rapidity worthy of a great, if not a
musical, cause.  From dawn to dusk, and day by day, did she keep those
three keys clicking and clittering, as if her life depended on the
result; and so in truth it did, to some extent, for her bread and butter
depended on her performances on that very meagre piano.

Although an artless and innocent young girl, fresh from the western
shores of Erin, May had a peculiar, and, in one of her age and sex,
almost pert way of putting questions, to which she often received quaint
and curious replies.

For instance one afternoon she addressed to a learned doctor the
following query:--

"Can you send copy last prescription?  Lost it.  Face red as a carrot.
In agonies!  What shall I do?  Help!"

To which the learned doctor gave the matter-of-fact but inelegant
reply:--

"Stick your feet in hot water.  Go to bed at once.  Prescription sent by
post.  Take it every hour."

But May Maylands did not stick her feet in hot water; neither did she go
to bed, or take any physic.  Indeed there was no occasion to do so, for
a clear complexion and pink cheeks told of robust health.

On another occasion she asked an Irish farmer if he could send her
twenty casks of finest butter to cost not more than 6 pence per pound.

To which the farmer was rude enough to answer--"Not by no manner of
means."

In short May's conduct was such that we must hasten to free her from
premature condemnation by explaining that she was a female telegraphist
in what we may call the literary lungs of London--the General
Post-Office at St. Martin's-le-Grand.

On that chill December afternoon, during a brief lull in her portion of
the telegraphic communication of the kingdom, May leaned her little head
on her hand, and sent her mind to the little cottage by the sea, already
described as lying on the west coast of Ireland, with greater speed than
ever she flashed those electric sparks which it was her business to
scatter broadcast over the land.  The hamlet, near which the cottage
stood, nestled under the shelter of a cliff as if in expectation and
dread of being riven from its foundations by the howling winds, or
whelmed in the surging waves.  The cottage itself was on the outskirts
of the hamlet, farther to the south.  The mind of May entered through
its closed door,--for mind, like electricity, laughs at bolts and bars.

There was a buzz of subdued sound from more than twelve hundred
telegraphists, male and female, in that mighty telegraph-hall of Saint
Martin's-le-Grand, but May heard it not.  Dozens upon dozens of tables,
each with its busy occupants--tables to right of her, tables to left of
her, tables in rear of her, tables in front of her,--swept away from her
in bewildering perspective, but May saw them not.  The clicking of six
or seven hundred instruments broke upon her ear as they flashed the news
of the world over the length and breadth of the land, pulsating joy and
sorrow, surprise, fear, hope, despair, and gladness to thousands of
anxious hearts, but May regarded it not.  She heard only the booming of
the great sea, and saw her mother seated by the fire darning socks, with
Madge engaged in household work, and Phil tumbling with baby-brother on
the floor, making new holes and rents for fresh darns and patches.

Mrs Maylands was a student and lover of the Bible.  Her children,
though a good deal wilder, were sweet-tempered like herself.  It is
needless to add that in spite of adverse circumstances they were all
moderately happy.  The fair telegraphist smiled, almost laughed, as her
mind hovered over the home circle.

From the contemplation of this pleasant and romantic picture she was
roused by a familiar rustle at her elbow.  Recalling her mind from the
west of Ireland, she fixed it on a mass of telegrams which had just
arrived from various parts of the city.

They had been sucked through several pneumatic tubes--varying from a few
yards to two miles in length--had been checked, assorted, registered,
and distributed by boys to the various telegraphists to whose lot they
fell.  May Maylands chanced, by a strange coincidence, to command the
instrument in direct connection with Cork.  The telegrams just laid
beside her were those destined for that city, and the regions to which
it was a centre of redistribution.  Among others her own village was in
connection with it, and many a time had she yearned to touch her keys
with a message of love to her mother, but the rules of the office
sternly forbade this.  The communicative touch which she dispensed so
freely to others was forbidden to herself.  If she, or any other
telegraphist in St. Martin's-le-Grand, wished to send a private message,
it became necessary to step out of the office, go to the appointed
place, pay her shilling, and become one of the public for the occasion.
Every one can see the necessity for such a rule in the circumstances.

May's three-keyed machine, by the way, did not actually send forth the
electricity.  It only punched holes in a long tape of white paper, which
holes, according to their relative arrangement, represented the
alphabet.  Having punched a message by playing on the keys, she
transferred her tape to the electric machine at her elbow and passed it
through.  This transmitting machine was automatic or self acting.  It
required only to be fed with perforated tapes.  In Ireland the
receiving-machine presented its messages in the form of dots and dashes,
which, according to arrangement, became alphabetic.  You don't
understand this, reader, eh?  It would be surprising if you did!  A
treatise on electric telegraphy would be required to make it clear--
supposing you to have a mechanical turn of mind.  Suffice it to say that
the Wheatstone telegraph instrument tapes off its messages at the rate
of 100 words a minute.

But to return--

With a sigh May Maylands cast her eyes on the uppermost telegram.  It
ran thus:--

"Buy the horse at any price.  He's a spanker.  Let the pigs go for what
they'll fetch."

This was enough.  Romance, domesticity, and home disappeared, probably
with the message along the wire, and the spirit of business descended on
the little woman as she applied herself once more to the matter-of-fact
manipulation of the keys.

That evening as May left the Post-Office and turned sharply into the
dark street she came into collision with a letter-carrier.

"Oh!  Miss," he exclaimed with polite anxiety, "I beg your pardon.  The
sleet drivin' in my face prevented my seeing you.  You're not hurt I
hope."

"No, Mr Flint, you haven't hurt me," said May, laughing, as she
recognised the voice of her own landlord.

"Why, it's you, Miss May!  Now isn't that good luck, my turnin' up just
in the nick o' time to see you home?  Here, catch hold of my arm.  The
wind's fit to tear the lamp-posts up by the roots."

"But this is not the way home," objected the girl.

"That's true, Miss May, it ain't, but I'm only goin' round a bit by St.
Paul's Churchyard.  There's a shop there where they sell the sausages my
old 'ooman's so fond of.  It don't add more than a few yards to the road
home."

The old 'ooman to whom Solomon Flint referred was his grandmother.
Flint himself had spent the greater part of his life in the service of
the Post-Office, and was now a widower, well stricken in years.  His
grandmother was one of those almost indestructible specimens of humanity
who live on until the visage becomes deeply corrugated, contemporaries
have become extinct, and age has become a matter of uncertainty.  Flint
had always been a good grandson, but when his wife died the love he had
borne to her seemed to have been transferred with additional vehemence
to the "old 'ooman."

"There's a present for you, old 'ooman," said Flint, placing the paper
of sausages on the table on entering his humble abode, and proceeding to
divest himself of his waterproof cape; "just let me catch hold of a
fryin'-pan and I'll give you to understand what a blow-out means."

"You're a good laddie, Sol," said the old woman, rousing herself and
speaking in a voice that sounded as if it had begun its career far back
in the previous century.

Mrs Flint was Scotch, and, although she had lived from early womanhood
in London, had retained something of the tone and much of the
pronunciation of the land o' cakes.

"Ye'll be wat, lassie," she said to May, who was putting off her bonnet
and shawl in a corner.  "No, Grannie," returned the girl, using a term
which the old woman had begged her to adopt, "I'm not wet, only a little
damp."

"Change your feet, lassie, direc'ly, or you'll tak' cauld," said Mrs
Flint in a peremptory tone.

May laughed gently and retired to her private boudoir to change her
shoes.  The boudoir was not more than eight feet by ten in size, and
very poorly furnished, but its neat, methodical arrangements betokened
in its owner a refined and orderly mind.  There were a few books in a
stand on the table, and a flower-pot on the window-sill.  Among the pegs
and garments on the walls was a square piece of cardboard, on which was
emblazoned in scarlet silk, the text, "God is love."  This hung at the
foot of the bed, so as to be the first object to greet the girl's eyes
on awaking each morning.  Below it hung a row of photographs, embracing
the late Reverend James Maylands, his widow, his son Philip, his distant
relative Madge, and the baby.  These were so arranged as to catch the
faint gleam of light that penetrated the window; but as there was a
twenty-foot brick wall in front of the window at a distance of two
yards, the gleam, even on a summer noon, was not intense.  In winter it
was barely sufficient to render darkness visible.

Poor May Maylands!  It was a tremendous change to her from the free air
and green fields of Ireland to a small back street in the heart of
London; but necessity had required the change.  Her mother's income
could not comfortably support the family.  Her own salary, besides
supporting herself, was devoted to the enlargement of that income, and
as it amounted to only 50 pounds a year, there was not much left to pay
for lodgings, etcetera.  It is true Miss Lillycrop would have gladly
furnished May with board and lodging free, but her house was in the
neighbourhood of Pimlico, and May's duties made it necessary that she
should live within a short distance of the General Post-Office.  Miss
Lillycrop had heard of the Flints as being good-hearted and trusty
people, and advised her cousin to board with them, at least until some
better arrangement could be made for her.  Meanwhile May was to go and
spend part of every Sunday with Miss Lillycrop at Number 9 Purr Street.

"Well, Grannie," said May, returning to the front room, where the
sausages were already hissing deliciously, "what news have you for me
to-night?"

She sat down beside the old woman, took her hand and spoke in that
cheery, cosy, confidential way which renders some women so attractive.

"Deed, May, there's little but the auld story--Mercies, mornin', noon,
and night.  But, oo ay, I was maist forgettin'; Miss Lillycrap was here,
an left ye a message o' some sort."

"And what was the message, Grannie?"

"She's gone and forgot it," said Solomon Flint, putting the sausages on
the table, which had already been spread for supper by a stout little
girl who was the sole domestic of the house and attendant on Mrs Flint.
"You've no chance of getting it now, Miss May, for I've noticed that
when the old 'ooman once forgets a thing it don't come back to her--
except, p'r'aps, a week or two afterwards.  Come now, draw in and go to
work.  But, p'r'aps, Dollops may have heard the message.  Hallo!
Dollops! come here, and bring the kettle with you."

Dollops--the little girl above referred to--was particularly small and
shy, ineffably stupid, and remarkably fat.  It was the last quality
which induced Solomon to call her Dollops.  Her hair and garments stuck
out from her in wild dishevelment, but she was not dirty.  Nothing
belonging to Mrs Flint was allowed to become dirty.

"Did you see Miss Lillycrop, Dollops?" asked Solomon, as the child
emerged from some sort of back kitchen.

"Yes, sir, I did; I saw'd 'er a-goin' hout."

"Did you hear her leave a message?"

"Yes, sir, I did.  I 'eard 'er say to missis, `Be sure that you give May
Maylands my love, an tell 'er wotever she do to keep 'er feet dry, an'
don't forgit the message, an' say I'm so glad about it, though it's not
much to speak of arter all!'"

"What was she so glad about?" demanded Solomon.

"I dun know, sir.  She said no more in my 'earin' than that.  I only
comed in w'en she was a-goin' hout.  P'r'aps it was about the findin' of
'er gloves in 'er pocket w'en she was a talkin' to missis, which she
thought she'd lost, though they wasn't wuth pickin' up out of the--"

"Pooh! be off to your pots an' pans, child," said Flint, turning to his
grandmother, who sat staring at the sausages with a blank expression.
"You can't remember it, I s'pose, eh?"

Mrs Flint shook her head and began to eat.

"That's right, old 'ooman," said her grandson, patting her shoulder;
"heap up the coals, mayhap it'll revive the memory."

But Mrs Flint's memory was not so easily revived.  She became more
abstracted than usual in her efforts to recover it.  Supper passed and
was cleared away.  The old woman was placed in her easy chair in front
of the fire with the cat--her chief evening amusement--on her knee; the
letter-carrier went out for his evening walk; Dollops proceeded
miscellaneously to clean up and smash the crockery, and May sat down to
indite an epistle to the inmates of Rocky Cottage.

Suddenly Mrs Flint uttered an exclamation.

"May!" she cried, and hit the cat an involuntary slap on the face which
sent it with a caterwaul of indignant surprise from her knee, "it wasn't
a message, it was a letter!"

Having thus unburdened her mind the old woman relapsed into the previous
century, from which she could not be recalled.  May, therefore, made a
diligent search for the letter, and found it at last under a cracked
teapot on the mantelpiece, where Mrs Flint had told Miss Lillycrop to
place it for safety.

It was short but satisfactory, and ran thus:--

"DEAREST MAY,--I've been to see my friend `in power,' and he says it's
`all right,' that you've only to get your brother over as soon as
possible, and he'll see to getting him a situation.  The enclosed paper
is for his and your guidance.  Excuse haste.--Your affectionate coz,
SARAH LILLYCROP."

It need hardly be said that May Maylands finished her letter with
increased satisfaction, and posted it that night.

Next morning she wrote out a telegram as follows:--"Let Phil come here
_at once_.  The application has been successful.  Never mind clothes.
Everything arranged.  Best love to all."

The last clause was added in order to get the full value for her money.
She naturally underscored the words "at once," forgetting for the moment
that, in telegraphy, a word underlined counts as two words.  She was
therefore compelled to forego the emphasis.

This message she did not transmit through her own professional
instrument, but gave it in at the nearest district office.  It was at
once shot bodily, with a bundle of other telegrams, through a pneumatic
tube, and thus reached St. Martin's-le-Grand in one minute thirty-five
seconds, or about twenty minutes before herself.  Chancing to be the
uppermost message, it was flashed off without delay, crossed the Irish
Channel, and entered the office at Cork in about six minutes.  Here
there was a short delay of half-an-hour, owing to other telegrams which
had prior claim to attention.  Then it was flashed to the west coast,
which it reached long before the letter posted on the previous night,
and not long after May had seated herself at her own three-keyed
instrument.  But there, telegraphic speed was thwarted by unavoidable
circumstances, the post-runner having already started on his morning
rounds, and it was afternoon before the telegram was delivered at Rocky
Cottage.

This was the telegram which had caused Philip Maylands so much anxiety.
He read it at last with great relief, and at the same time with some
degree of sadness, when he thought of leaving his mother "unprotected"
in her lonely cottage by the sea.



CHAPTER THREE.

BRILLIANT PROSPECTS.

Madge--whose proper name was Marjory Stevens--was absent when May's
letter arrived the following day.  On her return to the cottage she was
taken into the committee which sat upon the subject of Phil's
appointment.

"It's not a very grand appointment," said Mrs Maylands, with a sigh.

"Sure it's not an appointment at all yet, mother," returned Phil, who
held in his hand the paper of instructions enclosed in May's letter.
"Beggars, you know, mustn't be choosers; an' if I'm not a beggar,
it's next thing to it I am.  Besides, if the position of a
boy-telegraph-messenger isn't very exalted in itself, it's the first
step to better things.  Isn't the first round of a ladder connected with
the top round?"

"That's true, Phil," said Madge; "there's nothing to prevent your
becoming Postmaster-General in course of time."

"Nothing whatever, that I know of," returned Phil.

"Perhaps somebody else knows of something that may prevent it," said his
mother with an amused smile.

"Perhaps!" exclaimed the boy, with a twinkle in his eye; "don't talk to
me of perhapses, I'm not to be damped by such things.  Now, just
consider this," he continued, looking over the paper in his hand, "here
we have it all in print.  I must apply for the situation in writin' no
less.  Well, I can do it in copperplate, if they please.  Then my age
must be not less than fourteen, and not more than fifteen."

"That suits to a T," said Madge.

"Yes; and, but hallo! what have we here?" said Phil, with a look of
dismay.

"What is it?" asked his mother and Madge in the same breath, with looks
of real anxiety.

"Well, well, it's too bad," said Phil slowly, "it says here that I'm to
have `no claim on the superannuation fund.'  Isn't that hard?"

A smile from Mrs Maylands, and a laugh from Madge, greeted this.  It
was also received with an appalling yell from the baby, which caused
mother and nurse to leap to the rescue.  That sprout of mischief, in the
course of an experimental tour of the premises, had climbed upon a
side-table, had twisted his right foot into the loop of the
window-curtains, had fallen back, and hung, head downwards, howling.

Having been comforted with bread and treacle, and put to bed, the
committee meeting was resumed.

"Well, then," said Phil, consulting his paper again, "I give up the
superannuation advantages.  Then, as to wages, seven shillings a week,
rising to eight shillings after one year's service.  Why, it's a
fortune!  Any man at my age can live on sixpence a day easy--that's
three-and-six, leaving three-and-six a week clear for you, mother.  Then
there's a uniform; just think o' that!"

"I wonder what sort of uniform it is," said Madge.

"A red coat, Madge, and blue trousers with silver lace and a brass
helmet, for certain--"

"Don't talk nonsense, boy," interrupted Mrs Maylands, "but go on with
the paper."

"Oh! there's nothing more worth mentioning," said Phil, folding the
paper, "except that boy-messengers, if they behave themselves, have a
chance of promotion to boy-sorterships, indoor-telegraph-messengerships,
junior sorterships, and letter-carrierships, on their reaching
the age of seventeen, and, I suppose, secretaryships, and
postmaster-generalships, with a baronetcy, on their attaining the age of
Methuselah.  It's the very thing for me, mother, so I'll be off
to-morrow if--"

Phil was cut short by the bursting open of the door and the sudden
entrance of his friend George Aspel.

"Come, Phil," he cried, blazing with excitement, "there's a wreck in the
bay.  Quick! there's no time to lose."

The boy leaped up at once, and dashed out after his friend.

It was evening.  The gale, which had blown for two days was only
beginning to abate.  Dark clouds were split in the western sky by gleams
of fiery light as the sun declined towards its troubled ocean-bed.

Hurrying over the fields, and bending low to the furious blast, Aspel
and Philip made their way to the neighbouring cliffs.  But before we
follow them, reader, to the wave-lashed shore, it is necessary, for the
satisfactory elucidation of our tale, that we should go backward a short
way in time, and bound forward a long way into space.



CHAPTER FOUR.

THE ROYAL MAIL STEAMER.

Out, far out on the mighty sea, a large vessel makes her way gallantly
over the billows--homeward bound.

She is a Royal Mail steamer from the southern hemisphere--the
_Trident_--and a right royal vessel she looks with her towering iron
hull, and her taper masts, and her two thick funnels, and her trim
rigging, and her clean decks--for she has an awning spread over them, to
guard from smoke as well as from sun.

There is a large family on board of the _Trident_, and, like all other
large families, its members display marked diversities of character.
They also exhibit, like not a few large families, remarkable diversities
of temper.  Among them there are several human magnets with positive and
negative poles, which naturally draw together.  There are also human
flints and steels which cannot come into contact without striking fire.

When the _Trident_ got up steam, and bade adieu to the Southern Cross,
there was no evidence whatever of the varied explosives and combustibles
which she carried in her after-cabin.  The fifty or sixty passengers who
waved kerchiefs, wiped their eyes, and blew their noses, at friends on
the receding shore, were unknown to each other; they were intent on
their own affairs.  When obliged to jostle each other they were all
politeness and urbanity.

After the land had sunk on the horizon the intro-circumvolutions of a
large family, or rather a little world, began.  There was a birth on
board, an engagement, ay, and a death; yet neither the interest of the
first, nor the romance of the second, nor the solemnity of the last,
could check for more than a few hours the steady development of the
family characteristics of love, modesty, hate, frivolity, wisdom, and
silliness.

A proportion of the passengers were, of course, nobodies, who aspired to
nothing greater than to live and let live, and who went on the even
tenor of their way, without much change, from first to last.  Some of
them were somebodies who, after a short time, began to expect the
recognition of that fact.  There were ambitious bodies who, in some
cases, aimed too high, and there were unpretending-bodies who frequently
aimed too low.  There were also selfish-bodies who, of course, thought
only of themselves--with, perhaps, a slight passing reference to those
among the after-cabin passengers who could give them pleasure, and there
were self-forgetting-bodies who turned their thoughts frequently on the
ship, the crew, the sea, the solar system, the Maker of the universe.
These also thought of their fellow-passengers in the fore-cabin, who of
course had a little family or world of their own, with its similar joys,
and sins, and sorrows, before the mast; and there were uproarious-bodies
who kept the little world lively--sometimes a little too lively.

As the Royal Mail steamer rushed out to sea and was tossed on the
ocean's breast, these human elements began to mix and effervesce and
amalgamate, or fizz, burst, and go off, like squibs and crackers.

There was a Mrs Pods with three little girls, and a Mrs Tods with two
little boys, whose first casual glance at each other was transmuted into
a glare of undying and unreasoning hate.  These ladies were exceptions
to the rule of general urbanity before mentioned.  Both had fiery faces,
and each read the other through and through at a glance.  There was a
Miss Bluestocking who charmed some people, irritated others, frightened
a few, and caused many to sneer.  Her chief friend among the males was a
young man named Mr Weakeyes, who had a small opinion of himself and a
very receptive mind.  Miss Troolove, among the ladies, was her chief
friend.  The strange misnomers which one meets with in society were also
found in the little world in that steamer--that Royal Mail steamer we
should say--for, while we turn aside for a brief period to condescend
upon these particulars, we would not have the reader forget that they
have an indirect bearing on the main thread of our tale.

One misnamed lady was a Miss Mist, who, instead of being light, airy,
and ethereal, as she ought to have been, weighed at least twelve stone
six.  But she sang divinely, was a great favourite with the young people
on board, and would have been very much missed indeed if she had not
been there.  There was also a Mr Stout, who was the tallest and
thinnest man in the ship.

On the other hand there were some whose names had been obviously the
result of a sense of propriety in some one.  Among the men who were
rabidly set on distinguishing themselves in one way or another was a
Major Beak.  Now, why was it that this Major's nose was an aquiline of
the most outrageous dimensions?  Surely no one would argue that the nose
grew to accommodate the name.  Is it not more probable--nay, certain--
that the name grew to accommodate the nose?  Of course when Major Beak
was born he was a minor, and his nose must have been no better than a
badly-shaped button or piece of putty; but the Major's father had owned
a tremendous aquiline nose, which at birth had also been a button, and
so on we can proceed backwards until we drive the Beaks into that remote
antiquity where historical fact begins and mythological theory
terminates--that period when men were wont, it is supposed, to name each
other intelligently with reference to personal characteristic or
occupation.

So, too, Mr Bright--a hearty good-natured fellow, who drew powerfully
to Major Beak and hated Miss Bluestocking--possessed the vigorous frame,
animated air, and intelligent look which must have originated his name.
But why go on?  Every reader must be well acquainted with the characters
of Mr Fiery and Mr Stiff, and Mrs Dashington, and her niece Miss
Squeaker, and Colonel Blare who played the cornet, and Lieutenant Limp
who sang tenor, and Dr Bassoon who roared bass, and Mrs Silky, who was
all things to all men, besides being everything by turns and nothing
long; and Lady Tower and Miss Gentle, and Mr Blurt and Miss Dumbbelle.

Suffice it to say that after a week or two the effervescing began to
systematise, and the family became a living and complex electrical
machine, whose sympathetic poles drew and stuck together, while the
antagonistic poles kept up a steady discharge of sparks.

Then there arose a gale which quieted the machine a little, and checked
the sparkling flow of wit and humour.  When, during the course of the
gale, a toppling billow overbalanced itself and fell inboard with a
crash that nearly split the deck open, sweeping two of the quarterboats
away, Mr Blurt, sitting in the saloon, was heard to exclaim:--

"'Pon my word, it's a terrible gale--enough almost to make a fellow
think of his sins."

To which Mrs Tods, who sat beside him, replied, with a serious shake of
her head, that it was indeed a very solemn occasion, and cast a look,
not of undying hate but of gentle appeal at Mrs Pods, who sat opposite
to her.  And that lady, so far from resenting the look as an affront,
met her in a liberal spirit; not only admitted that what Mrs Tods had
said was equally just and true, but even turned her eyes upward with a
look of resignation.

Well was it for Mrs Pods that she did so, for her resigned eyes beheld
the globe of the cabin lamp pitched off its perch by a violent lurch and
coming straight at her.  Thus she had time to bow to circumstances, and
allow the missile to pass over her head into the bosom of Lady Tower,
where it was broken to atoms.  The effect of mutual concession was so
strong on Mrs Pods and Mrs Tods, that the former secretly repented
having wished that one of Mrs Tods' little sons might fall down the
hatchway and get maimed for life, while the latter silently regretted
having hoped that one of Mrs Pods' little girls might fall overboard
and be half-drowned.

But the storm passed away and the effervescence returned--though not, it
is pleasing to add, with so much pungency as before.  Thus, night and
day, the steamer sped on over the southern seas, across the mystic line,
and into the northern hemisphere, with the written records, hopes,
commands, and wishes of a continent in the mail-bags in her hold, and
leaving a beautiful milky-way behind her.

But there were more than letters and papers in these mail-bags.  There
were diamonds!  Not indeed those polished and glittering gems whose
proper resting-place is the brow of beauty, but those uncut pebbles that
are turned up at the mines, which the ignorant would fling away or give
to their children as playthings, but for which merchants and experts
would give hundreds and thousands of pounds.  A splendid prize that
Royal Mail steamer would have been for the buccaneers of the olden time,
but happily there are no buccaneers in these days--at least not in
civilised waters.  A famous pirate had, however, set his heart on those
diamonds--even old Neptune himself.

This is how it happened.



CHAPTER FIVE.

WRECK AND RESCUE.

One evening Miss Gentle and rotund little Mr Blurt were seated on two
camp-stools near the stern, conversing occasionally and gazing in a
dreamy frame of mind at the milky-way over which they appeared to
travel.

"I wonder much, Miss Gentle," said Mr Blurt, "that you were not more
afraid during that gale we had just before crossing the line?"

"I was a good deal afraid, though perhaps I did not show it.  Your
remark," she added, with an arch glance at her companion, "induces me to
express some surprise that you seemed so much afraid."

"Afraid!" echoed Mr Blurt, with a smile; "why, I wasn't afraid--eh! was
I?"

"I beg pardon," hastily explained Miss Gentle, "I don't mean frightened,
of course; perhaps I should have said alarmed, or agitated--"

"Agitated!" cried Mr Blurt, pulling off his hat, and rubbing his bald
head--he was prematurely bald, being only forty, though he looked like
fifty--"agitated!  Well, Miss Gentle, if you had diamonds--"

He stopped short, and looked at his companion with a confused smile.

"Diamonds, Mr Blurt," said Miss Gentle, slightly surprised; "what do
you mean?"

"Well--ha! hem!" said the other, rubbing his forehead; "I see no reason
why I should make a mystery of it.  Since I have mentioned the thing, I
may as well say that a man who happens to have a packet of diamonds in
the mail-bags worth about twenty thousand pounds, may well be excused
showing some little agitation lest the ship containing them should go to
the bottom."

"I don't quite see that," returned Miss Gentle.  "If the owner is on
board, and goes to the bottom with his diamonds, it does not matter to
_him_, does it?"

"Ah!" said Mr Blurt, "it is the inconsiderateness of youth which
prompts that speech.  (Miss Gentle looked about twenty, though she was
in reality twenty-seven!)  Do you think I have no anxiety for any one
but myself?  Suppose I have a wife and family in England who are
dependent on these diamonds."

"Ah! that did not occur to me," returned the lady.

"Have you any objection to become a confidante?" asked Mr Blurt.

"None whatever," replied Miss Gentle, laughing.

"Well, then, to let you understand my feelings, I shall explain.  I have
a brother--a dear little fellow like mys--ah, excuse me; I did not mean
_dear_ like myself, but _little_.  Well, he is a naturalist.  He lives
in London, and is not a very successful naturalist; indeed, I may say
that he is an unfortunate and poor naturalist.  Last year he failed.  I
sent him a small sum of money.  He failed again.  I sent him more money.
Being a successful diamond-merchant, you see, I could afford to do so.
We are both bachelors; my brother being much older than I am.  At last I
resolved to send home my whole fortune, and return to live with him,
after winding up my affairs.  I did so: made up my diamonds into a
parcel, and sent it by mail as being the most secure method.  Just after
doing this, I got a letter informing me of my brother being dangerously
ill, and begging me to come to England without delay.  I packed up at
once, left my partner to wind up the business, and so, here I am, on
board the very steamer that carries my diamonds to England."

"How curious--and how interesting," said the sympathetic Miss Gentle.

Whatever more she intended to say was checked by a large parti-coloured
ball hitting her on the cheek, and falling into her lap.  It was
followed up and captured with a shriek by the two little Todses and the
three little Podses.  At the same moment the gong sounded for tea.  Thus
the conversation came to a close.

The voyage of the _Trident_--with the exception of the gale before
referred to--was prosperous until her arrival in the waters of the
northern hemisphere.  By that time the passengers had crystallised into
groups, the nobodies and self-forgetting-bodies fraternised, and became
more and more friendly as time went on.  The uproarious-bodies got up
concerts and charades.  The hatred of Pods for Tods intensified.  The
arrogance of Major Beak, and the good-natured modesty of Mr Bright,
increased.  The noise of Dr Bassoon made the manner of Mr Silky quite
agreeable by contrast, while the pride of Lady Tower and Mr Stiff
formed a fine, deep-shade to the neutral tint of Miss Gentle, and the
high-light of Miss Squeaker.

Gradually, however, feelings began to modify.  The squalls and breezes
that ruffled the human breasts on board the _Trident_ moderated in exact
proportion as that vessel penetrated and experienced the storms of what
should have been named the _in_-temperate zone.

At last they drew near to the shores of Old England, and then there
burst upon them a nor-wester, so violent that within the first hour the
close-reefed topsails were blown to ribbons, and the foretopmast, with
the jib-boom, was carried away.  Of course this was a comparatively
small matter in a steamer, but when it was afterwards discovered that
the vessel had sprung a leak, things began to look more serious.

"It's only a trifle, Miss Gentle; don't alarm yourself.  We can put that
to rights in a few minutes," said Major Beak, with the confident air of
a man whose nautical education had begun with Noah, and continued
uninterruptedly down to the present time.

"He's a hooked-nosed humbug, Miss Gentle, an' knows nothing about it,"
growled the captain.

"Water rising rapidly in the hold, sir," said the carpenter, coming aft
and touching his cap.

"Rig the pumps," said the captain, and the pumps were rigged.  What is
more to the purpose, they were wrought with a will by the crew; but in
spite of their efforts the water continued to rise.

It might have done a student of human nature good to have observed the
effect of this information on the passengers.  Regarded as a whole the
little world became perceptibly paler in the cheeks, and strikingly
moderate in tone of voice and manner.  Major Beak, in particular, began
to talk low, and made no reference whatever to nautical matters, while
Mrs Pods looked amiably--almost affectionately--at Mrs Tods.

Of course the passengers observed with breathless interest the action of
the captain at this crisis.  That important personage did his best to
stop the leak, but only succeeded in checking it, and it required the
constant exertions of the crew night and day at the pumps to reduce the
water in the hold even by an inch.  In these circumstances the young men
among the passengers readily volunteered their services to assist the
crew.

The gale continued and steadily increased.  At night the ladies, and
such of the passengers as were not employed at the pumps, retired to the
cabin.  Some of those who did not realise the danger of the situation
went to bed.  Others sat up in the saloon and consoled each other as
best they might.

Morning came, but with it came no abatement of the storm.  Water and sky
seemed mingled together, and were of one uniform tone.  It was obvious
that the men at the pumps were utterly exhausted, and worst of all the
water was beginning to gain slowly on them.  The elderly men were now
called on to help.  It became necessary that all should work for their
lives.  Miss Bluestocking, who was muscular as well as masculine, rose
to the occasion, and suggested that the ladies, so to speak, should man
the pumps.  Her suggestion was not acted on.

At this point Mr Bright, who had been toiling night and day like an
inexhaustible giant, suggested that music might be called in to aid
their flagging powers.  It was well known that fatigued soldiers on a
march are greatly re-invigorated by the band.  Major Beak, soaking from
head to foot with salt water, almost blind with fatigue and want of
sleep, and with the perspiration dropping from the point of his enormous
nose, plucked up heart to raise himself and assert that that was true.
He further suggested that Colonel Blare might play to them on the
cornet.  But Colonel Blare was incapable by that time of playing even on
a penny trumpet.  Dr Bassoon was reduced so low as to be obliged to
half whisper his incapacity to sing bass, and as for the great tenor,
Lieutenant Limp--a piece of tape was stiffer than his backbone.

"Let the ladies sing to us," sighed Mr Fiery, who was mere milk and
water by that time.  "I'm sure that Mrs Tods and Mrs Pods would be--"

A united shriek of protest from those ladies checked him.

"Or Miss Troolove," suggested Mr Blurt, on whose stout person the
labour told severely.

The lady appealed to, after a little hesitation, began a hymn, but the
time was found to be too slow, while the voice, although sweet and true,
was too weak.

"Come, let us have one of the `Christy Minstrels'," cried Mr Bright in
a lively tone.  "I'm certain Miss Mist can sing one."

Poor Miss Mist was almost hysterical with fear and prolonged anxiety,
but she was an obliging creature.  On being assured that the other
ladies would support her, she struck up the "Land of Dixey," and was
joined in the chorus with so much spirit that those who laboured at the
pumps felt like giants refreshed.  Explain it how we may, there can be
no question that lively music has a wonderful power of sustaining the
energies of mankind.  With the return of cheerful sensations there
revived in some of them the sense of the ludicrous, and it was all that
they could do to refrain from laughter as they looked at the forlorn
females huddled together, wrapped in rugs and cloaks, drenched to the
skin, almost blown from their seats, ghastly with watching and fear,
solemn-visaged in the last degree, and yet singing "Pop goes the
weasel," and similar ditties, with all the energy of despair.

We paint no fanciful picture.  We describe facts, and there is no saying
how far the effect of that music might have helped in the saving of the
ship, had not an event occurred which rendered further efforts
unnecessary.

The captain, who had either lost his reckoning or his head, or both, was
seen to apply himself too frequently to a case-bottle in the cabin, and
much anxiety began to be felt as to his capacity to manage the vessel.
Owing, also, to the length of time that thick weather had prevailed, no
reliable observation had been obtained for several days.  While the
anxiety was at its height, there came a sudden and terrible shock, which
caused the good ship to tremble.  Then, for the first time, the roar of
breakers was heard above the howling of the storm.  As if to increase
the horror of the scene, the fog lifted and revealed towering cliffs
close ahead of them.

The transition from a comparatively hopeful state to one of absolute
despair was overwhelming.  The wild waves lifted the great hull of the
vessel and let it down on the rocks with another crash, sending the
masts over the side, while the passengers could only shriek in agony and
cling to the wreck.  Fortunately, in taking the ground, the vessel had
kept straight, so that the forepart formed a comparative shelter from
the waves that were fast breaking up the stern.

In the midst of all this confusion the first mate and Mr Bright seemed
to keep quite cool.  Between them they loaded and fired the bow
signal-guns several times, by which means they brought a few fishermen
and coastguard-men to the scene of disaster.  And among these, as we
have seen, were our heroes, Philip Maylands and George Aspel.

On arriving, these two found that the rocket apparatus was being set up
on the beach.

"Phil," said Aspel in a quick low voice, "they'll want the lifeboat, and
the wind carries the sound of their guns in the wrong direction.  Run
round, lad, and give the alarm.  There's not a moment to lose."

The boy turned to run without a word of reply, but he could not help
observing, as he turned, the compressed lips, the expanding nostrils,
and the blazing eyes of his friend, who almost quivered with suppressed
excitement.

For some time George Aspel stood beside the men of the coastguard while
they set up their apparatus and fired the rocket.  To offer assistance,
he knew, would only retard them.  The first rocket was carried to the
right of the vessel, which was now clearly visible.  The second went to
the other side.  There was a reef of rocks on that side which lay a few
yards farther out from the beach than the wreck.  Over this reef the
rocket-line fell and got entangled.  Part of the shore-end of the
apparatus also broke down.  While the men were quickly repairing it
Aspel said in a hurried manner:--"I'll clear the rocket-line," and away
he darted like a greyhound.

"Hold ha-a-rd! foolish fellow, you'll be drownded," roared one of the
men.

But Aspel heeded him not.  Another minute and he was far away on the
ledge of rock jutting out from a high cape--the point of which formed
the outlying reef above referred to.  He was soon at the extremity of
the ledge beyond which nearly a hundred yards of seething foam heaved
between him and the reef.  In he plunged without a moment's halt.  Going
with the rush of the waves through the channel he struck diagonally
across, and landed on the reef.  Every billow swept over it, but not
with sufficient force to prevent his struggling towards the rocket-line,
which he eventually reached and cleared.

"Wasn't that nately done!" cried an enthusiastic young fisherman on the
beach; "but, och! what is he up to now?"

A few seconds sufficed to give an answer to his question.  Instead of
letting go the line and returning, young Aspel tied it round his waist,
and ran or waded to the extreme edge of the reef which was nearest to
the wreck.  The vessel lay partially to leeward of him now, with not
much space between, but that space was a very whirlpool of tormented
waves.  Aspel gave no moment to thought.  In his then state of mind he
would have jumped down the throat of a cannon.  Next instant he was
battling with the billows, and soon reached the ship; but now his danger
was greatest, for the curling waves threw him so violently against the
side of the wreck that he almost lost consciousness and missed the
lifebuoy which, with a rope attached, had been thrown to him by the
anxious crew.

A great cry of anxiety arose at this, but Mr Bright had anticipated it,
and the first mate was ready to aid him.  Leaping into the sea with a
rope round his waist, Mr Bright caught Aspel as he struggled past.  The
mate's powerful hands held them both fast.  Some of the crew lent a
ready hand, and in a few seconds George Aspel was hauled on board.  He
had quite recovered by that time, and replied with a smile to the
ringing cheer that greeted him.  The cheer was echoed again and again by
the men on shore.  Major Beak attempted to grasp his hand, but failed.
Mr Blurt, feeling an irresistible impulse, tried to embrace him, but
was thrust aside, fell, and rolled into the lee-scuppers.

Scattering the people aside Aspel sprang on the bulwarks at the bow,
and, snatching Mr Stiff's travelling-cap from his head, held it up as a
signal to the men on shore.

Well did the youth know what to do in the circumstances, for many a time
had he talked it over with the men of the coastguard in former days.  On
receiving an answering signal from the shore he began to haul on the
rocket-line.  The men in charge had fastened to it a block, or pulley,
with two tails to it; a line was rove through this block.  The instant
the block reached his hands Aspel sprang with it to the stump of the
foremast, and looking round cried, "Who'll lend a--"

"Here you are," said Mr Bright, embracing the mast with both arms and
stooping,--for Mr Bright also knew well what to do.

George Aspel leaped on his shoulders and stood up.  Mr Bright then
raised himself steadily, and thus the former was enabled to tie the
block by its two tails to the mast at a height of about eleven feet.
The line rove through the block was the "whip," which was to be
manipulated by those on shore.  It was a double, and, of course, an
endless line.

Again the signal was given as before, and the line began to run.  Very
soon a stout hawser or cable was seen coming out to the wreck.  Aspel
fastened the end of this to the mast several feet below the pulley.

A third time the signal was given.

"Now then, ladies, stand by to go ashore, and let's have no hesitation.
It's life or death with us all," said the mate in a voice so stern that
the crowd of anxious and somewhat surprised females prepared to obey.

Presently a ring-shaped lifebuoy, with something like a pair of short
breeches dangling from it, came out from the shore, suspended to a block
which traversed on the cable, and was hauled out by means of the whip.

A seaman was ordered to get into it.  Mrs Tods, who stood beside the
mate, eyeing the process somewhat curiously, felt herself firmly but
gently seized.

"Come, Mrs Tods, step into it.  He'll take care of you--no fear."

"Never! never! without my two darlings," shrieked Mrs Tods.

But Mrs Tods was tenderly lifted over the side and placed in the
powerful arms of the sailor.  Her sons instantly set up a howl and
rushed towards her.  But Mr Bright had anticipated this also, and, with
the aid of a seaman, arrested them.  Meanwhile, the signal having been
given, the men on the land pulled in the cradle, and Mrs Tods went
shrieking over the hissing billows to the shore.  A few minutes more and
out came the cradle again.

"Now, then, for the two `darlings'," growled the mate.

They were forcibly put over the side and sent howling to their mother.

After them went Mrs Pods, who, profiting by the experience of her
friend, made no resistance.  This however, was more than counterbalanced
by the struggles of _her_ three treasures, who immediately followed.

But the shades of evening were now falling, and it was with an anxious
feeling at his heart that the mate surveyed the cluster of human beings
who had yet to be saved, while each roaring wave that struck the wreck
seemed about to break it up.

Suddenly there arose a cry of joy, and, looking seaward, the bright
white and blue form of the lifeboat was seen coming in like an angel of
light on the crests of the foaming seas.

We may not stay to describe what followed in detail.  The lifeboat's
anchor was let go to windward of the wreck, and the cable paid out until
the boat forged under the vessel's lee, where it heaved on the boiling
foam so violently that it was difficult to prevent it being stove in,
and still more difficult to get the women and children passed on board.
Soon the lifeboat was full--as full as she could hold--and many
passengers yet remained to be rescued.

The officer in charge of the mail-bags had got them up under the shelter
of the companion-hatch ready to be put into the boat, but human life was
of more value than letters--ay, even than diamonds.

"Now, then, one other lady.  Only room for one," roared the mate, who
stood with pistol in hand near the gangway.

Miss Gentle tried to get to the front, but Lady Tower stepped in before
her.

"Never mind, little woman," said Mr Bright, encouragingly, "the rocket
apparatus is still at work, and the wreck seems hard and fast on the
reef.  You'll get off next trip."

"But I can't bear to think of going by that awful thing," said Miss
Gentle, shuddering and sheltering herself from the blinding spray under
the lee of Bright's large and powerful body.

"Well, then," he returned, cheerfully, "the lifeboat will soon return;
you'll go ashore with the mails."

Mr Bright was right about the speedy return of the lifeboat with her
gallant crew, who seemed to rejoice in danger as if in the presence of a
familiar friend, but he was wrong about the wreck being hard and fast.
The rising tide shifted her a little, and drove her a few feet farther
in.  When the other women and children were got into the boat, Mr
Bright, who stood near the mail-bags looking anxiously at them, left his
position for a moment to assist Miss Gentle to the gangway.  She had
just been safely lowered when a tremendous wave lifted the wreck and
hurled it so far over the reef that the fore part of the vessel was
submerged in a pool of deep water lying between it and the shore.

Mr Bright looked back and saw the hatchway disappearing.  He made a
desperate bound towards it, but was met by the rush of the crew, who now
broke through the discipline that was no longer needed, and jumped
confusedly into the lifeboat on the sea, carrying Bright along with
them.  On recovering his feet he saw the ship make a final plunge
forward and sink to the bottom, so that nothing was left above water but
part of the two funnels.  The splendid lifeboat was partly drawn down,
but not upset.  She rose again like a cork, and in a few seconds freed
herself from water through the discharging tubes in her bottom.  The men
struggling in the water were quickly rescued, and the boat, having
finished her noble work, made for the shore amid cheers of triumph and
joy.

Among all the passengers in that lifeboat there was only one whose
visage expressed nothing but unutterable woe.

"Why, Mr Bright," said Miss Gentle, who clung to one of the thwarts
beside him, and was struck by his appearance, "you seem to have broken
down all at once.  What has happened?"

"The mail-bags!" groaned Mr Bright.

"Why do you take so deep an interest in the mails?" asked Miss Gentle.

"Because I happen to be connected with the post-office; and though I
have no charge of them, I can't bear to see them lost," said Mr Bright
with another groan, as he turned his eyes wistfully--not to the shore,
at which all on board were eagerly gazing--but towards the wreck of the
Royal Mail steamer _Trident_, the top of whose funnels rose black and
defiant in the midst of the raging waves.



CHAPTER SIX.

TREATS OF POVERTY, PRIDE, AND FIDELITY.

Behind a very fashionable square in a very unfashionable little street,
in the west end of London, dwelt Miss Sarah Lillycrop.

That lady's portion in this life was a scanty wardrobe, a small
apartment, a remarkably limited income, and a tender, religious spirit.
From this it will be seen that she was rich as well as poor.

Her age was, by a curious coincidence, exactly proportioned to her
income--the one being forty pounds, and the other forty years.  She
added to the former, with difficulty, by teaching, and to the latter,
unavoidably, by living.

By means of a well-known quality styled economy, she more than doubled
her income, and by uniting prayer with practice and a gracious mien she
did good, as it were, at the rate of five hundred, or five thousand, a
year.

It could not be said, however, that Miss Lillycrop lived well in the
ordinary sense of that expression.

To those who knew her most intimately it seemed a species of standing
miracle that she contrived to exist at all, for she fed chiefly on toast
and tea.  Her dietary resulted in an attenuated frame and a thread-paper
constitution.  Occasionally she indulged in an egg, sometimes even in a
sausage.  But, morally speaking, Miss Lillycrop lived well, because she
lived for others.  Of course we do not mean to imply that she had no
regard for herself at all.  On the contrary, she rejoiced in creature
comforts when she had the chance, and laid in daily "one ha'p'orth of
milk" all for herself.  She paid for it, too, which is more than can be
said of every one.  She also indulged herself to some extent in the
luxury of brown sugar at twopence-halfpenny a pound, and was absolutely
extravagant in hot water, which she not only imbibed in the form of weak
tea and _eau sucree_ hot, but actually took to bed with her every night
in an india-rubber bottle.  But with the exception of these excusable
touches of selfishness, Miss Lillycrop ignored herself systematically,
and devoted her time, talents, and means, to the welfare of mankind.

Beside a trim little tea-table set for three, she sat one evening with
her hands folded on her lap, and her eyes fixed on the door as if she
expected it to make a sudden and unprovoked assault on her.  In a few
minutes her expectations were almost realised, for the door burst open
and a boy burst into the room with--"Here we are, Cousin Lillycrop."

"Phil, darling, at last!" exclaimed Cousin Lillycrop, rising in haste.

Philip Maylands offered both hands, but Cousin Lillycrop declined them,
seized him round the neck, kissed him on both cheeks, and thrust him
down into an easy chair.  Then she retired into her own easy chair and
gloated over him.

"How much you've grown--and so handsome, dear boy," murmured the little
lady.

"Ah! then, cousin, it's the blarney stone you've been kissing since I
saw you last!"

"No, Phil, I've kissed nothing but the cat since I saw you last.  I kiss
that delicious creature every night on the forehead before going to bed,
but the undemonstrative thing does not seem to reciprocate.  However, I
cannot help that."

Miss Lillycrop was right, she could not help it.  She was overflowing
with the milk of human kindness, and, rather than let any of that
valuable liquid go to waste, she poured some of it, not inappropriately,
on the thankless cat.

"I'm glad you arrived before your sister, Phil," said Miss Lillycrop.
"Of course I asked her here to meet you.  I am _so_ sorry the dear girl
cannot live with me: I had fully meant that she should, but my little
rooms are so far from the Post-Office, where her work is, you know, that
it could not be managed.  However, we see each other as often as
possible, and she visits sometimes with me in my district.  What has
made you so late, Phil?"

"I expected to have been here sooner, cousin," replied Phil, as he took
off his greatcoat, "but was delayed by my friend, George Aspel, who has
come to London with me to look after a situation that has been promised
him by Sir James Clubley, M.P. for I forget where.  He's coming here
to-night."

"Who, Sir James Clubley?"

"No," returned the boy, laughing, "George Aspel.  He went with Mr Blurt
to a hotel to see after a bed, and promised to come here to tea.  I
asked him, knowing that you'd be glad to receive any intimate friend of
mine.  Won't you, Coz?"

Miss Lillycrop expressed and felt great delight at the prospect of
meeting Phil's friend, but the smallest possible shade of anxiety was
mingled with the feeling as she glanced at her very small and not too
heavily-loaded table.

"Besides," continued Phil, "George is such a splendid fellow, and, as
maybe you remember, lived with us long ago.  May will be glad to meet
him; and he saved Mr Blurt's life, so you see--"

"Saved Mr Blurt's life!" interrupted Miss Lillycrop.

"Yes, and he saved ever so many more people at the same time, who would
likely have been all lost if he hadn't swum off to 'em with the
rocket-line, and while he was doing that I ran off to call out the
lifeboat, an' didn't they get her out and launch her with a will--for
you see I had to run three miles, and though I went like the wind they
couldn't call out the men and launch her in a minute, you know; but
there was no delay.  We were in good time, and saved the whole of 'em--
passengers and crew."

"So, then, _you_ had a hand in the saving of them," said Miss Lillycrop.

"Sure I had," said Phil with a flush of pleasure at the remembrance of
his share in the good work; "but I'd never have thought of the lifeboat,
I was so excited with what was going on, if George hadn't sent me off.
He was bursting with big thoughts, and as cool as a cucumber all the
time.  I do hope he'll get a good situation here.  It's in a large East
India house, I believe, with which Sir James Clubley is connected, and
Sir James was an old friend of George's father, and was very kind to him
in his last days, but they say he's a proud and touchy old fellow."

As Phil spoke, the door, which had a tendency to burst that evening,
opened quickly, though not so violently as before, and May Maylands
stood before them, radiant with a glow of expectation.

Phil sprang to meet her.  After the first effusions were over, the
brother and sister sat down to chat of home in the Irish far-west, while
Miss Lillycrop retired to a small kitchen, there to hold solemn converse
with the smallest domestic that ever handled broom or scrubbing-brush.

"Now, Tottie, you must run round to the baker directly, and fetch
another loaf."

"What! a whole one, ma'am?" asked the small domestic--in comparison with
whom Dollops was a giantess.

"Yes, a whole one.  You see there's a young gentleman coming to tea whom
I did not expect--a grand tall gentleman too, and a hero, who has saved
people from wrecks, and swims in the sea in storms like a duck, and all
that sort of thing, so he's sure to have a tremendous appetite.  You
will also buy another pennyworth of brown sugar, and two more pats of
butter."

Tottie opened her large blue eyes in amazement at the extent of what she
deemed a reckless order, but went off instantly to execute it, wondering
that any hero, however regardless of the sea or storms, could induce her
poor mistress to go in for such extravagance, after having already
provided a luxurious meal for three.

It might have seemed unfair to send such a child even to bed without an
attendant.  To send her into the crowded streets alone in the dusk of
evening, burdened with a vast commission, and weighted with coppers,
appeared little short of inhumanity.  Nevertheless Miss Lillycrop did it
with an air of perfect confidence, and the result proved that her trust
was not misplaced.

Tottie had been gone only a few seconds when George Aspel appeared at
the door and was admitted by Miss Lillycrop, who apologised for the
absence of her maid.

Great was the surprise and not slight the embarrassment of May Maylands
when young Aspel was ushered into the little room, for Phil had not
recovered sufficiently from the first greetings to mention him.  Perhaps
greater was the surprise of Miss Lillycrop when these two, whom she had
expected to meet as old playmates, shook hands rather stiffly.

"Sure, I forgot, May, to tell you that George was coming--"

"I am very glad to see him," interrupted May, recovering herself,
"though I confess to some surprise that he should have forsaken Ireland
so soon, after saying to me that it was a perfect paradise."

Aspel, whose curly flaxen hair almost brushed the ceiling, brought
himself down to a lower region by taking a chair, while he said with a
meaning smile--

"Ah!  Miss Maylands, the circumstances are entirely altered now--
besides," he added with a sudden change of tone and manner, "that
inexorable man-made demon, Business, calls me to London."

"I hope Business intends to keep you here," said Miss Lillycrop, busying
herself at the tea-table.

"That remains to be seen," returned Aspel.  "If I find that--"

"The loaf and butter, ma'am," said Tottie, announcing these articles at
the door as if they were visitors.

"Hush, child; leave them in the kitchen till I ask for them," said Miss
Lillycrop with a quiet laugh.  "My little maid is _such_ an original,
Mr Aspel."

"She's a very beautiful, though perhaps somewhat dishevelled, original,"
returned Aspel, "of which one might be thankful to possess even an
inferior copy."

"Indeed you are right," rejoined Miss Lillycrop with enthusiasm; "she's
a perfect little angel--come, draw in your chairs; closer this way,
Phil, so--a perfect little angel--you take sugar I think?  Yes.  Well,
as I was saying, the strange thing about her was that she was born and
bred--thus far--in one of the worst of the back slums of London, and her
father is an idle drunkard.  I fear, also, a criminal."

"How strange and sad," said Aspel, whose heart was easily touched and
sympathies roused by tales of sorrow.  "But how comes it that she has
escaped contamination?"

"Because she has a good--by which I mean a Christian--mother.  Ah!  Mr
Aspel, you have no idea how many unknown and unnoticed gems there are
half smothered in the moral mud and filth of London.  It is a
wonderful--a tremendous city;--tremendous because of the mighty
influences for good as well as evil which are constantly at work in it.
There is an army of moral navvies labouring here, who are continually
unearthing these gems, and there are others who polish them.  I have the
honour to be a member of this army.  Dear little Tottie is one of the
gems, and I mean, with God's blessing, to polish her.  Of course, I
can't get her all to myself," continued Miss Lillycrop with a sigh, "for
her mother, who is a washer-woman, won't part with her, but she has
agreed to come and work for me every morning for a few hours, and I can
get her now and then of an evening.  My chief regret is that the poor
thing has a long long way to walk from her miserable home to reach me.
I don't know how she will stand it.  She has been only a few days in my
service."

As the unpolished diamond entered at this moment with a large plate of
buttered toast, Miss Lillycrop changed the subject abruptly by
expressing a hope that May Maylands had not to go on late duty that
evening.

"Oh, no; it's not my turn for a week yet," said May.

"It seems to me very hard that they should work you night and day," said
Phil, who had been quietly drinking in new ideas with his tea while his
cousin discoursed.

"But they don't work us night and day, Phil," returned May, "it is only
the telegraphs that do that.  We of the female staff work in relays.  If
we commence at 8 a.m. we work till 4 p.m.  If we begin at nine we work
till five, and so on--eight p.m. being our latest hour.  Night duty is
performed by men, who are divided into two sections, and it is so
arranged that each man has an alternate long and short duty--working
three hours one night and thirteen hours the next.  We are allowed
half-an-hour for dinner, which we eat in a dining-hall in the place.  Of
course we dine in relays also, as there are above twelve hundred of us,
male and female."

"How many?" asked George Aspel in surprise.

"Above twelve hundred."

"Why, that would make two pretty fair regiments of soldiers," said
Aspel.

"No, George," said Phil, "it's two regiments of pretty fair soldiers
that they'd make."

"Can't you hold your tongue, man, an' let May talk?" retorted Aspel.

"So, you see," continued May, "that amongst us we manage to have the
telegraphic communication of the kingdom well attended to."

"But tell me, May," said Phil, "do they really suck messages through
tubes two miles long?"

"Indeed they do, Phil.  You see, the General Post-Office in London is in
direct communication with all the chief centres of the kingdom, such as
Birmingham, Liverpool, Manchester, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Dublin, Cork,
etcetera, so that all messages sent from London must pass through the
great hall at St. Martin's-le-Grand.  But there are many offices in
London for receiving telegrams besides the General Post-Office.  Suppose
that one of these offices in the city receives numerous telegrams every
hour all day long,--instead of transmitting these by wire to the General
Post-Office, to be re-distributed to their various destinations, they
are collected and put bodily into cylindrical leather cases, which are
inserted into pneumatic metal tubes.  These extend to our central
office, and through them the telegrams are sucked just as they are
written.  The longest tube, from the West Strand, is about two miles,
and each bundle or cylinder of telegrams takes about three minutes to
travel.  There are upwards of thirty such tubes, and the suction
business is done by two enormous fifty-horse-power steam-engines in the
basement of our splendid building.  There is a third engine, which is
kept ready to work in case of a break-down, or while one of the others
is being repaired."

"Ah!  May, wouldn't there be the grand blow-up if you were to burst your
boilers in the basement?" said Phil.

"No doubt there would.  But steam is not the only terrible agent at work
in that same basement.  If you only saw the electric batteries there
that generate the electricity which enables us up-stairs to send our
messages flying from London to the Land's End or John o' Groat's, or the
heart of Ireland!  You must know that a far stronger battery is required
to send messages a long way than a short.  Our Battery Inspector told me
the other day that he could not tell exactly the power of all the
batteries united, but he had no doubt it was sufficient to blow the
entire building into the middle of next week.  Now you know, Phil, it
would require a pretty severe shock to do that, wouldn't it?
Fortunately the accidental union of all the batteries is impossible.
But you'll see it for yourself soon.  And it will make you open your
eyes when you see a room with three miles of shelving, on which are
ranged twenty-two thousand battery-jars."

"My dear," said Miss Lillycrop, with a mild smile, "you will no doubt
wonder at my ignorance, but I don't understand what you mean by a
battery-jar."

"It is a jar, cousin, which contains the substances which produce
electricity."

"Well, well," rejoined Miss Lillycrop, dipping the sugar-spoon into the
slop-bowl in her abstraction, "this world and its affairs is to me a
standing miracle.  Of course I must believe that what you say is true,
yet I can no more understand how electricity is made in a jar and sent
flying along a wire for some hundreds of miles with messages to our
friends than I can comprehend how a fly walks on the ceiling without
tumbling off."

"I'm afraid," returned May, "that you would require to study a treatise
on Telegraphy to comprehend that, but no doubt Phil will soon get it so
clearly into his head as to be able to communicate it to you.--You'll go
to the office with me on Monday, won't you, Phil?"

"Of course I will--only too glad to begin at once."

"My poor boy," said May, putting her hand on her brother's arm, "it's
not a very great beginning of life to become a telegraph-messenger."

"Ah! now, May, that's not like yourself," said Phil, who unconsciously
dropped--perhaps we should say rose--to a more decided brogue when he
became tender or facetious.  "Is it rousin' the pride of me you'd be
afther?  Don't they say that any ould fiddle is good enough to learn
upon?  Mustn't I put my foot on the first round o' the ladder if I want
to go up higher?  If I'm to be Postmaster-General mustn't I get a
general knowledge of the post from the bottom to the top by goin'
through it?  It's only men like George there that can go slap over
everything at a bound."

"Come, Phil, don't be impertinent," said George, "it's a bad sign in one
so young.  Will you convoy me a short way?  I must go now."

He rose as he spoke and bade Miss Lillycrop good-evening.  That lady
expressed an earnest hope that he would come to see her frequently, and
he promised to do so as often as he could find time.  He also bade May
good-evening because she was to spend the night with her cousin, but May
parted from him with the same touch of reserve that marked their
meeting.  He resented this by drawing himself up and turning away
somewhat coldly.

"Now, Phil," he said, almost sternly, on reaching the street, "here's a
letter to Sir James Clubley which I want to read to you.--Listen."

By the light of a lamp he read:--

  "DEAR SIR,--I appreciate your kindness in offering me the situation
  mentioned in your letter of the 4th, and especially your remarks in
  reference to my late father, who was indeed worthy of esteem.  I shall
  have pleasure in calling on you on hearing that you are satisfied with
  the testimonials herewith enclosed.--I am, etcetera."

"Now, Phil, will that do?"

"Do? of course it will.  Nothing could be better.  Only--"

"Well, what?"

"Don't you think that you might call without waiting to hear his opinion
of your testimonials?"

"No, Phil, I don't," replied the other in a slightly petulant tone; "I
don't feel quite sure of the spirit in which he referred to my dear
father.  Of course it was kind and all that, but it was slightly
patronising, and my father was an infinitely superior man to himself."

"Well, I don't know," said Phil; "if you're going to accept a favour of
him you had better try to feel and act in a friendly way, but of course
it would never do to encourage him in pride."

"Well then, I'll send it," said Aspel, closing the letter; "do you know
where I can post it?"

"Not I.  Never was here before.  I've only a vague idea of how I got
here, and mustn't go far with you lest I lose myself."

At that moment Miss Lillycrop's door opened and little Tottie issued
forth.

"Ah! she will help us.--D'you know where the Post-Office is, Tottie?"

"Yes, sir, it's at the corner of the street, Miss Lillycrop says."

"Which direction?"

"That one, I think."

"Here, I'm going the other way: will you post this letter for me?"

"Yes, sir," said Tottie.

"That's a good girl; here's a penny for you."

"Please, sir, that's not a penny," said the child, holding out the
half-crown which Aspel had put in her hand.

"Never mind; keep it."

Tottie stood bereft of speech at the youth's munificence, as he turned
away from her with a laugh.

Now, when Tottie Bones said that she knew where the post was, she did so
because her mistress had told her, among other pieces of local
information, that the pillar letter-box stood at the corner of the
street and was painted red; but as no occasion had occurred since her
arrival for the posting of a letter, she had not yet seen the pillar
with her own eyes.  The corner of the street, however, was so plain a
direction that no one except an idiot could fail to find it.
Accordingly Tottie started off to execute her mission.

Unfortunately--or the reverse, as the case may be--streets have usually
two corners.  The child went, almost as a matter of course, to the wrong
one, and there she found no pillar.  But she was a faithful messenger,
and not to be easily balked.  She sought diligently at that corner until
she really did find a pillar, in a retired angle.  Living, as she did,
chiefly in the back slums of London, where literary correspondence is
not much in vogue, Tottie had never seen a pillar letter-box, or, if she
had, had not realised its nature.  Miss Lillycrop had told her it was
red, with a slit in it.  The pillar she had found was red to some extent
with rust, and it unquestionably had a slit in it where, in days gone
by, a handle had projected.  It also had a spout in front.  Tottie had
some vague idea that this letter-box must have been made in imitation of
a pump, and that the spout was a convenient step to enable small people
like herself to reach the slit.  Only, she thought it queer that they
should not have put the spout in front of the pillar under the slit,
instead of behind it.  She was still more impressed with this when,
after having twice got on the spout, she twice fell off in futile
efforts to reach round the pump with her small arms.

Baffled, but not defeated, Tottie waited till some one should pass who
could put the letter in for her, but in that retired angle no one
passed.  Suddenly her sharp eyes espied a brickbat.  She set it up on
end beside the pump, mounted it, stood on tip-toe, and, stretching her
little body to the very uttermost, tipped the letter safely in.  The
brickbat tipped over at the same instant and sent her headlong to the
ground.  But this was no novelty to Tottie.  Regardless of the fall, she
gathered herself up, and, with the light heart of one who has gained a
victory in the performance of duty, ran off to her miserable home in the
back slums.



CHAPTER SEVEN.

PHIL BEGINS LIFE, AND MAKES A FRIEND.

Some time after the small tea-party described in our last chapter,
Philip Maylands was invested with all the dignity, privileges, and
emoluments of an "Out-door Boy Telegraph Messenger" in the General
Post-Office.  He rejoiced in the conscious independence of one who earns
his own livelihood, is a burden to nobody, and has something to spare.
He enjoyed the privilege of wearing a grey uniform, of sitting in a
comfortable room with a huge fire in the basement of the office, and of
walking over a portion of London as the bearer of urgent and no doubt
all-important news.  He also enjoyed a salary of seven shillings
sterling a week, and was further buoyed up with the hope of an increase
to eight shillings at the end of a year.  His duties, as a rule, began
at eight each morning, and averaged nine hours.

We have said that out of his vast income he had something to spare.
This, of course, was not much, but owing to the very moderate charge for
lodging made by Solomon Flint--with whom and his sister he took up his
abode--the sum was sufficient to enable him, after a few months, to send
home part of his first year's earnings to his mother.  He did this by
means of that most valuable institution of modern days a Post-Office
order, which enables one to send small sums of money, at a moderate
charge, and with perfect security, not only all over the kingdom, but
over the greater part of the known world.

It would have been interesting, had it been possible, to have entered
into Phil's feelings on the occasion of his transacting this first piece
of financial business.  Being a country-bred boy, he was as bashful
about it as if he had been only ten years old.  He doubted, first,
whether the clerk would believe him in earnest when he should demand the
order.  Then, when he received the form to fill up, he had considerable
hesitation lest he should fill in the blanks erroneously, and when the
clerk scanned the slip and frowned, he felt convinced that he had done
so.

"You've put only Mrs Maylands," said the clerk.

"_Only_ Mrs Maylands!" thought Phil; "does the man want me to add
`widow of the Reverend James Maylands, and mother of all the little
Maylands?'" but he only said, "Sure, sir, it's to her I want to send the
money."

"Put down her Christian name;" said the clerk; "order can't be drawn
without it."

Phil put down the required name, handed over the money, received back
the change, inserted the order into a previously prepared letter, posted
the same, and walked away from that office as tall as his friend George
Aspel--if not taller--in sensation.

Let us now follow our hero to the boy-messengers' room in the basement
of St. Martin's-le-Grand.

Entering one morning after the delivery of a telegram which had cost him
a pretty long walk, Phil proceeded to the boys' hall, and took his seat
at the end of the row of boys who were awaiting their turn to be called
for mercurial duty.  Observing a very small telegraph-boy in a scullery
off the hall, engaged in some mysterious operations with a large
saucepan, from which volumes of steam proceeded, he went towards him.
By that time Phil had become pretty well acquainted with the faces of
his comrades, but this boy he had not previously met with.  The lad was
stooping over a sink, and carefully holding in the contents of the pan
with its lid, while he strained off the boiling water.

"Sure I've not seen _you_ before?" remarked Phil.

The boy turned up a sharp-featured, but handsome and remarkably
intelligent face, and, with a quick glance at Phil, said, "Well, now,
any man might know you for an Irishman by your impudence, even if you
hadn't the brogue."

"Why, what do you mean?" asked Phil, with an amused smile.

"Mean!" echoed the boy, with the most refined extract of insolence on
his pretty little face; "I mean that small though I am, surely I'm big
enough to be _seen_."

"Well," returned Phil, with a laugh, "you know what I mean--that I
haven't seen you before to-day."

"Then w'y don't you say what you mean?  How d'you suppose a man can
understand you unless you speak in plain terms?  You won't do for the
GPO if you can't speak the Queen's English.  We want sharp fellows here,
we do.  So you'd better go back to Owld Ireland, avic cushla
mavourneen--there, put that in your pipe and smoke it."

Whether it was the distraction of the boy's mind, or the potent working
of his impertinence, we know not, but certain it is that his left hand
slipped somehow, and a round ball, with a delicious smell, fell out of
the pot.  The boy half caught it, and wildly yet cleverly balanced it on
the lid, but it would have rolled next moment into the sink, if Phil had
not made a dart forward, caught it like a football, and bowled it back
into the pot.

"Well done! splendidly done!" cried the boy, setting down his pot.
"Arrah!  Pat," he added, mocking Phil's brogue, and holding out his
hand, "you're a man after my own heart; give me your flipper, and let us
swear eternal friendship over this precious goblet."

Of course Phil cheerfully complied, and the friendship thus auspiciously
begun afterwards became strong and lasting.  So it is all through the
course of life.  At every turn we are liable to meet with those who
shall thenceforth exercise a powerful influence on our characters,
lives, and affections, and on whom our influence shall be strong for
good or evil.

"What's your name?" asked Phil; "mine is Philip Maylands."

"Mine's Peter Pax," answered the small boy, returning to his goblet;
"but I've no end of _aliases_--such as Mouse, Monkey, Spider, Snipe,
Imp, and Little 'un.  Call me what you please, it's all one to me, so as
you don't call me too late for dinner."

"And what have you got there, Pax?" asked Phil, referring to the pot.

"A plum-pudding."

"Do two or three of you share it?"

"Certainly not," replied the boy.

"What! you don't mean to say you can eat it all yourself for dinner?"

"The extent of my ability in the disposal of wittles," answered Pax, "I
have never fairly tested.  I think I could eat this at one meal, though
I ain't sure, but it's meant to serve me all day.  You see I find a
good, solid, well-made plum-pudding, with not too much suet, and a
moderate allowance of currants and raisins, an admirable squencher of
appetite.  It's portable too, and keeps well.  Besides, if I can't get
through with it at supper, it fries up next mornin' splendidly.--Come,
I'll let you taste a bit, an' that's a favour w'ich I wouldn't grant to
every one."

"No, thank 'ee, Pax.  I'm already loaded and primed for the forenoon,
but I'll sit by you while you eat, and chat."

"You're welcome," returned Pax, "only don't be cheeky, Philip, as I
can't meet you on an equal footing w'en I'm at grub."

"I'll be careful, Pax; but don't call me Philip--call me Phil."

"I will, Phil; come along, Phil; `Come fill up my cup, come fill up my
can'--that sort o' thing you understand, Phil, me darlint?"

There was such a superhuman amount of knowing presumption in the look
and air of Pax, as he poked Phil in the ribs and winked, that the latter
burst into laughter, in which however he was not joined by his
companion, who with the goblet in one hand and the other thrust into his
pocket, stood regarding his new friend with a pitiful expression till he
recovered, and then led him off to a confabulation which deepened their
mutual esteem.

That same evening a gentleman called at the Post-Office, desiring to see
Philip Maylands.  It turned out to be George Aspel.

"Why, George, what brings you here?" said Phil in surprise.

"I chanced to be in the neighbourhood," answered Aspel, "and came to ask
the address of that little creature who posted my letter the other
night.  I want to see her.  She does not go to your cousin's, I know,
till morning, and I must see her to-night, to make sure that she _did_
post the letter, for, d'you know, I've had no reply from Sir James, and
I can't rest until I ascertain whether my letter was posted.  Can you
tell me where she lives, Phil?"

At that moment Phil was summoned for duty.  Giving his friend the
address hastily, he left him.

George Aspel passed the front of the General Post-Office on his way to
visit Tottie Bones, and, observing a considerable bustle going on there,
he stopped to gaze, for George had an inquiring mind.  Being fresh from
the country, his progress through the streets of London, as may be well
understood, was slow.  It was also harassing to himself and the public,
for when not actually standing entranced in front of shop-windows his
irresistible tendency to look in while walking resulted in many
collisions and numerous apologies.  At the General Post-Office he
avoided the stream of human beings by getting under the lee of one of
the pillars of the colonnade, whence he could look on undisturbed.

Up to six o'clock letters are received in the letter-box at St.
Martin's-le-Grand for the mails which leave London at eight each
evening.  The place for receiving book-parcels and newspapers, however,
closes half-an-hour sooner.  Before five a brass slit in the wall
suffices for the public, but within a few minutes of the half-hour the
steady run of men and boys towards it is so great that the slit becomes
inadequate.  A trap-door is therefore opened in the pavement, and a
yawning abyss displayed which communicates by an inclined plane with the
newspaper regions below.  Into this abyss everything is hurled.

When Aspel took up his position people were hurrying towards the hole,
some with single book-parcels, or a few newspapers, others with armfuls,
and many with sackfuls.  In a few minutes the rapid walk became a run.
Men, boys, and girls sprang up the steps--occasionally tumbled up,--
jostled each other in their eager haste, and tossed, dropped, hurled, or
poured their contributions into the receptacle, which was at last fed so
hastily that it choked once or twice, and a policeman, assisted by an
official, stuffed the literary matter down its throat--with difficulty,
however, owing to the ever-increasing stream of contributors to the
feast.  The trap-door, when open, formed a barrier to the hole, which
prevented the too eager public from being posted headlong with their
papers.  One youth staggered up the steps under a sack so large that he
could scarcely lift it over the edge of the barrier without the
policeman's aid.  Him Aspel questioned, as he was leaving with the empty
sack, and found that he was the porter of one of the large publishing
firms of the city.

Others he found came from advertising agents with sacks of circulars,
etcetera.

Soon the minutes were reduced to seconds, and the work became
proportionally fast and furious; sacks, baskets, hampers, trays of
material were emptied violently into that insatiable maw, and in some
cases the sacks went in along with their contents.  But owners' names
being on these, they were recoverable elsewhere.

Suddenly, yet slowly, the opening closed.  The monster was satisfied for
that time; it would not swallow another morsel, and one or two
unfortunates who came late with large bags of newspapers and circulars
had to resort to the comparatively slow process of cramming their
contents through the narrow slit above, with the comforting certainty
that they had missed that post.

Turning from this point George Aspel observed that the box for letters--
closing, as we have said, half an hour later than that for books and
papers--was beginning to show symptoms of activity.  At a quarter to six
the long metal slit suddenly opened up like a gaping mouth, into which a
harlequin could have leaped easily.  Through it Aspel could look--over
the heads of the public--and see the officials inside dragging away
great baskets full of letters to be manipulated in the mysterious realms
inside.  At five minutes to six the rush towards this mouth was
incessant, and the operations at the newspaper-tomb were pretty much
repeated, though, of course, the contents of bags and baskets were not
quite so ponderous.  At one side of the mouth stood an official in a red
coat, at the other a policeman.  These assisted the public to empty
their baskets and trays, gave information, sometimes advice, and kept
people moving on.  Little boys there, as elsewhere, had a strong
tendency to skylark and gaze at the busy officials inside, to the
obstruction of the way.  The policeman checked their propensities.  A
stout elderly female panted towards the mouth with a letter in one hand
and a paper in the other.  She had full two minutes and a half to spare,
but felt convinced she was too late.  The red-coated official posted her
letter, and pointed out the proper place for the newspaper.  At two
minutes to six anxious people began to run while yet in the street.
Cool personages, seeing the clock, and feeling safe, affected an easy
nonchalance, but did not loiter.  One minute to six--eager looks were on
the faces of those who, from all sides, converged towards the great
receiving-box.  The active sprang up the wide stairs at a bound, heaved
in their bundles, or packets, or single missives, and heaved sighs of
relief after them; the timid stumbled on the stairs and blundered up to
the mouth; while the hasty almost plunged into it bodily.  Even at this
critical moment there were lulls in the rush.  Once there was almost a
dead pause, and at that moment an exquisite sauntered towards the mouth,
dropped a solitary little letter down the slope where whole cataracts
had been flowing, and turned away.  He was almost carried off his legs
by two youths from a lawyer's office, who rushed up just as the first
stroke of six o'clock rang out on the night air.  Slowly and grandly it
tolled from St. Paul's, whose mighty dome was visible above the
house-tops from the colonnade.  During these fleeting moments a few
dozens of late ones posted some hundreds of letters.  With kindly
consideration the authorities of St. Martin's-le-Grand have set their
timepieces one minute slow.  Aware of this, a clerk, gasping and with a
pen behind his ear, leaped up the steps at the last stroke, and hurled
in a bundle of letters.  Next moment, like inexorable fate, the mouth
closed, and nothing short of the demolition of the British Constitution
could have induced that mouth to convey another letter to the eight
o'clock mails.

Hope, however, was not utterly removed.  Those who chose to place an
additional penny stamp on their letters could, by posting them in a
separate box, have them taken in for that mail up to seven.  Twopence
secured their acceptance up to 7:15.  Threepence up to 7:30, and
sixpence up to 7:45, but all letters posted after six without the late
fees were detained for the following mail.

"Sharp practice!" observed George Aspel to the red-coated official, who,
after shutting the mouth, placed a ticket above it which told all
corners that they were too late.

"Yes, sir, and pretty sharp work is needful when you consider that the
mails we've got to send out daily from this office consist of over 5800
bags, weighing forty-three tons, while the mails received number more
than 5500 bags.  Speaks to a deal of correspondence that, don't it,
sir?"

"What!--every day?" exclaimed Aspel in surprise.

"Every day," replied the official, with a good-humoured smile and an
emphatic nod.  "Why, sir," he continued, in a leisurely way, "we're some
what of a literary nation, we are.  How many letters, now, d'you think,
pass through the Post-Office altogether--counting England, Scotland, and
Ireland?"

"Haven't the remotest idea."

"Well, sir," continued the red-coated man, with impressive solemnity,
"we passes through our hands in one year about one thousand and
fifty-seven million odd."

"I know enough of figures," said Aspel, with a laugh, "to be aware that
I cannot realise such a number."

"Nevertheless, sir," continued the official, with a patronising air,
"you can realise something _about_ such a number.  For instance, that
sum gives thirty-two letters per head to the population in the year;
and, of course, as thousands of us can't write, and thousands more don't
write, it follows that the real correspondents of the kingdom do some
pretty stiff work in the writing way.  But these are only the _letters_.
If you include somewhere about four hundred and twenty million
post-cards, newspapers, book-packets, and circulars, you have a sum
total of fourteen hundred and seventy-seven million odd passing through
our hands.  Put that down in figures, sir, w'en you git home--
1,477,000,000--an p'r'aps it'll open your eyes a bit.  If you want 'em
opened still wider, just try to find out how long it would take you to
count that sum, at the rate of sixty to the minute, beginning one, two,
three, and so on, workin' eight hours a day without takin' time for
meals, but givin' you off sixty-five days each year for Sundays and
holidays to recruit your wasted energies."

"How long _would_ it take?" asked Aspel, with an amused but interested
look.

"W'y, sir, it would take you just a little over one hundred and seventy
years.  The calculation ain't difficult; you can try it for yourself if
you don't believe it.--Good-night, sir," added the red-coated official,
with a pleasant nod, as he turned and entered the great building, where
a huge proportion of this amazing work was being at that moment actively
manipulated.



CHAPTER EIGHT.

DOWNWARD--DEEPER AND DEEPER.

As the great bell of St. Paul's struck the half-hour, George Aspel was
reminded of the main object of his visit to that part of the City.
Descending to the street, and pondering in silent wonder on the vast
literary correspondence of the kingdom, he strode rapidly onward, his
long legs enabling him to pass ahead of the stream of life that flowed
with him, and causing him to jostle not a few members of the stream that
opposed him.

"Hallo, sir!"  "Look out!"  "Mind your eye, stoopid!"  "Now, then, you
lamp-post, w'ere are you a-goin' to?"  "Wot asylum 'ave _you_ escaped
from?" were among the mildest remarks with which he was greeted.

But Aspel heeded them not.  The vendors of penny marvels failed to
attract him.  Even the print-shop windows had lost their influence for a
time; and as for monkeys, barrel-organs, and trained birds, they were as
the dust under his feet, although at other times they formed a perpetual
feast to his unsophisticated soul.  "Letters, letters, letters!"

He could think of nothing else.  "Fourteen hundred and seventy-seven
millions of letters, etcetera, through the Post-Office in one year!"
kept ringing through his brain; only varied in its monotony by "that
gives thirty-two letters per head to the entire population, and as lots
of 'em can't write, of course it's much more for those who can!  Take a
man one hundred and seventy years to count 'em!"

At this point the brilliant glare of a gin-palace reminded him that he
had walked far and long, and had for some time felt thirsty.  Entering,
he called for a pot of beer.  It was not a huge draught for a man of his
size.  As he drained it the memory of grand old jovial sea-kings crossed
his mind, and he called for another pot.  As he was about to apply it to
his lips, and shook back his flaxen curls, the remembrance of, a Norse
drinking-cup in his possession--an heirloom, which could not stand on
its bottom, and had therefore to be emptied before being set down,--
induced him to chuckle quietly before quaffing his beer.

On setting down the empty pot he observed a poor miserable-looking
woman, with a black eye and a black bottle, gazing at him in undisguised
admiration.  Instantly he called for a third pot of beer.  Being
supplied by the wondering shop-boy, he handed it to the woman; but she
shook her head, and drew back with an air of decision.

"No, sir," she said, "but thank you kindly all the same, sir."

"Very well," returned the youth, putting the pot and a half-crown on the
counter, "you may drink it or leave it as you please.  I pay for it, and
you may take the change--or leave that too if you like," he added, as he
went out, somewhat displeased that his feeling of generosity had been
snubbed.

After wandering a short distance he was involved in labyrinths of brick
and mortar, and suddenly became convinced that he was lost.  This was
however a small matter.  To find one's way by asking it is not
difficult, even in London, if one possesses average intelligence.

The first man he stopped was a Scot.  With characteristic caution that
worthy cleared his throat, and with national deliberation repeated
Aspel's query, after which, in a marked tone of regret, he said slowly,
"Weel, sir, I really div not ken."

Aspel thanked him with a sarcastic smile and passed on.  His next effort
was with a countryman, who replied, "Troth, sur, that's more nor I can
tell 'ee," and looked after his questioner kindly as he walked away.  A
policeman appearing was tried next.  "First to the right, sir, third to
the left, and ask again," was the sharp reply of that limb of the
Executive, as he passed slowly on, stiff as a post, and stately as a law
of fate.

Having taken the required turns our wanderer found himself in a
peculiarly low, dirty, and disagreeable locality.  The population was in
keeping with it--so much so that Aspel looked round inquiringly before
proceeding to "ask again."  He had not quite made up his mind which of
the tawdry, half-drunken creatures around him he would address, when a
middle-aged man of respectable appearance, dressed in black, issued from
one of the surrounding dens.

"A city missionary," thought George Aspel, as he approached, and asked
for direction to the abode of a man named Abel Bones.

The missionary pointed out the entrance to the desired abode, and looked
at his questioner with a glance which arrested the youth's attention.

"Excuse me, sir," he said, "but the man you name has a very bad
character."

"Well, what then?" demanded Aspel sharply.

"Oh! nothing.  I only meant to warn you, for he is a dangerous man."

The missionary was a thin but muscular man, with stern black eyes and a
powerful nose, which might have rendered his face harsh if it had not
been more than redeemed by a large firm mouth, round which played lines
that told unmistakably of the milk of human kindness.  He smiled as he
spoke, and Aspel was disarmed.

"Thank you," he said; "I am well able to take care of myself."

Evidently the missionary thought so too, for, with a quiet bow, he
turned and went his way.

At the end of a remarkably dark passage George Aspel ran his head
against a beam and his knee against a door with considerable violence.

"Come in," said a very weak but sweet little voice, as though doors in
that region were usually rapped at in that fashion.

Lifting the latch and entering, Aspel found himself confronted by Tottie
Bones in her native home.

It was a very small, desolate, and dirty home, and barely rendered
visible by a thin "dip" stuck into an empty pint-bottle.

Tottie opened her large eyes wide with astonishment, then laid one of
her dirty little fingers on her rosy lips and looked imploringly at her
visitor.  Thus admonished, he spoke, without knowing why in a subdued
voice.

"You are surprised to see me, Tottie?"

"I'm surprised at nothink, sir.  'Taint possible to surprise me with
anythink in _this_ life."

"D'you expect to be surprised by anything in any other life, Tottie?"
asked Aspel, more amused by the air of the child than by her answer.

"P'r'aps.  Don't much know, and don't much care," said Tottie.

"Well, I've come to ask something," said the youth, sitting down on a
low box for the convenience of conversation, "and I hope, Tottie, that
you'll tell me the truth.  Here's a half-crown for you.  The truth,
mind, whether you think it will please me or not; I don't want to be
pleased--I want the truth."

"I'd tell you the truth without _that_," said Tottie, eyeing the
half-crown which Aspel still held between his fingers, "but hand it
over.  We want a good many o' these things here, bein' pretty hard up at
times."

She spun the piece deftly in the air, caught it cleverly, and put it in
her pocket.

"Well, tell me, now, did you post the letter I gave you the night I took
tea with Miss Lillycrop?"

"Yes, I did," answered the child, with a nod of decision.

"You're telling the truth?"

"Yes; as sure as death."

Poor Tottie had made her strongest asseveration, but it did not convey
to Aspel nearly so much assurance as did the earnest gaze of her bright
and truthful eyes.

"You put it in the pillar?" he continued.

"Yes."

"At the end of the street?"

"Yes, at the end of the street; and oh, you've no idea what an awful
time I was about it; the slit was so high, an' I come down sitch a
cropper w'en it was done!"

"But it went in all right?"

"Yes, all right."

George Aspel sat for some moments in gloomy silence.  He now felt
convinced of that which at first he had only suspected--namely, that his
intending patron was offended because he had not at once called in
person to thank him, instead of doing so by letter.  Probably, also, he
had been hurt by the expressions in the letter to which Philip Maylands
had objected when it was read to him.

"Well, well," he exclaimed, suddenly giving a severe slap to his
unoffending thigh, "I'll have nothing to do with him.  If he's so
touchy--as that comes to, the less that he and I have to say to each
other the better."

"Oh! _please_, sir, hush!" exclaimed Tottie, pointing with a look of
alarm to a bundle which lay in a dark corner, "you'll wake 'im."

"Wake who?"

"Father," whispered the child.

The visitor rose, took up the pint-bottle, and by the aid of its flaring
candle beheld something that resembled a large man huddled together in a
heap on a straw mattress, as he had last fallen down.  His position,
together with his torn and disarranged garments, had destroyed all
semblance to human form save where a great limb protruded.  His visage
was terribly disfigured by the effects of drink, besides being partly
concealed by his matted hair.

"What a wretched spectacle!" exclaimed the young man, touching the heap
with his foot as he turned away in disgust.

Just then a woman with a black eye entered the room with a black bottle
in her hand.  She was the woman who had refused the beer from Aspel.

"Mother," said Tottie, running up to her, "here's the gent who--"

"'Av-'ee-go'-th'-gin?" growled a deep voice from the dark corner.

"Yes, Abel--"

"'Ave 'ee got th' gin, I say, Molly?" roared the voice in rising wrath.

"Yes, yes, Abel, here it is," exclaimed the woman, hastening towards the
corner.

The savage who lay there was so eager to obtain the bottle that he made
a snatch at it and let it slip on the stone floor, where it was broken
to pieces.

"O don't, Abel dear, don't!  I'll get another," pleaded the poor woman;
but Abel's disappointment was too great for endurance; he managed to
rise, and made a wild blow at the woman,--missed her, and staggered into
the middle of the room.  Here he encountered the stern glance of George
Aspel.  Being a dark, stern man himself, with a bulky powerful frame, he
rather rejoiced in the sight of a man who seemed a worthy foe.

"What d'ee wan' here, you long-legged--hah! would you?" he added, on
observing Aspel's face flush and his fists close, "Take that!"

He struck out at his adversary's face with tremendous violence.  Aspel
parried the blow and returned it with such good-will that Abel Bones
went headlong into the dark corner whence he had risen,--and lay there.

"I'm _very_ sorry," said the instantly-repentant George, turning to Mrs
Bones, "but I couldn't help it; really, I--"

"There, there; go away, sir, and thank you kindly," said the unfortunate
woman, urging--almost pushing--her visitor towards the door.  "It'll do
'im good, p'r'aps.  He don't get that every day, an' it won't 'urt 'im."

Aspel found himself suddenly in the dark passage, and heard the door
slammed.  His first impulse was to turn, dash in the door with his foot,
and take vengeance on Abel Bones, his next to burst into a sardonic
laugh.  Thereafter he frowned fiercely, and strode away.  In doing so he
drew himself up with sea-king-like dignity and assaulted a beam, which
all but crushed his hat over his eyes.  This did not improve his temper,
but the beer had not yet robbed him of all self-control; he stooped to
conquer and emerged into the street.

Well was it for George Aspel that his blow had been such an effective
one, for if a riot with Bones had followed the blow, there were numerous
kindred spirits there who would have been only too glad to aid their
chum, and the intruder would have fared badly among them, despite his
physical powers.  As it was, he soon regained a respectable
thoroughfare, and hastened away in the direction of his lodgings.

But a dark frown clouded his brow, for as he went along his thoughts
were busy with what he believed to be the insolent pride of Sir James
Clubley.  He also thought of May Maylands, and the resolution with which
she so firmly yet so gently repelled him.  The latter thought wounded
his pride as well as his feelings deeply.  While in this mood the spirit
of the sea-kings arose within him once again.  He entered a public-house
and had another pot of beer.  It was very refreshing--remarkably so!
True, the tall and stalwart young frame of George Aspel needed no
refreshment at the time, and he would have scorned the insinuation that
he _required_ anything to support him--but--but--it was decidedly
refreshing!  There could be no doubt whatever about that, and it induced
him to take a more amiable view of men in general--of "poor Abel Bones"
in particular.  He even felt less savagely disposed towards Sir James,
though he by no means forgave him, but made up his mind finally to have
nothing more to do with him, while as to May--hope told him flattering
tales.

At this point in his walk he was attracted by one of those traps to
catch the unwary, which are so numerous in London--a music-hall.  George
knew not what it was, and cared not.  It was a place of public
entertainment: that was enough for him.  He wanted entertainment, and in
he went.

It is not our purpose to describe this place.  Enough is told when we
have said that there were dazzling lights and gorgeous scenes, and much
music, and many other things to amuse.  There were also many gentlemen,
but--no ladies.  There was also much smoking and drinking.

Aspel soon observed that he was expected either to drink or smoke.  He
did not wish to do either, but, disliking singularity, ordered a cigar
and a glass of brandy-and-water.  These were followed by another cigar
and another glass.  Towards midnight he had reached that condition when
drink stimulates the desire for more drink.  Being aware, from former
experience, of the danger of this condition, and being, as we have said,
a man of some strength of will, he rose to go.

At the moment a half-tipsy man at the little table next him carelessly
flung the end of his cigar away.  It alighted, probably by accident, on
the top of Aspel's head.

"Hallo, sir!" shouted the enraged youth, starting up and seizing the man
by his collar.

"Hallo, sir!" echoed the man, who had reached his pugnacious cups, "let
go."

He struck out at the same moment.  Aspel would have parried the blow,
but his arm had been seized by one of the bystanders, and it took effect
on his nose, which instantly sent a red stream over his mouth and down
the front of his shirt.

Good-humour and kindliness usually served Aspel in the place of
principle.  Remove these qualities temporarily, and he became an
unguarded savage--sometimes a roaring lion.

With a shout that suspended the entertainments and drew the attention of
the whole house, he seized his adversary, lifted him in the air, and
would infallibly have dashed him on the floor if he had not been caught
in the arms of the crowd.  As it was, the offender went down, carrying
half-a-dozen friends and a couple of tables with their glasses along
with him.

Aspel was prevented from doing more mischief by three powerful
policemen, who seized him from behind and led him into the passage.
There a noisy explanation took place, which gave the offender time to
cool and reflect on his madness.  On his talking quietly to the
policemen, and readily paying for the damage he had done, he was allowed
to go free.  Descending the stair to the street, where the glare of the
entrance-lamps fell full upon him, he felt a sudden sensation of
faintness, caused by the combination of cold air, excitement, drink, and
smoke.  Seizing the railings with one hand, he stood for a moment with
his eyes shut.

Re-opening them, and gazing stupidly before him, he encountered the
horrified gaze of May Maylands!  She had been spending the evening with
Miss Lillycrop, and was on her way home, escorted by Solomon Flint.

"Come along, Miss May," said Solomon, "don't be afraid of 'im.  He can't
'urt you--too far gone for that, bless you.  Come on."

May yielded, and was out of sight in a moment.

Filled with horror, despair, madness, and self-contempt, George Aspel
stood holding on to the railings and glaring into vacuity.  Recovering
himself he staggered home and went to bed.



CHAPTER NINE.

MR. BLURT AND GEORGE ASPEL IN PECULIAR CIRCUMSTANCES.

When a man finds himself in a false position, out of which he sees no
way of escape, he is apt to feel a depression of spirits which reveals
itself in the expression of his countenance.

One morning Mr Enoch Blurt sat on a high stool in his brother's shop,
with his elbows on a screened desk, his chin in his hands, and a grim
smile on his lips.

The shop was a peculiar one.  It had somewhat the aspect of an old
curiosity shop, but the predominance of stuffed birds gave it a
distinctly ornithological flavour.  Other stuffed creatures were there,
however, such as lizards, frogs, monkeys, etcetera, all of which
straddled in attitudes more or less unlike nature, while a few wore
expressions of astonishment quite in keeping with their circumstances.

"Here am I," soliloquised Mr Blurt with a touch of bitterness, "in the
position of a shop-boy, in possession of a shop towards which I
entertain feelings of repugnance, seeing that it has twice ruined my
poor brother, and in regard to the details of which I know absolutely
nothing.  I had fancied I had reached the lowest depths of misfortune
when I became a ruined diamond-merchant, but this is a profounder deep."

"Here's the doctor a-comin' down-stairs, sir," said an elderly female,
protruding her head from the back shop, and speaking in a stage-whisper.

"Very well, Mrs Murridge, let him come," said Mr Blurt recklessly.

He descended from the stool, as the doctor entered the shop looking very
grave.  Every expression, save that of deep anxiety, vanished from Mr
Blurt's face.

"My brother is worse?" he said quickly.

"Not worse," replied the doctor, "but his case is critical.  Everything
will depend on his mind being kept at ease.  He has taken it into his
head that his business is going to wreck while he lies there unable to
attend to it, and asked me earnestly if the shop had been opened.  I
told him I'd step down and inquire."

"Poor Fred!" murmured his brother sadly; "he has too good reason to
fancy his business is going to wreck, with or without his attendance,
for I find that very little is doing, and you can see that the entire
stock isn't worth fifty pounds--if so much.  The worst of it is that his
boy, who used to assist him, absconded yesterday with the contents of
the till, and there is no one now to look after it."

"That's awkward.  We must open the shop how ever, for it is
all-important that his mind should be kept quiet.  Do you know how to
open it, Mr Blurt?"

Poor Mr Blurt looked helplessly at the closed shutters, through a hole
in one of which the morning sun was streaming.  Turning round he
encountered the deeply solemn gaze of an owl which stood on a shelf at
his elbow.

"No, doctor, I know no more how to open it than that idiot there," he
said, pointing to the owl, "but I'll make inquiries of Mrs Murridge."

The domestic fortunately knew the mysterious operations relative to the
opening of a shop.  With her assistance Mr Blurt took off the shutters,
stowed them away in their proper niche, and threw open the door to the
public with an air of invitation, if not hospitality, which deserved a
better return than it received.  With this news the doctor went back to
the sick man.

"Mrs Murridge," said Mr Blurt, when the doctor had gone, "would you be
so good as mind the shop for a few minutes, while I go up-stairs?  If
any one should come in, just go to the foot of the stair and give two
coughs.  I shall hear you."

On entering his brother's room, he found him raised on one elbow, with
his eyes fixed wildly on the door.

"Dear Fred," he said tenderly, hurrying forward; "you must not give way
to anxiety, there's a dear fellow.  Lie down.  The doctor says you'll
get well if you only keep quiet."

"Ay, but I can't keep quiet," replied the poor old man tremulously,
while he passed his hand over the few straggling white hairs that lay on
but failed to cover his head.  "How can you expect me to keep quiet,
Enoch, when my business is all going to the dogs for want of attention?
And that boy of mine is such a stupid fellow; he loses or mislays the
letters somehow--I can't understand how.  There's confusion too
somewhere, because I have written several times of late to people who
owe me money, and sometimes have got no answers, at other times been
told that they _had_ replied, and enclosed cheques, and--"

"Come now, dear Fred," said Enoch soothingly, while he arranged the
pillows, "do give up thinking about these things just for a little while
till you are better, and in the meantime I will look after--"

"And he's such a lazy boy too," interrupted the invalid,--"never gets up
in time unless I rouse him.--Has the shop been opened, Enoch?"

"Yes, didn't the doctor tell you?  I always open it myself;" returned
Enoch, speaking rapidly to prevent his brother, if possible, from asking
after the boy, about whose unfaithfulness he was still ignorant.  "And
now, Fred, I insist on your handing the whole business over to me for a
week or two, just as it stands; if you don't I'll go back to Africa.
Why, you've no idea what a splendid shopman I shall make.  You seem to
forget that I have been a successful diamond-merchant."

"I don't see the connection, Enoch," returned the other, with a faint
smile.

"That's because you've never been out of London, and can't believe in
anybody who hasn't been borne or at least bred, within the sound of Bow
Bells.  Don't you know that diamond-merchants sometimes keep stores, and
that stores mean buying and selling, and corresponding, and all that
sort of thing?  Come, dear Fred, trust me a little--only a little--for a
day or two, or rather, I should say, trust God, and try to sleep.
There's a dear fellow--come."

The sick man heaved a deep sigh, turned over on his side, and dropped
into a quiet slumber--whether under the influence of a more trustful
spirit or of exhaustion we cannot say--probably both.

Returning to the shop, Mr Blurt sat down in his old position on the
stool and began to meditate.  He was interrupted by the entrance of a
woman carrying a stuffed pheasant.  She pointed out that one of the
glass eyes of the creature had got broken, and wished to know what it
would cost to have a new one put in.  Poor Mr Blurt had not the
faintest idea either as to the manufacture or cost of glass eyes.  He
wished most fervently that the woman had gone to some other shop.
Becoming desperate, and being naturally irascible, as well as humorous,
he took a grimly facetious course.

"My good woman," he said, with a bland smile, "I would recommend you to
leave the bird as it is.  A dead pheasant can see quite as well with one
eye as with two, I assure you."

"La! sir, but it don't look so well," said the woman.

"O yes, it does; quite as well, if you turn its blind side to the wall."

"But we keeps it on a table, sir, an' w'en our friends walk round the
table they can't 'elp seein' the broken eye."

"Well, then," persisted Mr Blurt, "don't let your friends walk round
the table.  Shove the bird up against the wall; or tell your friends
that it's a humorous bird, an' takes to winking when they go to that
side."

The woman received this advice with a smile, but insisted nevertheless
that a "noo heye" would be preferable, and wanted to know the price.

"Well, you know," said Mr Blurt, "that depends on the size and
character of the eye, and the time required to insert it, for, you see,
in our business everything depends on a life-like turn being given to an
eye--or a beak--or a toe, and we don't like to put inferior work out of
our hands.  So you'd better leave the bird and call again."

"Very well, sir, w'en shall I call?"

"Say next week.  I am very busy just now, you see--extremely busy, and
cannot possibly give proper attention to your affair at present.  Stay--
give me your address."

The woman did so, and left the shop while Mr Blurt looked about for a
memorandum-book.  Opening one, which was composite in its character--
having been used indifferently as day-book, cashbook, and ledger--he
headed a fresh page with the words "Memorandum of Transactions by Enoch
Blurt," and made the following entry:--

"A woman--I should have said an idiot--came in and left a pheasant,
_minus_ an eye, to be repaired and called for next week."

"There!" exclaimed the unfortunate man, shutting the book with emphasis.

"Please, sir," said a very small sweet voice.

Mr Blurt looked over the top of his desk in surprise, for the owner of
the voice was not visible.  Getting down from his stool, and coming out
of his den, he observed the pretty face and dishevelled head of a little
girl not much higher than the counter.

"Please, sir," she said, "can you change 'alf a sov?"

"No, I can't," said Mr Blurt, so gruffly that the small girl retired in
haste.

"Stay! come here," cried the repentant shopman.  The child returned with
some hesitation.

"Who trusted you with half a sov?"

"Miss Lillycrop, sir."

"And who's Miss Lillycrop?"

"My missis, sir."

"Does your missis think that I'm a banker?" demanded Mr Blurt sternly.

"I dun know, sir."

"Then why did she send you here?"

"Please, sir, because the gentleman wot keeps this shop is a friend o'
missis, an' always gives 'er change w'en she wants it.  He stuffs her
birds for her too, for nothink, an' once he stuffed a tom-cat for 'er,
w'ich she was uncommon fond of, but he couldn't make much of a job of
it, 'cause it died through a kittle o' boilin' water tumblin' on its
back, which took off most of the 'air."

While the child was speaking Mr Blurt drew a handful of silver from his
pocket, and counted out ten shillings.

"There," he said, putting the money into the child's hand, "and tell
Miss Lillycrop, with my compliments--Mr Enoch Blurt's compliments--that
my brother has been very ill, but is a little--a very little--better;
and see, there is a sixpence for yourself."

"Oh, _thank_ you, sir!" exclaimed the child, opening her eyes with such
a look of surprised joy that Mr Blurt felt comforted in his
difficulties, and resolved to face them like a man, do his duty, and
take the consequences.

He was a good deal relieved, however, to find that no one else came into
the shop during the remainder of that day.  As he sat and watched the
never-ceasing stream of people pass the windows, almost without casting
a glance at the ornithological specimens that stood rampant there, he
required no further evidence that the business had already gone to that
figurative state of destruction styled "the dogs."  The only human
beings in London who took the smallest notice of him or his premises
were the street boys, some of whom occasionally flattened their noses on
a pane of glass, and returned looks of, if possible, exaggerated
surprise at the owl, while others put their heads inside the door,
yelled in derision, and went placidly away.  Dogs also favoured him with
a passing glance, and one or two, with sporting tendencies, seemed about
to point at the game inside, but thought better of it, and went off.

At intervals the patient man called Mrs Murridge to mind the shop,
while he went up-stairs.  Sometimes he found the invalid dozing,
sometimes fretting at the thoughts of the confusion about his letters.

"If they _all_ went astray one could understand it," he would say,
passing his hand wearily over his brow, "because that would show that
one cause went on producing one result, but sometimes letters come
right, at other times they don't come at all."

"But how d'you find out about those that don't come at all?" asked his
brother.

"By writing to know why letters have not been replied to, and getting
answers to say that they _have_ been replied to," said the invalid.
"It's very perplexing, Enoch, and I've lost a deal of money by it.  I
wouldn't mind so much if I was well, but--"

"There, now, you're getting excited again, Fred; you _must not_ speak
about business matters.  Haven't I promised to take it in hand? and I'll
investigate this matter to the bottom.  I'll write to the Secretary of
the General Post-Office.  I'll go down to St. Martin's-le-Grand and see
him myself, and if he don't clear it up I'll write letters to the
_Times_ until I bu'st up the British Post-Office altogether; so make
your mind easy, Fred, else I'll forsake you and go right away back to
Africa."

There was no resisting this.  The poor invalid submitted with a faint
smile, and his brother returned to the shop.

"It's unsatisfactory, to say the least of it," murmured Mr Blurt as he
relieved guard and sat down again on the high stool.  "To solicit trade
and to be unable to meet the demand when it comes is a very false
position.  Yet I begin to wish that somebody would come in for
something--just for a change."

It seemed as if somebody had heard his wish expressed, for at that
moment a man entered the shop.  He was a tall, powerful man.  Mr Blurt
had just begun to wonder what particular branch of the business he was
going to be puzzled with, when he recognised the man as his friend
George Aspel.

Leaping from his stool and seizing Aspel by the hand, Mr Blurt gave him
a greeting so hearty that two street boys who chanced to pass and saw
the beginning of it exclaimed, "Go it, old 'un!" and waited for more.
But Aspel shut the door in their faces, which induced them to deliver
uncomplimentary remarks through the keyhole, and make unutterable eyes
at the owl in the window ere they went the even tenor of their way.

Kind and hearty though the greeting was, it did not seem to put the
youth quite at his ease, and there was a something in his air and manner
which struck Mr Blurt immediately.

"Why, you've hurt your face, Mr Aspel," he exclaimed, turning his
friend to the light.  "And--and--you've had your coat torn and mended as
if--"

"Yes, Mr Blurt," said Aspel, suddenly recovering something of his
wonted bold and hearty manner; "I have been in bad company, you see, and
had to fight my way out of it.  London is a more difficult and dangerous
place to get on in than I had imagined at first."

"I suppose it is, though I can't speak from much experience," said Mr
Blurt.  "But come, sit down.  Here's a high stool for you.  I'll sit on
the counter.  Now, let's hear about your adventures or misadventures.
How did you come to grief?"

"Simply enough," replied Aspel, with an attempt to look indifferent and
easy, in which he was only half-successful "I went into a music-hall one
night and got into a row with a drunk man who insulted me.  That's how I
came by my damaged face.  Then about two weeks ago a fellow picked my
pocket.  I chased him down into one of his haunts, and caught him, but
was set upon by half a dozen scoundrels who overpowered me.  They will
carry some of my marks, however, for many a day--perhaps to their
graves; but I held on to the pick-pocket in spite of them until the
police rescued me.  That's how my clothes got damaged.  The worst of it
is, the rascals managed to make away with my purse."

"My dear fellow," said Mr Blurt, laughing, "you have been unfortunate.
But most young men have to gather wisdom from experience.--And now, what
of your prospects?  Excuse me if I appear inquisitive, but one who is so
deeply indebted to you as I am cannot help feeling interested in your
success."

"I have no prospects," returned the youth, with a tone and look of
bitterness that was not usual to him.

"What do you mean?" asked his friend in surprise, "have you not seen Sir
James Clubley?"

"No, and I don't intend to see him until he has answered my letter.  Let
me be plain with you, Mr Blurt.  Sir James, I have heard from my
father, is a proud man, and I don't much [half] like the patronising way
in which he offered to assist me.  And his insolent procrastination in
replying to my letter has determined me to have nothing more to do with
him.  He'll find that I'm as proud as himself."

"My young friend," said Mr Blurt, "I had imagined that a man of your
good sense would have seen that to meet pride with pride is not wise;
besides, to do so is to lay yourself open to the very condemnation which
you pronounce against Sir James.  Still further, is it not possible that
your letter to him may have miscarried?  Letters will miscarry, you
know, at times, even in such a well-regulated family as the
Post-Office."

"Oh! as to that," returned Aspel quickly, "I've made particular
inquiries, and have no doubt that he got my letter all right.--But the
worst of it is," he continued, evidently wishing to change the subject,
"that, having lost my purse, and having no account at a banker's, I find
it absolutely necessary to work, and, strange to say, I cannot find
work."

"Well, if you have been searching for work with a black eye and a torn
coat, it is not surprising that you have failed to find it," said Mr
Blurt, with a laugh.  "But, my dear young friend and preserver," he
added earnestly, "I am glad you have come to me.  Ah! if that ship had
not gone down I might have--well, well, the proverb says it's of no use
crying over spilt milk.  I have still a little in my power.  Moreover,
it so happens that you have it in your power to serve me--that is to
say, if you are not too proud to accept the work I have it in my power
to offer."

"A beggar must not be a chooser," said Aspel, with a light laugh.

"Well, then, what say you to keeping a shop?"

"Keeping a shop!" repeated Aspel in surprise.

"Ay, keeping a shop--this shop," returned Mr Blurt; "you once told me
you were versed in natural history; here is a field for you: a
natural-historical shop, if I may say so."

"But, my dear sir, I know nothing whatever about the business, or about
stuffing birds--and--and fishes."  He looked round him in dismay.  "But
you are jesting!"

Mr Blurt declared that he was very far from jesting, and then went on
to explain the circumstances of the case.  It is probable that George
Aspel would have at once rejected his proposal if it had merely had
reference to his own advantage, and that he would have preferred to
apply for labour at the docks, as being more suitable work for a
sea-king's descendant; but the appeal to aid his friend in an emergency
went home to him, and he agreed to undertake the work temporarily, with
an expression of face that is common to men when forced to swallow
bitter pills.

Thus George Aspel was regularly, though suddenly, installed.  When
evening approached Mrs Murridge lighted the gas, and the new shopman
set to work with energy to examine the stock and look over the books, in
the hope of thereby obtaining at least a faint perception of the nature
of the business in which he was embarked.

While thus engaged a woman entered hastily and demanded her pheasant.

"Your pheasant, my good woman?"

"Yes, the one I left here to-day wi' the broken heye.  I don't want to
'ave it mended; changed my mind.  Will you please give it me back, sir?"

"I must call the gentleman to whom you gave it," said Aspel, rather
sharply, for he perceived the woman had been drinking.

"Oh! you've no need, for there's the book he put my name down in, an'
there's the bird a-standin' on the shelf just under the _howl_."

Aspel turned up the book referred to, and found the page recently opened
by Mr Blurt.  He had no difficulty in coming to a decision, for there
was but one entry on the page.

"This is it, I suppose," he said.  "`A woman--I should say an idiot--
left a pheasant, _minus_'--"

"No more a hidyot than yourself, young man, nor a minus neither," cried
the woman, swelling with indignation, and red in the face.

Just then a lady entered the shop, and approached the counter hurriedly.

"Oh!" she exclaimed, almost in a shriek of astonishment, "Mr Aspel!"

"Mr Aspel, indeed," cried the woman, with ineffable scorn,--"Mr
Impudence, more like.  Give me my bird, I say!"

The lady raised her veil, and displayed the amazed face of Miss
Lillycrop.

"I came to inquire for my old friend--I'm _so_ grieved; I was not
aware--Mr Aspel--"

"Give me my bird, I say!" demanded the virago.

"Step this way, madam," said Aspel, driven almost to distraction as he
opened the door of the back shop.  "Mrs Murridge, show this lady up to
Mr Blurt's room.--Now then, woman, take your--your--brute, and be off."

He thrust the one-eyed pheasant into the customer's bosom with such
vigour that, fearing a personal assault, she retreated to the door.
There she came to a full stop, turned about, raised her right hand
savagely, exclaimed "You're another!" let her fingers go off with the
force of a pea-cracker, and, stumbling into the street, went her devious
way.



CHAPTER TEN.

A MYSTERY CLEARED UP.

When night had fairly hung its sable curtains over the great city, Mr
Blurt descended to the shop.

"Now, Mr Aspel, I'll relieve you.  The lady you sent up, Miss
Lillycrop, is, it seems, an old friend of my brother, and she insists on
acting the part of nurse to-night.  I am all the better pleased, because
I have business to attend to at the other end of the town.  We will
therefore close the shop, and you can go home.  By the _way_, have you a
home?"

"O yes," said Aspel, with a laugh.  "A poor enough one truly, off the
Strand."

"Indeed?--that reminds me: we always pay salaries in advance in this
office.  Here is a sovereign to account of your first quarter.  We can
settle the amount afterwards."

Aspel accepted the coin with a not particularly good grace.

"Now then, you had better--ha--excuse me--put up the shutters."

Instantly the youth pulled out the sovereign and laid it on the counter.

"No, sir," he said firmly; "I am willing to aid you in your
difficulties, but I am not willing to become a mere shop-boy--at least
not while there is man's work to be had."

Mr Blurt looked perplexed.  "What are we to do?" he asked.

"Hire a little boy," said Aspel.

"But there are no little boys about," he said, looking out into the
street, where the wind was sending clouds of dust and bits of straw and
paper into the air.  "I would do it myself, but have not time; I'm late
as it is.  Ah!  I have it--Mrs Murridge!"

Calling the faithful domestic, he asked if she knew how to put up the
shutters, and would do it.  She was quite willing, and set about it at
once, while Mr Blurt nodded good-night, and went away.

With very uncomfortable feelings George Aspel stood in the shop, his
tall figure drawn up, his arms crossed on his broad breast, and his
finely formed head bent slightly down as he sternly watched the
operation.

Mrs Murridge was a resolute woman.  She put up most of the shutters
promptly in spite of the high wind, but just as she was fixing the last
of them a blast caught it and almost swept it from her grasp.  For two
seconds there was a tough struggle between Boreas and the old woman.
Gallantry forbade further inaction.  Aspel rushed out just in time to
catch Mrs Murridge and the shutter in his strong arms as they were
about to be swept into the kennel.  He could do no more, however, than
hold them there, the wind being too much even for him.  While in this
extremity he received timely aid from some one, whom the indistinct
light revealed as a broad-shouldered little fellow in a grey uniform.
With his assistance the shutter was affixed and secured.

"Thank you, friend, whoever you are," said Aspel heartily, as he turned
and followed the panting Mrs Murridge.

But the "friend," instead of replying, seized Aspel by the arm and
walked with him into the shop.

"George Aspel!" he said.

George looked down and beheld the all but awe-stricken visage of Philip
Maylands.

Without uttering a word the former sat down on the counter, and burst
into a fit of half-savage laughter.

"Ah, then, you may laugh till you grow fat," said Phil, "but it's more
than that you must do if I'm to join you in the laugh."

"What more can I do, Phil?" asked Aspel, wiping his eyes.

"Sure, ye can explain," said Phil.

"Well, sit down on the counter, and I'll explain," returned Aspel,
shutting and locking the door.  Then, mounting the stool, he entered
into a minute explanation--not only in reference to his present position
and circumstances but regarding his recent misfortunes.

Phil's admiration and love for his friend were intense, but that did not
altogether blind him to his faults.  He listened attentively,
sympathetically but gravely, and said little.  He felt, somehow, that
London was a dangerous place compared with the west of Ireland,--that
his friend was in danger of something vague and undefined,--that he
himself was in danger of--he knew not what.  While the two were
conversing they heard a step in the now quiet street.  It advanced
quickly, and stopped at the door.  There was a rustling sound; something
fell on the floor, and the step passed on.

"It's only a few letters," said Aspel; "Mr Blurt explained matters to
me this morning.  They seem to have been a careless lot who have managed
this business hitherto.  A slit was made in the door for letters, but no
box has ever been attached to the slit.  The letters put through it at
night are just allowed to fall on the floor, as you see, and are picked
up in the morning.  As I am not yet fully initiated into my duties, and
don't feel authorised to open these, we will let them lie.--Hallo! look
there."

The last words were uttered in a low, soft tone.  Phil Maylands glanced
in his friend's face, and was directed by his eyes to a corner near the
front door, where, from behind the shelter of an over-stuffed pelican of
the wilderness, two intensely bright little eyes were seen glistening.
The gradual advance of a sharp nose revealed the fact that their owner
was a rat!

No Red Indian of the prairie ever sat with more statuesque rigidity,
watching his foe, than did these two friends sit watching that rat.
They were sportsmen, both by nature and practice, to the backbone.  The
idiotic owl at their elbow was not more still than they--one point only
excepted: Phil's right hand moved imperceptibly, like the hour-hand of a
watch, towards a book which lay on the counter.  Their patience was
rewarded.  Supposing, no doubt, that the youths had suddenly died to
suit its convenience, the rat advanced a step or two, looked suspicious,
became reassured, advanced a little farther and displayed its tail to
full advantage.  After smelling at various objects, with a view, no
doubt, to supper, it finally came on the letters, appeared to read their
addresses with some attention, and, seizing one by a corner, began
apparently to open it.

At this point Phil Maylands' fingers, closing slowly but with the deadly
precision of fate, grasped the book and hurled it at the foe, which was
instantly swept off its legs.  Either the blow or the fright caused the
rat to fly wriggling into the air.  With a shriek of agonised emotion,
it vanished behind the pelican of the wilderness.

"Bravo, Phil! splendidly aimed, but rather low," cried Aspel, as he
vaulted the counter and dislodged the pelican.  Of course the rat was
gone.  After a little more conversation the two friends quitted the
place and went to their respective homes.

"Very odd and absolutely unaccountable," observed Mr Blurt, as he sat
next morning perusing the letters above referred to, "here's the same
thing occurred again.  Brownlow writes that he sent a cheque a week ago,
and no one has heard of it.  That rascal who made off with the cash
could not have stolen it, because he never stole cheques,--for fear, no
doubt, of being caught,--and this was only for a small amount.  Then,
here is a cheque come all right from Thomson.  Why should one appear and
the other disappear?"

"Could the rats have made away with it?" suggested Aspel, who had told
his patron of the previous night's incident.

"Rats might destroy letters, but they could not eat them--at least, not
during the few hours of the night that they lie on the floor.  No; the
thing is a mystery.  I cannot help thinking that the Post-Office is to
blame.  I shall make inquiries.  I am determined to get to the bottom of
it."

So it ever is with mankind.  People make mistakes, or are guilty of
carelessness, and straightway they lay the blame--not only without but
against reason--on broader shoulders than their own.  That wonderful and
almost perfect British Post-Office delivers quickly, safely, and in good
condition above fourteen hundred millions of letters etcetera in the
year, but some half-dozen letters, addressed to Messrs. Blurt and
Company, have gone a-missing,--therefore the Post-Office is to blame!

Full of this idea Mr Enoch Blurt put on his hat with an irascible fling
and went off to the City.  Arrived at St. Martin's-le-Grand he made for
the principal entrance.  At any other time he would have, been struck
with the grandeur of the buildings.  He would have paused and admired
the handsome colonnade of the old office and the fine front of the new
buildings opposite, but Mr Blurt could see nothing except missing
letters.  Architecture appealed to him in vain.  Perhaps his state of
irritability was increased by a vague suspicion that all Government
officials were trained and almost bound to throw obstacles in the way of
free inquiry.

"I want," said he, planting himself defiantly in front of an official
who encountered him in the passage, "to see the--the--Secretary, the--
the--Postmaster-General, the chief of the Post-Office, whoever he may
be.  There is my card."

"Certainly, sir, will you step this way?"

The official spoke with such civility, and led the way with such
alacrity, that Mr Blurt felt it necessary to think exclusively of his
wrongs lest his indignation should cool too soon.  Having shown him into
a comfortable waiting-room, the official went off with his card.  In a
few minutes a gentleman entered, accosted Mr Blurt with a polite bow,
and asked what he could do for him.

"Sir," said Mr Blurt, summoning to his aid the last rags of his
indignation, "I come to make a complaint.  Many of the letters addressed
to our firm are missing--have been missing for some time past,--and from
the inquiries I have made it seems evident to me that they must have
been lost in passing through the Post-Office."

"I regret much to hear this," returned the gentleman, whom--as Mr Blurt
never ascertained who he was--we shall style the Secretary, at all
events he represented that officer.  "You may rely on our doing our
utmost to clear up the matter.  Will you be kind enough to give me the
full particulars?"

The Secretary's urbanity gave the whole of Mr Blurt's last rags of
indignation to the winds.  He detailed his case with his usual
earnestness and good-nature.

The Secretary listened attentively to the close.  "Well, Mr Blurt," he
said, "we will investigate the matter without delay; but from what you
have told me I think it probable that the blame does not lie with us.
You would be surprised if you knew the number of complaints made to us,
which, on investigation, turn out to be groundless.  Allow me to cite
one or two instances.  In one case a missing letter having fallen from
the letter-box of the person to whom it was addressed on to the
hall-floor, was picked up by a dog and buried in some straw, where it
was afterwards found.  In another case, the missing letter was
discovered sticking against the side of the private letter-box, where it
had lain unobserved, and in another the letter had been placed between
the leaves of a book as a mark and forgotten.  Boys and others sent to
post letters are also frequently unfaithful, and sometimes stupid.  Many
letters have been put into the receptacles for dust in our streets,
under the impression that they were pillar letter-boxes, and on one
occasion a letter-carrier found two letters forced behind the plate
affixed to a pillar letter-box which indicates the hours of collection,
obviously placed there by the ignorant sender under the impression that
that was the proper way of posting them.  Your mention of rats reminds
me of several cases in which these animals have been the means of making
away with letters.  The fact that rats have been seen in your shop, and
that your late letters drop on the floor and are left there till
morning, inclines me to think that rats are at the bottom of it.  I
would advise you to make investigation without delay."

"I will, sir, I will," exclaimed Mr Blurt, starting up with animation,
"and I thank you heartily for the trouble you have taken with my case.
Good-morning.  I shall see to this at once."

And Mr Blurt did see to it at once.  He went straight back to his
brother's house, and made preparation for a campaign against the rats,
for, being a sanguine and impulsive man, he had now become firmly
convinced that these animals were somehow at the bottom of the mystery.
But he kept his thoughts and intentions to himself.

During the day George Aspel observed that his friend employed himself in
making some unaccountable alterations in the arrangements of one part of
the shop, and ventured to ask what he was about, but, receiving a vague
reply, he said no more.

That night, after the shop was closed and Aspel had gone home, and Mr
Fred Blurt had gone to sleep, under the guardianship of the faithful
Miss Lillycrop, and Mrs Murridge had retired to the coal-hole--or
something like it--which was her dormitory, Mr Enoch Blurt entered the
shop with a mysterious air, bearing two green tablecloths.  These he
hung like curtains at one corner of the room, and placed a chair behind
them raised on two empty packing-boxes.  Seating himself in this chair
he opened the curtains just enough to enable him to peep through, and
found that he could see the letter-slit in the door over the counter,
but not the floor beneath it.  He therefore elevated his throne by means
of another packing-box.  All being ready, he lowered the gas to
something like a dim religious light, and began his watch.  It bade fair
to be a tedious watch, but Enoch Blurt had made up his mind to go
through with it, and whatever Enoch made up his mind to do he did.

Suddenly he heard a scratching sound.  This was encouraging.  Another
moment and a bright pair of miniature stars were seen to glitter behind
the pelican of the wilderness.  In his eagerness to see, Mr Blurt made
a slight noise and the stars went out--suddenly.

This was exceedingly vexatious.  He blamed himself bitterly, resettled
himself in his chair, rearranged the curtains, and glared intently.  But
although Mr Blurt could fix his eyes he could not chain his thoughts.
These unruly familiars ere long began to play havoc with their owner.
They hurried him far away from rats and ornithological specimens,
carried him over the Irish Channel, made him look sadly down on the
funnels of the Royal Mail steamer, plunged him under the waves, and
caused him to gaze in fond regret on his lost treasures.  His thoughts
carried him even further.  They bore him over the sea to Africa, and set
him down, once more, in his forsaken hut among the diamond-diggers.
From this familiar retreat he was somewhat violently recalled by a
scratching sound.  He glared at the pelican of the wilderness.  The
little stars reappeared.  They increased in size.  They became
unbearable suns.  They suddenly approached.  As suddenly Mr Blurt rose
to fight or fly--he could scarce tell which.  It did not matter much,
because, next instant, he fell headlong to the floor, dragging the
curtains down, and forming a miscellaneous avalanche with the chair and
packing-boxes.

The unfortunate man had fallen asleep, and the rats, which had in truth
ventured out, fled to their homes as a matter of course.

But Mr Blurt had resolved to go through with it.  Finding that he was
unhurt, and that the household had not been disturbed, he rebuilt his
erection and began his watch over again.  The shock had thoroughly
roused him.  He did not sleep again.  Fortunately London rats are not
nervous.  Being born and bred in the midst of war's alarms they soon get
over a panic.  The watcher had not sat more than a quarter of an hour
when the stars appeared once again.  The Pyramid of Cheops is not more
immovably solid than was Mr Blurt.  A sharp nose advanced; a head came
out; a body followed; a tail brought up the rear, and the pelican of the
wilderness looked with calm indifference on the scene.

The rat was an old grey one, and very large.  It was followed by a brown
one, nearly as large.  There was an almost theatrical caution in their
movements at first, but courage came with immunity from alarm.  Six
letters, that had been thrust through the slit by the evening postman,
lay on the floor.  To these the grey rat advanced, seized one in its
teeth, and began to back out, dragging the letter after it.  The brown
rat followed the grey rat's example.  While thus engaged, another brown
rat appeared, and followed suit.  Nothing could have been more
fortunate.  Mr Blurt was charmed.  He could afford to let the grey rat
well out of sight, because the two brown rats, following in succession,
would, when he sprang on them, leave a trail of letters to point the
direction of their flight.

Just as the third rat dragged its missive behind the pelican of the
wilderness the watcher leaped upon them, and in his haste consigned the
pelican to all but irretrievable destruction!  The rats vanished, but
left the tell-tale letters, the last two forming pointers to the first,
which was already half dragged through a slit between the skirting and
the wall.  At the extremity of this slit yawned the gateway to the rats'
palace.

Mr Blurt rubbed his hands, chuckled, crowed internally, and, having
rescued the letters, went to bed.

Next morning, he procured a crowbar, and, with the able assistance of
George Aspel, tore off the skirting, uprooted a plank, and discovered a
den in which were stored thirty-one letters, six post-cards, and three
newspapers.  [See Postmaster-General's Report for 1877, page 13.]

The corners of the letters, bearing the stamps, were nibbled away,
showing that gum--not money or curiosity--was the occasion of the theft.

As four of these letters contained cheques and money-orders, their
discovery afforded instant relief to the pressure which had been
gradually bearing with intolerable weight on the affairs of Messrs.
Blurt and Company.



CHAPTER ELEVEN.

THE LETTER-CARRIER GOES HIS ROUNDS, AIDS A LITTLE GIRL, AND OVERWHELMS A
LADY STATISTICALLY.

Solomon Flint, being a man of letters, was naturally a hard-working man.
By night and by day did that faithful servant of his Queen and country
tramp through the streets of London with the letters of the lieges in
his care.  The dim twilight of early morning found him poking about,
like a solitary ghoul, disembowelling the pillar posts.  The rising sun
sent a deflected ray from chimney-pot or steeple to welcome him--when
fog and smoke permitted.  The noon-tide beams broiled him in summer and
cheered him in winter on his benignant path of usefulness.  The evening
fogs and glimmering lamps beheld him hard at work, and the nightly
returning stars winked at him with evident surprise when they found him
still fagging along through heat and cold, rain and snow, with the sense
of urgent duty ever present in his breast, and part of the recorded
hopes, joys, fears, sorrows, loves, hates, business, and humbug of the
world in his bag.

Besides being a hard-working man, Solomon Flint was a public man, and a
man of note.  In the district of London which he frequented, thousands
of the public watched for him, wished for him, even longed for him, and
received him gladly.  Young eyes sometimes sparkled and old eyes
sometimes brightened when his well-known uniform appeared.  Footmen
opened to him with good-will, and servant-girls with smiles.  Even in
the low neighbourhoods of his district--and he traversed several such--
Solomon was regarded with favour.  His person was as sacred as that of a
detective or a city missionary.  Men who scowled on the world at large
gave a familiar nod to him, and women who sometimes desired to tear off
people's scalps never displayed the slightest wish to damage a hair of
the postman's head.  He moved about, in fact, like a benign influence,
distributing favours and doing good wherever he went.  May it not be
said truly that in the spiritual world we have a good many news-bearers
of a similar stamp?  Are not the loving, the gentle, the
self-sacrificing such?--in a word, the Christ-like, who, if they do not
carry letters about, are themselves living epistles "known and read of
all men?"

One of the low districts through which Solomon Flint had to pass daily
embraced the dirty court in which Abel Bones dwelt.  Anticipating a very
different fate for it, no doubt, the builder of this region had named it
Archangel Court.

As he passed rapidly through it Solomon observed a phenomenon by no
means unusual in London and elsewhere, namely, a very small girl taking
charge of an uncommonly large baby.  Urgent though his duties were,
Solomon would have been more than human if he had not stopped to observe
the little girl attempt the apparently impossible feat of lifting the
frolicsome mass of fat which was obviously in a rebellious state of
mind.  Solomon had occasionally seen the little girl in his rounds, but
never before in possession of a baby.  She grasped him round the waist,
which her little arms could barely encircle, and, making a mighty
effort, got the rebel on his legs.  A second heave placed him on her
knees, and a third effort, worthy of a gymnast, threw him on her little
bosom.  She had to lean dangerously far back to keep him there, and
being incapable of seeing before her, owing to the bulk of her burden,
was compelled to direct her course by faith.  She knew the court well,
however, and was progressing favourably, when a loose stone tripped her
and she fell.  Not having far to fall, neither she nor the baby was the
worse for it.

"Hallo, little woman!" said Solomon, assisting her to rise, "can't he
walk?"

"Yes, sir; but 'e won't," replied the little maid, turning up her pretty
face, and shaking back her dishevelled hair.

The baby looked up and crowed gleefully, as though it understood her,
and would, if able to speak, have said, "That's the exact truth,--`he
won't!'"

"Come, I'll help you," said Solomon, carrying the baby to the mouth of
the alley pointed out by the little girl.  "Is he your brother?"

"O no, sir; I ain't got no brother.  He b'longed to a neighbour who's
just gone dead, an' mother she was fond o' the neighbour, an' promised
to take care of the baby.  So she gave 'im to me to nuss.  An' oh!
you've no hidea, sir, what a hobstinate thing 'e is.  I've 'ad 'im three
days now."

Yes; the child had had him three days, and an amazing experience it had
been to her.  During that brief period she had become a confirmed
staggerer, being utterly incapable of _walking_ with baby in her arms.
During the same period she had become unquestionably entitled to the
gold medals of the Lifeboat Institution and the Humane Society, having,
with reckless courage, at the imminent risk of her life, and on
innumerable occasions, saved that baby from death by drowning in
washtubs and kennels, from mutilation by hot water, fire, and steam, and
from sudden extinction by the wheels of cabs, carriages, and drays,
while, at the same time she had established a fair claim to at least the
honorary diploma of the Royal College of Surgeons, by her amazing
practice in the treatment of bruises and cuts, and the application of
sticking-plaster.

"Have you got a father or mother, my dear?" asked the letter-carrier.

"Yes, sir; I've got both of 'em.  And oh!  I'm so miserable.  I don't
know what to do."

"Why, what's wrong with you?"

The child's eyes filled with tears as she told how her father had gone
off "on the spree;" how her mother had gone out to seek him, promising
to be back in time to relieve her of the baby so as to let her keep an
appointment she had with a lady; and how the mother had never come back,
and didn't seem to be coming back; and how the time for the engagement
was already past, and she feared the lady would think she was an
ungrateful little liar, and she had no messenger to send to her.

"Where does the lady live, and what's her name, little woman?" asked
Solomon.

"Her name is Miss Lillycrop, sir, and she lives in Pimlico."

"Well, make your mind easy, little woman.  It's a curious coincidence
that I happen to know Miss Lillycrop.  Her house lies rather far from my
beat, but I happen to have a messenger who does his work both cheaply
and quickly.  I do a deal of work for him too, so, no doubt, he'll do a
little for me.  His name is Post-Office.--What is your's, my dear?"

"Tottie Bones," replied the child, with the air of a full-grown woman.
"An' please, sir, tell 'er I meant to go back to her at the end of three
days, as I promised; but I couldn't leave the 'ouse with baby inside,
an' the fire, an' the kittle, with nobody to take care on 'em--could I,
sir?"

"Cer'nly not, little woman," returned the letter-carrier, with a solemn
look at the overburdened creature who appealed to him.  Giving her
twopence, and a kindly nod, Solomon Flint walked smartly away--with a
reproving conscience--to make up for lost time.

That evening Mrs Bones returned without her husband, but with an
additional black eye, and other signs of bad treatment.  She found the
baby sound asleep, and Tottie in the same condition by his side, on the
outside of the poor counterpane, with one arm round her charge, and her
hair tumbled in confusion over him.  She had evidently been herself
overcome while in the act of putting the baby to sleep.

Mrs Bones rushed to the bed, seized Tottie, clasped her tightly to her
bosom, sat down on a stool, and began to rock herself to and fro.

The child, nothing loath to receive such treatment, awoke sufficiently
to be able to throw her arms round her mother's neck, fondled her for a
moment, and then sank again into slumber.

"Oh!  God help me!  God save my Abel from drink and bad men!" exclaimed
the poor woman, in a voice of suppressed agony.

It seemed as if her prayer had been heard, for at that moment the door
opened and a tall thin man entered.  He was the man who had accosted
George Aspel on his first visit to that region.

"You've not found him, I fear?" he said kindly, as he drew a stool near
to Mrs Bones and sat down, while Tottie, who had been re-awakened by
his entrance, began to bustle about the room with something of the
guilty feeling of a sentry who has been found sleeping at his post.

"Yes, Mr Sterling; thank you kindly for the interest you take in 'im.
I found 'im at the old place, but 'e knocked me down an' went out, an'
I've not been able to find 'im since."

"Well, take comfort, Molly," said the city missionary, for such he was;
"I've just seen him taken up by the police and carried to the station as
drunk and incapable.  That, you know, will not bring him to very great
trouble, and I have good reason to believe it will be the means of
saving him from much worse."

He glanced at the little girl as he spoke.

"Tottie, dear," said Mrs Bones, "you go out for a minute or two; I want
to speak with Mr Sterling."

"Yes, mother, and I'll run round to the bank; I've got twopence more to
put in," said Tottie as she went out.

"Your lesson has not been lost, sir," said the poor woman, with a faint
smile; "Tottie has a good bit o' money in the penny savings-bank now.
She draws some of it out every time Abel brings us to the last gasp, but
we don't let 'im know w'ere it comes from.  To be sure, 'e don't much
care.  She's a dear child is Tottie."

"Thank the Lord for _that_, Molly.  He is already answering our
prayers," said Mr Sterling.  "Just trust Him, keep up heart, and
persevere; we're _sure_ to win at last."

When Tottie Bones left the dark and dirty den that was the only home she
had ever known, she ran lightly out into the neighbouring street, and,
threading her way among people and vehicles, entered an alley, ascended
a stair, and found herself in a room which bore some resemblance to an
empty schoolroom.  At one corner there was a desk, at which stood a
young man at work on a business-looking book.  Before him were several
children of various ages and sizes, but all having one characteristic in
common--the aspect of extreme poverty.  The young man was a gratuitous
servant of the public, and the place was, for the hour at least, a penny
savings-bank.

It was one of those admirable institutions, which are now numerous in
our land, and which derive their authority from Him who said, "Gather up
the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost."  Noble work was being
done there, not so much because of the mere pence which were saved from
the grog and tobacco shops, as because of the habits of thrift which
were being formed, as well as the encouragement of that spirit of
thoughtful economy, which, like the spirit of temperance, is one of the
hand-maids of religion.

"Please, sir," said Tottie to the penny banker, "I wants to pay in
tuppence."

She handed over her bank-book with the money.  Receiving the former
back, she stared at the mysterious figures with rapt attention.

"Please, sir, 'ow much do it come to now?" she asked.

"It's eight and sevenpence, Tottie," replied the amiable banker, with a
smile.

"Thank you, sir," said Tottie, and hurried home in a species of heavenly
contemplation of the enormous sum she had accumulated.

When Solomon Flint returned home that night he found Miss Lillycrop
seated beside old Mrs Flint, shouting into her deafest ear.  She
desisted when Solomon entered, and rose to greet him.

"I have come to see my niece, Mr Flint; do you expect her soon?"

The letter-carrier consulted his watch.

"It is past her time now, Miss Lillycrop; she can't be long.  Pray, sit
down.  You'll stay and 'ave a cup of tea with us?  Now, don't say no.
We're just goin' to 'ave it, and my old 'ooman delights in company.--
There now, sit down, an' don't go splittin' your lungs on _that_ side of
her next time you chance to be alone with her.  It's her deaf side.  A
cannon would make no impression on that side, except you was to fire it
straight _into_ her ear.--I've got a message for you, Miss Lillycrop."

"A message for me?"

"Ay, from a beautiful angel with tumbled hair and jagged clothes named
Tottie Bones.  Ain't it strange how coincidences happen in this life!  I
goes an' speaks to Tottie, which I never did before.  Tottie wants very
bad to send a message to Miss Lillycrop.  I happens to know Miss
Lillycrop, an' takes the message, and on coming home finds Miss
Lillycrop here before me--and all on the same night--ain't it odd?"

"It is very odd, Mr Flint; and pray what was the message?"

The letter-carrier, having first excused himself for making arrangements
for the evening meal while he talked, hereupon related the circumstances
of his meeting with the child, and had only concluded when May Maylands
came in, looking a little fagged, but sunny and bright as usual.

Of course she added her persuasions to those of her landlord, and Miss
Lillycrop, being induced to stay to tea, was taken into May's private
boudoir to put off her bonnet.

While there the good lady inquired eagerly about her cousin's health and
work and companions; asked for her mother and brother, and chatted
pleasantly about her own work among the poor in the immediate
neighbourhood of her dwelling.

"By the way," said she, "that reminds me that I chanced to meet with
that tall, handsome friend of your brother's in very strange
circumstances.  Do you know that he has become a shopman in the
bird-shop of my dear old friend Mr Blurt, who is very ill--has been
ill, I should have said,--were you aware of that?"

"No," answered May, in a low tone.

"I thought he came to England by the invitation of Sir Somebody
Something, who had good prospects for him.  Did not you?"

"So I thought," said May, turning her face away from the light.

"It is very strange," continued Miss Lillycrop, giving a few hasty
touches to her cap and hair; "and do you know, I could not help thinking
that there was something queer about his appearance?  I can scarce tell
what it was.  It seemed to me like--like--but it is disagreeable even to
think about such things in connection with one who is such a fine,
clever, gentlemanly fellow--but--"

Fortunately for poor May, her friend was suddenly stopped by a shout
from the outer room.

"Hallo, ladies! how long are you goin' to be titivatin' yourselves?
There ain't no company comin'.  The sausages are on the table, and the
old 'ooman's gittin' so impatient that she's beginnin' to abuse the
cat."

This last remark was too true and sad to be passed over in silence.  Old
Mrs Flint's age had induced a spirit of temporary oblivion as to
surroundings, which made her act, especially to her favourite cat, in a
manner that seemed unaccountable.  It was impossible to conceive that
cruelty could actuate one who all her life long had been a very pattern
of tenderness to every living creature.  When therefore she suddenly
changed from stroking and fondling her cat to pulling its tail, tweaking
its nose, slapping its face, and tossing it off her lap, it is only fair
to suppose that her mind had ceased to be capable of two simultaneous
thoughts, and that when it was powerfully fixed on sausages she was not
aware of what her hands were doing to the cat.

"You'll excuse our homely arrangements, Miss Lillycrop," said Mr Flint,
as he helped his guest to the good things on the table.  "I never could
get over a tendency to a rough-and-ready sort o' feedin'.  But you'll
find the victuals good."

"Thank you, Mr Flint.  I am sure you must be very tired after the long
walks you take.  I can't think how postmen escape catching colds when
they have such constant walking in all sorts of weather."

"It's the constancy as saves us, ma'am, but we don't escape altogether,"
said Flint, heaping large supplies on his grandmother's plate.  "We
often kitch colds, but they don't often do us damage."

This remark led Miss Lillycrop, who had a very inquiring mind, to induce
Solomon Flint to speak about the Post-Office, and as that worthy man was
enthusiastic in regard to everything connected with his profession, he
willingly gratified his visitor.

"Now, I want to know," said Miss Lillycrop, after the conversation had
run on for some time, and appetites began to abate,--"when you go about
the poorer parts of the city in dark nights, if you are ever attacked,
or have your letters stolen from you."

"Well, no, ma'am--never.  I can't, in all my long experience, call to
mind sitch a thing happenin'--either to me or to any other
letter-carrier.  The worst of people receives us kindly, 'cause, you
see, we go among 'em to do 'em service.  I did indeed once hear of a
letter being stolen, but the thief was not a man--he was a tame raven!"

"Oh, Solomon!" said May, with a laugh.  "Remember that Grannie hears
you."

"No, she don't, but it's all the same if she did.  Whatever I say about
the Post-Office I can give chapter and verse for.  The way of it was
this.  The letter-carrier was a friend o' mine.  He was goin' his rounds
at Kelvedon, in Essex, when a tame raven seized a money letter he had in
his hand and flew away with it.  After circlin' round the town he
alighted, and, before he could be prevented, tore the letter to pieces.
On puttin' the bits together the contents o' the letter was found to be
a cheque for thirty pounds, and of course, when the particulars o' the
strange case were made known the cheque was renewed!--There now,"
concluded Solomon, "if you don't believe that story, you've only got to
turn up the Postmaster-General's Report for 1862, and you'll find it
there on page 24."

"How curious!" said Miss Lillycrop.  "There's another thing I want to
know," she added, looking with deep interest into the countenance of her
host, while that stalwart man continued to stow incredible quantities of
sausages and crumpets into his capacious mouth.  "Is it really true that
people post letters without addresses?"

"True, ma'am? why, of course it's true.  Thousands of people do.  The
average number of letters posted without addresses is about eighty a
day."

"How strange!  I wonder what causes this?"

Miss Lillycrop gazed contemplatively into her teacup, and Solomon became
suddenly aware that Grannie's plate was empty.  Having replenished it,
he ordered Dollops to bring more crumpets, and then turned to his guest.

"I'll tell you what it is, ma'am, that causes this--it's forgetfulness,
or rather, what we call absence of mind.  It's my solemn belief, ma'am,
that if our heads warn't screwed on pretty tight you'd see some hundreds
of people walkin' about London of a mornin' with nothin' whatever on
their shoulders.  Why, there was one man actually posted a cheque for 9
pounds, 15 shillings loose, in a pillar letter-box in Liverpool, without
even an envelope on it.  The owner was easily traced through the bank,
but was unable to explain how the cheque got out of his possession or
into the pillar.--Just listen to this, ma'am," he added, rising and
taking down a pamphlet from a bookshelf, "this is last year's Report.
Hear what it says:--

"`Nearly 28,500 letters were posted this year without addresses. 757 of
these letters were found to contain, in the aggregate, about 214 pounds
in cash and bank-notes, and about 9088 pounds in bills of exchange,
cheques, etcetera.'--Of course," said the letter-carrier, refreshing
himself with a mouthful of tea, "the money and bills were returned to
the senders, but it warn't possible to do the same with 52,856
postage-stamps which were found knocking about loose in the bottom of
the mail-bags."

"How many?" cried Miss Lillycrop, in amazement.

"Fifty-two thousand eight hundred and fifty-six," repeated Solomon with
deliberation.  "No doubt," he continued, "some of these stamps had bin
carelessly stuck on the envelopes, and some of 'em p'r'aps had come out
of busted letters which contained stamps sent in payment of small
accounts.  You've no idea, ma'am, what a lot o' queer things get mixed
up in the mail-bags out of bust letters and packages--all along of
people puttin' things into flimsy covers not fit to hold 'em.  Last year
no fewer than 12,525 miscellaneous articles reached the Returned Letter
Office (we used to call it the Dead Letter Office) without covers or
addresses, and the number of inquiries dealt with in regard to these
things and missing letters by that Office was over 91,000.

"We're very partickler, Miss Lillycrop, in regard to these things,"
continued Solomon, with a touch of pride.  "We keep books in which every
stray article, unaddressed, is entered and described minutely, so that
when people come howlin' at us for our carelessness in non-delivery, we
ask 'em to describe their missing property, and in hundreds of cases
prove to them their own carelessness in makin' up parcels by handin' the
wrecks over to 'em!"

"But what sort of things are they that break loose?" asked Miss
Lillycrop.

"Oh, many sorts.  Anything may break loose if it's ill packed, and, as
almost every sort of thing passes through the post, it would be
difficult to describe 'em all.  Here is a list, however, that may give
you an idea of what kind of things the public sent through our mail-bags
last year.  A packet of pudding, a steam-gauge, a tin of cream, a bird's
wing, a musical box, packet of snowdrops, fruit sweets, shrimps, and
sample potatoes; a dormouse, four white mice, two goldfinches, a lizard
and a blind-worm, all alive; besides cutlery, medicines, varnish,
ointments, perfumery, articles of dress; a stoat, a squirrel, fish,
leeches, frogs, beetles, caterpillars, and vegetables.  Of course, many
of these, such as live animals, being prohibited articles, were stopped
and sent to the Returned Letter Office, but were restored, on
application, to the senders."

Observing Miss Lillycrop's surprised expression of face, the old woman's
curiosity was roused.  "What's he haverin' aboot, my dear?" she asked of
May.

"About the many strange things that are sent through the post, Grannie."

"Ay, ay, likely enough," returned the old creature, shaking her head and
administering an unintentional cuff to the poor cat; "folk write a heap
o' lees noo-a-days, nae doot."

"You'd hardly believe it now," continued Solomon, turning the leaves of
the Report, "but it's a fact that live snakes have frequently been sent
through the post.  No later than last year a snake about a yard long
managed to get out of his box in one of the night mail sorting carriages
on the London and North-Western Railway.  After a good deal of confusion
and interruption to the work, it was killed.  Again, a small box was
sent to the Returned Letter Office in Liverpool, which, when opened, was
found to contain eight living snakes."

"Come now, Mr Flint," said May, "you mustn't bore my cousin with the
Post-Office.  You know that when you once begin on that theme there is
no stopping you."

"Very well, Miss May," returned the letter-carrier, with a modest smile,
"let's draw round the fire and talk of something else.--Hallo, Dollops!
clear away the dishes."

"But he doesn't bore me," protested Miss Lillycrop, who had the happy
knack of being intensely interested in whatever happened to interest her
friends.  "I like, of all things, to hear about the Post-Office.  I had
no idea it was such a wonderful institution.--Do tell me more about it,
Mr Flint, and never mind May's saucy remarks."

Much gratified by this appeal, Solomon wheeled the old woman to her own
corner of the fire, placed a stool under her feet, the cat on her knees,
and patted her shoulder, all of which attentions she received with a
kindly smile, and said that "Sol was a good laddie."

Meanwhile the rotund maid-of-all-work having, as it were, hurled the
crockery into her den, and the circle round the fire having been
completed, as well as augmented, by the sudden entrance of Phil
Maylands, the "good laddie" re-opened fire.

"Yes, ma'am, as you well observe, it _is_ a wonderful institution.  More
than that, it's a gigantic one, and it takes a big staff to do the duty
too.  In London alone the staff is 10,665.  The entire staff of the
kingdom is 13,763 postmasters, 10,000 clerks, and 21,000
letter-carriers, sorters, and messengers,--sum total, a trifle over
45,500.  Then, the total number of Post-offices and receptacles for
receiving letters throughout the kingdom is 25,000 odd.  Before the
introduction of the penny postage--in the year 1840--there were only
4500!  Then, again--"

"O Mr Flint! pray stop!" cried Miss Lillycrop, pressing her hands to
her eyes; "I never _could_ take in figures.  At least I never could keep
them in.  They just go in here, and come out there (pointing to her two
ears), and leave no impression whatever."

"You're not the only one that's troubled with that weakness, ma'am,"
said the gallant Solomon, "but if a few thousands puzzle you so much
what will you make of this?--The total number of letters, post-cards,
newspapers, etcetera, that passed through the Post-Offices of the
kingdom last year was fourteen hundred and seventy-seven million eight
hundred and twenty-eight thousand two hundred!  What d'ye make o' that,
ma'am?"

"Mr Flint, I just make nothing of it at all," returned Miss Lillycrop,
with a placid smile.

"Come, Phil," said May, laughing, "can _you_ make nothing of it?  You
used to be good at arithmetic."

"Well, now," said Phil, "it don't take much knowledge of arithmetic to
make something of that.  George Aspel happened to be talking to me about
that very sum not long ago.  He said he had been told by a man at the
Post-Office that it would take a man about a hundred and seventy years
to count it.  I tried the calculation, and found he was right.  Then I
made another calculation:--

"I put down the average length of an envelope at four inches, and I
found that if you were to lay fourteen hundred and seventy-seven million
letters out in a straight line, end to end, the lot would extend to
above 93,244 miles, which is more than three times the circumference of
the world.  Moreover, this number is considerably more than the
population of the whole world, which, at the present time, is about 1444
millions, so that if the British Post-Office were to distribute the 1477
millions of letters that pass through it in the year impartially, every
man, woman, and child on the globe would receive one letter, post-card,
newspaper, or book-packet, and leave thirty-three millions to spare!"

"Now, really, you _must_ stop this," said May; "I see that my cousin's
colour is going with her efforts to understand you.  Can't you give her
something more amusing to think of?"

"Oh, cer'nly," said Solomon, again turning with alacrity to the Report.
"Would you like to hear what some people think it's our dooty to attend
to?  I'll give you a letter or two received by our various departments."

Here the letter-carrier began to read the following letters, which we
give from the same Report, some being addressed to the "Chief of the
Dead Office," others to the Postmaster-General, etcetera.

"_May_ 18--.

"DEAR SIR,--I write to ask you for some information about finding out
persons who are missing--I want to find out my mother and sisters who
are in Melbourne in Australia i believe--if you would find out for me
please let me know by return of post, and also your charge at the
lowest, yours," etcetera.

"_Nov_. 8, 18--.

"Sir,--Not having received the live bullfinch mentioned by you as having
arrived at the Returned Letter Office two days ago, having been posted
as a letter contrary to the regulations of the Postal system, I now
write to ask you to have the bird fed and forwarded at once to ---, and
to apply for all fines and expenses to ---.  If this is not done, and I
do not receive the bird before the end of the week, I shall write to the
Postmaster-General, who is a very intimate friend of my father's, and
ask him to see that measures are taken against you for neglect.

"This is not an idle threat, so you will oblige by following the above
instructions."

"Wales, _Nov_. 12, 18--.

"DEAR SIR,--I am taking the liberty of writeing you those few lines as I
am given to understand that you do want men in New South Wales, and I am
a Smith by Trade; a single man.  My age is 24 next birthday.  I shood be
verry thankful if you would be so kind and send all the particulars by
return."

"London, _Nov_. 5, 18--.

"Sir,--i right to you and request of you sinsearly for to help me to
find out my husband.  I ham quite a stranger in London, only two months
left Ireland--i can find know trace of my husband--your the only
gentleman that I know that can help me to find him.  Thears is letters
goes to him to --- in his name and thears is letters comes to him to the
--- Post-Office for him.--Sir you may be sure that i ham low in spirit
in a strange contry without a friend.  I hope you will be so kind as not
to forget me.  Sir, I would never find --- for I would go astray,
besides i have no money."

"So you see, ma'am," continued Solomon, closing the Report, "much though
we do, more is expected of us.  But although we can't exactly comply
with such requests as these, we do a pretty stroke of business in other
ways besides letter-distributin'.  For instance, we are bankers on a
considerable scale.  Through our money-order agency the sum we
transmitted last year was a trifle over 27,870,000 pounds, while the
deposits in our Savings-Banks amounted to over 9,166,000 pounds.  Then
as to telegraphs: there were--But I forgot," said Solomon, checking
himself, "Miss May is the proper authority on that subject.--How many
words was it you sent last year?"

"I won't tell you," said May, with a toss of her little head.  "You have
already driven my cousin distracted.  She won't be able to walk home."

"My dear, I don't intend to walk home; I shall take a cab," said the
mild little woman.  "_Do_ tell me something about your department."

"No, cousin, I won't."

"Sure, if ye don't, I will," said Phil.

"Well then, I will tell you a very little just to save you from Phil,
who, if he once begins, will kill you with his calculations.  But you
can't appreciate what I say.  Let me see.  The total number of
telegraphic messages forwarded by our offices in the United Kingdom
during the last twelve months amounted to a little more than twenty-two
millions."

"Dear me!" said Miss Lillycrop, with that look and tone which showed
that if May had said twenty-two quintillions it would have had no
greater effect.

"There, that's enough," said May, laughing.  "I knew it was useless to
tell you."

"Ah, May!" said Phil, "that's because you don't know how to tell her.--
See here now, cousin Sarah.  The average length of a message is thirty
words.  Well, that gives 660 millions of words.  Now, a good average
story-book of 400 pages contains about ninety-six thousand words.
Divide the one by the other, and that gives you a magnificent library of
6875 volumes as the work done by the Postal Telegraphs every year.  All
these telegrams are kept for a certain period in case of inquiry, and
then destroyed."

"Phil, I must put on my things and go," exclaimed Miss Lillycrop,
rising.  "I've had quite as much as I can stand."

"Just cap it all with this, ma'am, to keep you steady," interposed
Solomon Flint;--"the total revenue of the Post-Office for the year was
six millions and forty-seven thousand pounds; and the expenditure three
millions nine hundred and ninety-one thousand.  Now, you may consider
yourself pretty well up in the affairs of the Post-Office."

The old 'ooman, awaking at this point with a start, hurled the cat under
the grate, and May laughingly led Miss Lillycrop into her little
boudoir.



CHAPTER TWELVE.

IN WHICH A BOSOM FRIEND IS INTRODUCED, RURAL FELICITY IS ENLARGED ON,
AND DEEP PLANS ARE LAID.

A bosom friend is a pleasant possession.  Miss Lillycrop had one.  She
was a strong-minded woman.  We do not say this to her disparagement.  A
strong mind is as admirable in woman as in man.  It is only when woman
indicates the strength of her mind by unfeminine self-assertion that we
shrink from her in alarm.  Miss Lillycrop's bosom friend was a
warm-hearted, charitable, generous, hard-featured, square-shouldered,
deep-chested, large-boned lady of middle age and quick temper.  She was
also in what is styled comfortable circumstances, and dwelt in a pretty
suburban cottage.  Her name was Maria Stivergill.

"Come with me, child," said Miss Stivergill to Miss Lillycrop one day,
"and spend a week at The Rosebud."

It must not be supposed that the good lady had given this romantic name
to her cottage.  No, when Miss Stivergill bought it, she found the name
on the two gate-posts; found that all the tradespeople in the vicinity
had imbibed it, and therefore quietly accepted it, as she did all the
ordinary affairs of life.

"Impossible, dear Maria," said her friend, with a perplexed look, "I
have so many engagements, at least so many duties, that--"

"Pooh!" interrupted Miss Stivergill.  "Put 'em off.  Fulfil 'em when you
come back.  At all events," she continued, seeing that Miss Lillycrop
still hesitated, "come for a night or two."

"But--"

"Come now, Lilly"--thus she styled her friend--"but give me no _buts_.
You know that you've no good reason for refusing."

"Indeed I have," pleaded Miss Lillycrop; "my little servant--"

"What, the infant who opened the door to me?"

"Yes, Tottie Bones; she is obliged to stay at nights with me just now,
owing to her mother, poor thing, being under the necessity of shutting
up her house while she goes to look after a drunken husband, who has
forsaken her."

"Hah!" exclaimed Miss Stivergill, giving a nervous pull at her left
glove, which produced a wide rent between the wrist and the thumb.  "I
wonder why women marry!"

"Don't you think it's a sort of--of--unavoidable necessity?" suggested
Miss Lillycrop, with a faint smile.

"Not at all, my dear, not at all.  I have avoided it.  So have you.  If
I had my way, I'd put a stop to marriage altogether, and bring this
miserable world to an abrupt close.--But little Bones is no difficulty:
we'll take her along with us."

"But, dear Maria--"

"Well, what further objections, Lilly?"

"Tottie has charge of a baby, and--"

"What! one baby in charge of another?"

"Indeed it is too true; and, you know, you couldn't stand a baby."

"Couldn't I?" said Miss Stivergill sharply.  "How d'you know that?  Let
me see it."

Tottie being summoned with the baby, entered the room staggering with
the rotund mountain of good-natured self-will entirely concealing her
person, with exception of her feet and the pretty little coal-dusted
arms with which she clasped it to her heaving breast.

"Ha!  I suppose little Bones is behind it," said Miss Stivergill.--"Set
the baby down, child, and let me see you."

Tottie obeyed.  The baby, true to his principles, refused to stand.  He
sat down and stared at those around him in jovial defiance.

"What is your age, little Bones?"

"Just turned six, m'm," replied Tottie, with a courtesy, which Miss
Lillycrop had taught her with great pains.

"You're sixty-six, at the least, compared with male creatures of the
same age," observed her interrogator.

"Thank you, m'm," replied Tottie, with another dip.

"Have you a bonnet and shawl, little Bones?"

Tottie, in a state of considerable surprise, replied that she had.

"Go and put 'em on then, and get that thing also ready to go out."

Miss Stivergill pointed to the baby contemptuously, as it were, with her
nose.

"He's a very good bybie"--so the child pronounced it--"on'y rather
self-willed at times, m'm," said Tottie, going through the athletic feat
of lifting her charge.

"Just so.  True to your woman's nature.  Always ready to apologise for
the male monster that tyrannises over you.  I suppose, now, you'd say
that your drunken father was a good man?"

Miss Stivergill repented of the speech instantly on seeing the tears
start into Tottie's large eyes as she replied quickly--"Indeed I would,
m'm.  Oh! you've no notion 'ow kind father is w'en 'e's not in liquor."

"There, there.  Of course he is.  I didn't mean to say he wasn't, little
Bones.  It's a curious fact that many drun--, I mean people given to
drink, _are_ kind and amiable.  It's a disease.  Go now, and get your
things on, and do you likewise, Lilly.  My cab is at the door.  Be
quick."

In a few minutes the whole party descended to the street.  Miss
Stivergill locked the door with her own hand, and put the key in her
pocket.  As she turned round, Tottie's tawdry bonnet had fallen off in
her efforts to raise the baby towards the outstretched hands of her
mistress, while the cabman stood looking on with amiable interest.

Catching up the bonnet, Miss Stivergill placed it on the child's head,
back to the front, twisted the strings round her head and face--anyhow--
lifted her and her charge into the cab, and followed them.

"Where to, ma'am?" said the amiable cabman.

"Charing Cross,--you idiot."

"Yes, ma'am," replied the man, with a broad grin, touching his hat and
bestowing a wink on a passing policeman as he mounted the box.

On their way to the station the good lady put out her head and shouted
"Stop!"

The maligned man obeyed.

"Stay here, Lilly, with the baby.--Jump out, little Bones.  Come with
me."

She took the child's bonnet off and flung it under the cab, then grasped
Tottie's hand and led her into a shop.

"A hat," demanded the lady of the shopwoman.

"What kind of hat, ma'am?"

"Any kind," replied Miss Stivergill, "suitable for this child--only see
that it's not a doll's hat.  Let it fit her."

The shopwoman produced a head-dress, which Tottie afterwards described
as a billycock 'at with a feather in it.  The purchaser paid for it,
thrust it firmly on the child's head, and returned to the cab.

A few minutes by rail conveyed them to a charmingly country-like suburb,
with neat villas dotting the landscape, and a few picturesque old red
brick cottages scattered about here and there.

Such a drive to such a scene, reader, may seem very commonplace to you,
but what tongue can tell, or pen describe, what it was to Tottie Bones?
That pretty little human flower had been born in the heart of London--in
one of the dirtiest and most unsavoury parts of that heart.  Being the
child of a dissolute man and a hard-working woman, who could not afford
to go out excursioning, she had never seen a green field in her life.
She had never seen the Thames, or the Parks.  There are many such
unfortunates in the vast city.  Of flowers--with the exception of
cauliflowers--she knew nothing, save from what little she saw of them in
broken pots in the dirty windows of her poor neighbourhood, and on the
barrows and baskets of the people who hawked them about the city.  There
was a legend among the neighbours of Archangel Court that once upon a
time--in some remote period of antiquity--a sunbeam had been in the
habit of overtopping the forest of chimneys and penetrating the court
below in the middle of each summer, but a large brick warehouse had been
erected somewhere to the southward, and had effectually cut off the
supply, so that sunshine was known to the very juvenile population only
through the reflecting power of roofs and chimney-cans and gable
windows.  In regard to scents, it need scarcely be said that Tottie had
had considerable experience of that class which it is impossible to term
sweet.

Judge then, if you can, what must have been the feelings of this little
town-sparrow when she suddenly rushed, at the rate of forty miles an
hour, into the heavenly influences of fields and flowers, hedgerows, and
trees, farm-yards and village spires, horse-ponds, country inns, sheep,
cattle, hay-carts, piggeries, and poultry.

Her eyes, always large and liquid, became great crystal globes of
astonishment, as, forgetful of herself, and _almost_ of baby, she sat
with parted lips and heaving breast, gazing in rapt ecstasy from the
carriage window.

Miss Stivergill and Miss Lillycrop, being sympathetic souls, gazed with
almost equal interest on the child's animated face.

"She only wants wings and washing to make her an angel," whispered the
former to the latter.

But if the sights she saw on the journey inflated Tottie's soul with
joy, the glories of Rosebud Cottage almost exploded her.  It was a
marvellous cottage.  Rosebushes surrounded it, ivy smothered it, leaving
just enough of room for the windows to peep out, and a few of the old
red bricks to show in harmony with the green.  Creepers in great variety
embraced it, and a picturesque clump of trees on a knoll behind
sheltered it from the east wind.  There was a farm-yard, which did not
belong to itself, but was so close to it that a stranger could scarcely
have told whether it formed part of the Rosebud domain or that of the
neighbouring cottage.  The day, too, was exceptionally fine.  It was one
of those still, calm, sunny, cloudless days, which induce healthy people
sometimes to wish that earth might be their permanent home.

"Oh, bybie!" exclaimed Tottie Bones, when, having clambered to the top
of the knoll, she sat down on a tree-root and gazed on the cottage and
the farm-yard, where hens were scratching in the interest of active
chickens, and cows were standing in blank felicity, and pigs were
revelling in dirt and sunshine--"Oh, bybie! it's 'eaven upon earth,
ain't it, darling?"

The darling evidently agreed with her for once, for, lying on his back
in the long grass, he seized two handfuls of wild-flowers, kicked up his
fat legs, and laughed aloud.

"That's right, darling.  Ain't it fun?  And _such_ flowers too--oh! all
for nothing, only got to pull 'em.  Yes, roll away, darling, you can't
dirty yourself 'ere.  Come, I shall 'ave a roll too."  With which remark
Tottie plunged into the grass, seized the baby and tumbled him and
herself about to such an extent that the billycock hat was much
deteriorated and the feather damaged beyond recovery.

Inside The Rosebud the other two members of the party were also enjoying
themselves, though not exactly in like manner.  They revelled in tea and
in the feast of reason.

"Where, and when, and why did you find that child?" asked Miss
Stivergill.

Her friend related what she knew of Tottie's history.

"Strange!" remarked Miss Stivergill, but beyond that remark she gave no
indication of the state of her mind.

"It is indeed strange," returned her friend, "but it is just another
instance of the power of God's Word to rescue and preserve souls, even
in the most unfavourable circumstances.  Tottie's mother is Christian,
and all the energies of her vigorous nature are concentrated on two
points--the training of her child in the fear of God, and the saving of
her husband from drink.  She is a woman of strong faith, and is quite
convinced that her prayers will be answered, because, she says, `He who
has promised is faithful,' but I fear much that she will not live to see
it."

"Why so?" demanded the other sharply.

"Because she has a bad affection of the lungs.  If she were under more
favourable circumstances she might recover."

"Pooh! nonsense.  People constantly recover from what is called bad
affection of the lungs.  Can nothing be done for her?"

"Nothing," replied Miss Lillycrop; "she will not leave her husband or
her home.  If she dies--"

"Well, what then?"

"Little Tottie must be rescued, you know, and I have set my heart on
doing it."

"You'll do nothing of the sort," said Miss Stivergill firmly.

Miss Lillycrop looked surprised.

"No, you shan't rescue her," continued the good lady, with still firmer
emphasis; "you've got all London at your feet, and there's plenty more
where that one came from.  Come, Lilly, you mustn't be greedy.  You may
have the baby if you like, but you must leave little Bones to me."

Miss Lillycrop was making feeble resistance to this proposal when the
subject of dispute suddenly appeared at the door with glaring eyes and a
horrified expression of face.  Baby was in her arms as usual, and both
he and his nurse were drenched, besides being covered from head to foot
with mud.

It needed little explanation to tell that in crossing a ditch on a
single plank Tottie had stumbled and gone headlong into the water with
baby in her arms.  Fortunately neither was hurt, though both had been
terribly frightened.

Miss Stivergill was equal to the occasion.  Ordering two tubs half-full
of warm water into the back kitchen, she stripped the unfortunates and
put them therein, to the intense joy of baby, whose delight in a warm
bath was only equalled by his pleasure in doing mischief.  At first Miss
Stivergill thought of burning the children's garments, and fitting them
out afresh, but on the suggestion of her friend that their appearing at
home with new clothes might create suspicion, and cause unpleasant
inquiries, she refrained.  When thoroughly cleaned, Tottie and baby were
wrapped up in shawls and set down to a hearty tea in the parlour.

While this was being devoured, the two friends conversed of many things.
Among others, Miss Stivergill touched on the subject of her
progenitors, and made some confidential references to her mother, which
her friend received with becoming sympathy.

"Yes, my dear," said Miss Stivergill, in a tone of unwonted tenderness.
"I don't mind telling you all about her, for you're a good soul, with a
feeling heart.  Her loss was a terrible loss to me, though it was great
gain to her.  Before her death we were separated for a time--only a
short time,--but it proved to be a blessed separation, for the letters
she wrote me sparkled with love and wit and playfulness, as though they
had been set with pearls and rubies and diamonds.  I shall show you my
treasures before going to bed.  I keep them in that box on the
sideboard, to be always handy.  It is not large, but its contents are
more precious to me than thousands of gold and silver."

She paused; and then, observing that Tottie was staring at her, she
advised her to make the most of her opportunity, and eat as much as
possible.

"If you please, m'm, I can't eat any more," said Tottie.

"Can't eat more, child?--try," urged the hospitable lady.

Tottie heaved a deep sigh and said that she couldn't eat another morsel
if she were to try ever so much.  As baby appeared to be in the same
happy condition, and could with difficulty keep his eyes open, both
children were sent to bed under the care of a maid, and Miss Stivergill,
taking down her treasure-box, proceeded to read part of its contents to
her bosom friend.

Little did good Miss Stivergill imagine that she had dug a mine that
night under Rosebud Cottage, and that the match which was destined to
light it was none other than her innocent _protegee_, little Bones.

Throwing herself into the receptive arms of her mother, two days after
the events just described, Tottie poured the delight and amazement of
her surcharged spirit into sympathetic ears.  Unfortunately her glowing
descriptions also reached unsympathetic ears.  Mrs Bones had happily
recovered her husband, and brought him home, where he lay in his
familiar corner, resting from his labours of iniquity.  The
unsympathetic ears belonged to Mr Abel Bones.

When Tottie, however, in her discursive wandering began to talk of
pearls, and rubies, and diamonds, and treasures worth thousands of gold
and silver, in a box on the sideboard, the ears became suddenly
sympathetic, and Mr Bones raised himself on one elbow.

"Hush! darling," said Mrs Bones, glancing uneasily at the dark corner.

Mr Bones knew well that if his wife should caution Tottie not to tell
him anything about Rosebud Cottage, he would be unable to get a word out
of her.  He therefore rose suddenly, staggered towards the child, and
seized her hand.

"Come, Tot, you and I shall go out for a walk."

"Oh, Abel, don't.  Dear Abel--"

But dear Abel was gone, and his wife, clasping her hands, looked
helplessly and hopelessly round the room.  Then a gleam of light seemed
to come into her eyes.  She looked up and went down on her knees.

Meanwhile Abel went into a public-house, and, calling for a pint of
beer, bade his child drink, but Tottie declined.  He swore with an oath
that he'd compel her to drink, but suddenly changed his mind and drank
it himself.

"Now, Tot, tell father all about your visit to Miss Stivergill.  She's
very rich--eh?"

"Oh! awfully," replied Tottie, who felt an irresistible drawing to her
father when he condescended to speak to her in kindly tones.

"Keeps a carriage--eh?"

"No, nor a 'oss--not even a pony," returned the child.

"An' no man-servant about the house?"

"No--not as I seed."

"Not even a gardener, now?"

"No, only women--two of 'em, and very nice they was too.  One fat and
short, the other tall and thin.  I liked the fat one best."

"Ha! blessin's on 'em both," said Mr Bones, with a bland smile.  "Come
now, Tot, tell me all about the cottage--inside first, the rooms and
winders, an' specially the box of treasure.  Then we'll come to the
garden, an' so we'll get out by degrees to the fields and flowers.  Go
ahead, Tot."

It need scarcely be said that Abel Bones soon possessed himself of all
the information he required, after which he sent Tottie home to her
mother, and went his way.



CHAPTER THIRTEEN.

MISS LILLYCROP GETS A SERIES OF SURPRISES.

What a world this is for plots!  And there is no escaping them.  If we
are not the originators of them, we are the victims--more or less.  If
we don't originate them designedly we do so accidentally.

We have seen how Abel Bones set himself deliberately to hatch one plot.
Let us now turn to old Fred Blurt, and see how that invalid, with the
help of his brother Enoch, unwittingly sowed the seeds of another.

"Dear Enoch," said Fred one day, turning on his pillow, "I should have
died but for you."

"And Miss Lillycrop, Fred.  Don't be ungrateful.  If Miss Lillycrop had
not come to my assistance, it's little I could have done for you."

"Well, yes, I ought to have mentioned her in the same breath with
yourself, Enoch, for she has been kind--very kind and patient.  Now, I
want to know if that snake has come."

"Are you sure you've recovered enough to attend to business?" asked the
brother.

"Yes, quite sure.  Besides, a snake is not business--it is pleasure.  I
mean to send it to my old friend Balls, who has been long anxious to get
a specimen.  I had asked a friend long ago to procure one for me, and
now that it has come I want you to pack it to go by post."

"By post!" echoed the brother.

"Yes, why not?"

"Because I fear that live snakes are prohibited articles."

"Get the Post-Office Directory and see for yourself," said the invalid.

The enormous volume, full six inches thick, which records the abodes and
places of business of all noteworthy Londoners, was fetched.

"Nothing about snakes here," said Enoch, running his eye over the
paragraph referring to the articles in question,--"`Glass bottles,
leeches, game, fish,' (but that refers to dead ones, I suppose) `flesh,
fruit, vegetables, or other perishable substances' (a snake ain't
perishable, at least not during a brief post-journey)--`nor any bladder
or other vessel containing liquid,' (ha! that touches him: a snake
contains blood, don't it?)--`or anything whatsoever which might by
pressure or otherwise be rendered injurious to the contents of the
mail-bags or to the officers of the Post-Office.'--Well, brother,"
continued Enoch, "I'm not quite sure that it comes within the forbidden
degrees, so we'll give it the benefit of the doubt and pack it.  How
d'you propose doing it up?  In a letter?"

"No, I had a box made for it before I was taken ill.  You'll find it in
the shop, on the upper shelf, beside the northern diver."

The little box was brought, and the snake, which had been temporarily
consigned to an empty glass aquarium, was put into it.

"You're sure he don't bite, Fred, and isn't poisonous?"

"Quite sure."

"Then here goes--whew! what a lively fellow he is!"

This was indeed true.  The animal, upwards of a yard in length, somewhat
resembled the eel in his efforts to elude the grasp of man, but Mr
Blurt fixed him, coiled him firmly down on his bed of straw and wadding,
pressed a similar bed on the top of him to keep him quiet, and shut the
lid.

"There; I've got him in all right.  Now for the screws.  He can't move
easily, and even if he could he wouldn't make much noise."

The box was finally secured with a piece of string, a label with the
address and the proper number of stamps was affixed, and then it was
committed to the care of George Aspel to post, in time for the evening
mail.

It was five minutes to six when Aspel ascended the steps of St.
Martin's-le-Grand.  The usual rush was in progress.  There was a
considerable crowd in front of the letter-box.  Instead of pushing
through, George took advantage of his height, stretched his long arm
over the heads of the people, and, with a good aim, pitched the box into
the postal jaws.

For a few seconds he stood still, meditating a call on Phil Maylands.
But he was not now as eager to meet his friend as he used to be.  He had
begun a course of dissipation, and, superior though he was in years,
physique, and knowledge to his friend, he felt a new and uncomfortable
sense of inferiority when in the presence of the straightforward, steady
boy.

At seventeen a year adds much to the manhood of a youth.  Phil's powers
of perception had been greatly quickened by his residence in London.
Although he regarded Aspel with as warm affection as ever, he could not
avoid seeing the change for the worse in him, and a new feeling of deep
anxiety and profound but respectful pity filled his heart.  He prayed
for him also, but did not quite believe that his prayers would be heard,
for as yet he did not fully realise or comprehend the grand truths of
the religion in which his mother had faithfully trained him.  He did not
at that time understand, as he afterwards came to understand, that the
prayer of faith--however weak and fluttering--is surely answered,
whether we see the answer or not, and whether the answer be immediate or
long delayed.

On one occasion, with feelings of timorous self-abasement, he ventured
to remonstrate with his friend, but the effort was repelled.  Possibly
the thought of another reproof from Phil was the cause of Aspel's
decision not to look him up on the present occasion.

As he descended the steps, a man as tall and powerful as himself met him
and stared him in the face.  Aspel fired up at once and returned the
stare.  It was Abel Bones, on his way to post a letter.  The glare
intensified, and for a moment it seemed as if the two giants were about
to fight.  A small street boy, observing the pair, was transfixed with
ardent hope, but he was doomed to disappointment.  Bones had clenched
his right hand.  If he had advanced another inch the blood of the
sea-kings would have declared for war on the spot, regardless of
consequences.  But Bones was too old a bird thus to come within reach of
his great enemy, the law.  Besides, a deeper though not immediate plan
of revenge flashed into his mind.  Relaxing the hand and frown
simultaneously, he held out the former.

"Come," he said, in a hearty tone, "I don't bear you no ill-will for the
crack on the nut you gave me, and you've surely no occasion to bear
ill-will to a man you floored so neatly.  Shake hands."

The familiarity, not to say insolence, of this proposal, from one so
much beneath him, would probably have induced the youth to turn aside
with scorn, but the flattering reference to his pugilistic powers from
one who was no mean antagonist softened his feelings.

"Well, I'm sure that I bear _you_ no ill-will," he said, with a smile,
extending his hand.

"Bah! chicken-livers," exclaimed the small boy, turning away in supreme
contempt.

"And I assure you," continued Aspel, "I had no intention of doing you
injury.  But no doubt a stout fellow like you didn't let a knock-down
blow interfere with his next day's work."

"His next day's work!" repeated Mr Bones, with a chuckle.  "It would be
a queer blow as would interfere with my work.  Why, guv'nor, I hain't
got no work at all" Here he put on a very lugubrious expression.
"P'r'aps you won't believe it, sir, but I do assure you that I haven't,
in them hard times, had a full day's work for ever so long.  And I
haven't earned a rap this day, except the penny I got for postin' this
here letter."

George Aspel, besides being, as we have said, a kind-hearted man, was
unusually ignorant of the ways of the world, especially the world of
London.  He believed Abel Bones at once, and spoke in quite a softened,
friendly tone as he replied--

"I'm sorry to hear that, and would gladly help you if I could, but, to
tell you the truth, Mr Bones, I'm not in flourishing circumstances
myself.  Still, I may perhaps think of some way of helping you.  Post
your letter, and I'll walk with you while we talk over it."

The man ran up the steps, posted his letter, which had missed the mail--
though he did not appear to care for that--and returned.

Although we have spoken of this man as a confirmed drunkard, it must not
be supposed that he had reached the lowest state of degradation.  Like
George Aspel, he had descended from a higher level in the social scale.
Of course, his language proved that he had never been in the rank of a
gentleman, but in manners and appearance he was much above the unhappy
outcasts amongst whom he dwelt.  Moreover, he had scarcely reached
middle life, and was, or had been, a handsome man, so that, when he
chose to dress decently and put on a sanctimonious look (which he could
do with much facility), he seemed quite a respectable personage.

"Now, guv'nor, I'm at your sarvice," he said.  "This is my way.  Is it
yours?"

"Yes--any way will do," continued Aspel.  "Now let me hear about you.  I
owe you some sort of reparation for that blow.  Have you dined?--will
you eat?"

"Well, no; thank 'ee all the same, but I've no objection to drink."

They chanced to be near a public-house as he spoke.  It would be
difficult in some thoroughfares of London to stop _without_ chancing to
be near a public-house!

They entered, and Aspel, resolving to treat the man handsomely, called
for brandy and soda.  It need scarcely be said that at that hour the
brandy and soda was by no means the first of its kind that either of the
men had imbibed that day.  Over it they became extremely confidential
and chatty.  Mr Bones was a lively and sensible fellow.  It was
noticeable, too, that his language improved and his demeanour became
more respectful as the acquaintance progressed.  After a time they rose.
Aspel paid for the brandy and soda, and they left the place in company.

Leaving them, we shall return to St. Martin's-le-Grand, and follow the
footsteps of no less a personage than Miss Lillycrop, for it so happened
that that enthusiastic lady, having obtained permission to view the
interior of the Post-Office, had fixed on that evening for her visit.
But we must go back a little in time--to that period when the postal
jaws were about to open for the reception of the evening mail.

Ever since Miss Lillycrop's visit to the abode of Solomon Flint, she had
felt an increasing desire to see the inside and the working of that
mighty engine of State about which she had heard so much.  A permit had
been procured for her, and her cousin, May Maylands, being off duty at
that hour, was able to accompany her.

They were handed over to the care of a polite and intelligent
letter-sorter named Bright.  The sorter seemed fully to appreciate and
enter into Miss Lillycrop's spirit of inquiry.  He led her and May to
the inside--the throat, as it were--of those postal jaws, the exterior
aspect of which we have already described.  On the way thither they had
to pass through part of the great letter-sorting hall.  It seemed to
Miss Lillycrop's excited imagination as if she had been suddenly plunged
over head and ears into a very ocean of letters.  From that moment
onwards, during her two hours' visit, she swam, as it were, among snowy
billows of literature.

"This is the receiving-box--the inside of it," said Mr Bright, as he
led the way through a glass door into a species of closet or compartment
about six feet by ten in dimension, or thereabouts, with a low roof.

"This way ladies.  Stand here on one side.  They are just going to open
it."

The visitors saw in front of them a recess, divided by a partition, in
which were two large baskets.  A few letters were falling into these as
they entered.  Glancing upwards, they saw a long slit, through which a
number of curious human eyes peeped for a moment, and disappeared, to be
replaced by other eyes.  Little spurts of letters came intermittently
through the slit and fell into the baskets.  These, when full, were
seized by two attendants, dragged away, and replaced by empty ones.

Suddenly the upper lip of the slit, or postal mouth, rose.

"Oh, May, look!" exclaimed Miss Lillycrop eagerly.

Not only the eyes but the heads and shoulders of the moving public now
became visible to those inside, while the intermittent spurts became
gradually a continuous shower of letters.  The full significance of the
old superscription, "Haste, post haste, for thy life," now began to dawn
on Miss Lillycrop.  The hurry, mentioned elsewhere in our description of
the outside view, increased as the minutes of grace flew by, and the
visitors fairly laughed aloud when they saw the cataract of
correspondence--the absolute waterfall, with, now and then, a bag or an
entire bandboxful of letters, like a loosened boulder--that tumbled into
the baskets below.

From this letter-fall Miss Lillycrop was led, speechless, by her
cicerone, followed by May, to whom the scene was not quite new, and
whose chief enjoyment of it consisted in observing her interested and
excitable friend's surprise.

Mr Bright led them back to the great sorting-room, where the energetic
labour of hundreds of men and boys--facing, carrying, stamping,
distributing, sorting, etcetera--was going on full swing.  Everywhere
there was rapid work, but no hurry; busy and varied action, but no
confusion; a hum of mingled voice and footfall, but no unnecessary
noise.  It was a splendid example of the power of orderly and united
action.  To Miss Lillycrop it conveyed the idea of hopeless and
irretrievable confusion!

Mounting a staircase, Mr Bright conducted the ladies to a gallery from
which they had a bird's-eye view of the entire hall.  It was, in truth,
a series of rooms, connected with the great central apartment by
archways.  Through these--extending away in far perspective, so that the
busy workers in the distance became like miniature men--could be seen
rows on rows of facing and sorting-tables, covered, heaped up, and
almost hidden, by the snows of the evening mail.  Here the chaos of
letters, books, papers, etcetera, was being reduced to order--the whole
under the superintendence of a watchful gentleman, on a raised platform
in the centre, who took good care that England should not only _expect_,
but also be _assured_, that every man and boy did his duty.

Miss Lillycrop glanced at the clock opposite.  It was a quarter to
seven.

"Do you mean to tell me," she said, turning full on Mr Bright, and
pointing downwards, "that that ocean of letters will be gone, and these
tables emptied by eight o'clock?"

"Indeed I do, ma'am; and more than what you see there, for the district
bags have not all come in yet.  By eight o'clock these tables will be as
bare as the palm of my hand."

Mr Bright extended a large and manly palm by way of emphasising his
remark.

Miss Lillycrop was too polite to say, "That's a lie!" but she firmly,
though mutely, declined to believe it.

"D'you observe the tables just below us, ma'am?"

He pointed to what might have been six large board-room tables,
surrounded by boys and men as close as they could stand.  As, however,
the tables in question were covered more than a foot deep with letters,
Miss Lillycrop only saw their legs.

"These are the facing-tables," continued Mr Bright.  "All that the men
and lads round 'em have got to do with the letters there is to arrange
them for the stampers, with their backs and stamps all turned one way.
We call that facing the letters.  They have also to pick out and pitch
into baskets, as you see, all book-packets, parcels, and newspapers that
may have been posted by mistake in the letter-box."

While the sorter went on expounding matters, one of the tables had begun
to show its wooden surface as its "faced" letters were being rapidly
removed, but just then a man with a bag on his shoulder came up, sent a
fresh cataract of letters on the blank spot, and re-covered it.
Presently a stream of men with bags on their backs came in.

"These are the district mails, ma'am," explained Mr Bright; "during the
last half-hour and more they have been hurrying towards us from all
quarters of London; the nearest being brought by men on foot, the more
distant bags by vans.  Some are still on their way; all will concentrate
here at last, in time for sorting."

The contents of these bags as they came in were shot out, and the
facing-tables--all of which had begun to show symptoms of the flood
going down and dry land appearing--were flooded and reflooded again and
again to a greater depth than before.

"The mail will be late to-night," observed Miss Lillycrop, with an
assured nod.

"O no, ma'am, it won't," replied Bright, with an easy smile, and May
laughed as they returned to the hall to inspect the work in detail.

"Here, you see, we stamp the letters."

Mr Bright stopped in front of a long table, at which was standing a row
of stampers, who passed letters under the stamps with amazing rapidity.
Each man or youth grasped a stamp, which was connected with a machine on
a sort of universal joint.  It was a miniature printing-machine, with a
little inking-roller, which was moved over the types each time by the
mere process of stamping, so the stamper had only to pass the letters
under the die with the one hand and stamp with the other as fast as he
could.  The rate varied, of course, considerably.  Nervous and anxious
stampers illustrated more or less the truth of the proverb, "The more
hurry the less speed," while quiet, steady hands made good progress.
They stamped on the average from 100 to 150 letters in the minute, each
man.

"You see, ma'am," remarked Mr Bright, "it's the way all the world over:
cool-headed men who know their powers always get on best.  The
stamping-machine is a great improvement on the old system, where you had
to strike the inker first, and then the letter.  It just doubled the
action and the time.  We have another ingeniously contrived stamp in the
office.  It might not occur to you that stamping parcels and other
articles of irregular shape is rather difficult, owing to the stamper
not striking flatly on them.  To obviate this, one of our own men
invented a stamp with an india-rubber neck, so that, no matter how
irregular the surface of the article may be, the face of the stamp is
forced flat upon it by one blow."

"When stamped," continued Mr Bright, moving on, "the letters are taken
by boys, as you see, to the sorters.  You observe that each sorter has a
compartment or frame before him, with separate divisions in it for the
great towns only, such as Manchester, Liverpool, Birmingham, Brighton,
etcetera.  Now, you know"--here he stopped and assumed an impressive
explanatory tone--"you couldn't expect any single man to sort the
letters for every town and village in the kingdom--could you, ma'am?"

Miss Lillycrop admitted that she could not indulge such an expectation,
and further expressed her belief that any man who could must be little
better than a lunatic.

"But every man you see here," continued Mr Bright, "has batch after
batch of letters put before him, which may contain letters from anywhere
to everywhere.  So, you see, we subdivide the work.  The sorters you are
now looking at sort the letters for the large towns into separate
sections, and all the rest into divisions representing the various parts
of the country, such as northern, southern, etcetera.  The letters are
then collected by the boys you see going up and down the hall."

"I don't see them," interrupted Miss Lillycrop.

"There, that's a northern division boy who has just backed against you,
ma'am."

The boy referred to turned, apologised, and gathering the letters for
the northern division from the sorter at their elbow, moved on to gather
more from others.

"The division letters," continued Bright, "are then conveyed to other
sorters, who subdivide them into roads, and then the final sorting takes
place for the various towns.  We have a staff of about a thousand
sorters, assistant sorters, and boy-sorters in this (Inland) office
alone, who have been, or are being, carefully trained for the work.
Some are smart, and some of course are slow.  They are tested
occasionally.  When a sorter is tested he is given a pack of five
hundred cards--dummies--to represent letters.  A good man will sort
these in thirteen or fifteen minutes.  There are always sure to be a few
mis-sorts, even in _our_ well-regulated family--that is, letters sorted
to the wrong sections or divisions.  Forty mis-sorts in the five hundred
is considered very bad work."

"But what if a sorter does not happen to know the division to which any
particular letter belongs?" asked Miss Lillycrop.

"He ought to know," replied her guide, "because all the sorters have to
undergo a strict examination once a year as to their knowledge of towns
and villages throughout England."

"Indeed! but," persisted Miss Lillycrop, "what does he do with a letter
if he chances to forget?"

"Why, he must get other sorters to help him."

"And what happens if he finds a letter so badly addressed that he cannot
read it?"

"Sends it to the blind division; we shall come to that presently," said
Mr Bright.  "Meanwhile we shall visit the hospital I need scarcely
explain to you that the hospital is the place to which wounded letters
and packages are taken to be healed.  Here it is."

The party now stood beside a table, at which several clerks--we might
almost say surgeons--were at work, busy with sealing-wax and string.

The patients were a wondrous lot, and told eloquently of human
carelessness.  Here were found letters containing articles that no
envelope of mere paper could be expected to hold--such as bunches of
heavy keys, articles of jewellery, etcetera, which had already more than
half escaped from their covers.  There were also frail cardboard boxes,
so squeezed and burst that their contents were protruding, and parcels
containing worsted and articles of wearing apparel, which had been so
carelessly put up as to have come undone in the mail-bags.  All these
things were being re-tied, re-folded, patched up here and there with
sealing-wax, or put into new covers, by the postal surgeons, and done
with as much care, too, as though the damage had been caused by the
Post-Office rather than by carelessness in the public.

But among these invalided articles were a few whose condition
accidentally revealed attempts to contravene the postal laws.  One
letter which had burst completely open revealed a pill-box inside, with
"Dinner Pills" on the outside.  On examination, the pills turned out to
be two sixpences wrapped up in a scrap of paper, on which was
written--"Thought you had no money to get a stamp with, so sent you
some."  It is contrary to regulations to send coin by post without
registering the letter.  The unfortunate receiver would have to pay
eightpence, as a registration fee, for this shilling!

While the party was looking at the hospital work another case was
discovered.  A book-packet came open and revealed a letter inside.  But
still further, the letter was found to contain sixpence in silver, sent
to defray postage when the book should be returned.  Here was a double
sin!  No letter, or writing of the nature of a letter, is allowed to go
by book post, and coin may not be sent unregistered.  In this case the
book would be forwarded at letter-rate, and the 8 pence registration fee
would be charged for the coin--the whole amounting to 6 shillings, 6
pence.

"If the public would only attend," observed Mr Bright, in commenting on
these facts, "to the regulations laid down for their guidance by the
Post-Office--as detailed in our Directories and Postal Guides--such
errors would seldom occur, for I believe that things of this sort are
the result of ignorance rather than dishonesty."

"Now, ma'am," he continued, "we come to the blind officers."

There were several of those gentlemen, whose title, we presume, was
satirically expressive of the extraordinary sharpness of their eyes and
intellects.  They were seated at a table, engaged in examining addresses
so illegible, so crabbed, so incomplete, and so ineffably ridiculous,
that no man of ordinary mental capacity could make head or tail of them.
All the principal London and Provincial Directories, Guides, and
Gazetteers were ranged in front of the blind officers, to assist them in
their arduous labours, and by the aid of these, and their own extensive
knowledge of men and places, they managed to dispose of letters for
which a stranger would think it impossible to find owners.

"What would you make of that address, now?" said Mr Bright, presenting
a letter to Miss Lillycrop for inspection.

"It looks like Cop--Cup--no--it begins with a C at all events.--What
think you of it, May?" said the puzzled lady.

"It seems to me something like Captain Troller of Rittler Bunch," said
May, laughing.  "It is quite illegible."

"Not _quite_," said one of the blind officers, with a smile.  "It is--
Comptroller of the Returned Letter Branch.  Some one making inquiries,
no doubt, after a lost letter addressed as badly as this one."

Having looked at a few more of the letters that were then passing under
examination, Mr Bright showed them a book in which were copied
facsimiles of addresses which had passed through the post.  Some of
these were pictorial--embracing quaint devices and caricatures, most of
them in ink, and some in colours, all of which had been traced by a
gentleman in the office with great skill.  One that struck May as being
very original was the representation of an artist painting the portrait
of the Queen.  Her Majesty was depicted as sitting for her portrait, and
the canvas on the easel before which the artist stood was made the exact
size of the postage-stamp.

While the ladies were examining this book of literary curiosities, Mr
Bright took occasion to comment with pardonable pride on the working of
the Post-Office.

"You see, ma'am," he said, "we do our best for the public--though many
of 'em have no idea of it.  We don't send letters to the Returned Letter
Branch till we've tried, as you see, to get the correct addresses, and
until two separate letter-carriers have attempted to deliver them.
After leaving the letter-carriers' hands, the address of every
undelivered letter, and the indorsement it bears, are carefully examined
by a superior officer, who is held responsible for discovering any wrong
treatment it may have undergone, and for having recourse to any further
available means of finding the owner.  It is considered better that the
sender of a letter should know as soon as possible of its non-delivery,
than that it should travel about with little prospect of its owner being
found.  We therefore send it to the Returned Branch without further
delay, where it is carefully examined by a superior officer, to see that
it has actually been presented as addressed, and that the reasons
assigned for its non-delivery are sufficient.  In doubtful cases the
Directories and other books of reference in the branch are consulted,
and should it be found that there has been any oversight or neglect, the
letter is immediately re-issued.  After all has been done that can be to
deliver such letters, they are opened, and returned the same day to the
senders.  If valuables are enclosed, the address and contents are
recorded in case of inquiry.  When senders fail to give their addresses,
sometimes these are discovered by bills of exchange, cheques, or
money-orders, which happen to be enclosed.  When addresses of senders
can be discovered by information on the outside of covers, the letters
are returned without passing through the Returned Letter Branch, and are
not opened.  When all efforts have failed, and the letters do not
contain property, they are not preserved."

"Do many letters come into the Returned Letter Offices in this way?"
asked Miss Lillycrop.

"Ay; over the whole kingdom, including the letters sent direct to the
senders last year, there were above four millions eight hundred
thousand, and of these we managed to return nine-tenths to the writers,
or re-issued them to corrected addresses."

"Oh, indeed!" said Miss Lillycrop, utterly bewildered.

"A large proportion of the letters passing through this office," said
Mr Bright, "consists of circulars.  An account of these was once taken,
and the number was found to be nearly twenty millions a year, and of
these circulars it was ascertained that--"

"Stop! pray, sir, stop!" exclaimed Miss Lillycrop, pressing her hand to
her forehead; "I am lost in admiration of your amazing memory, but I--I
have no head for figures.  Indeed, what I have already heard and seen in
this place has produced such confusion in my poor brain that I cannot
perceive any difference whatever between millions, billions, and
trillions!"

"Well, come, we will continue our round," said Mr Bright, laughing.

Now, while all this was going on in the hall, there was a restive
creature inside of a box which did not relish its confinement.  This was
Mr Fred Blurt's snake.

That sagacious animal discovered that there was a knot in the side of
his pine-wood box.  Now, knots are sometimes loose.  Whether the snake
found this out, and wrought at the knot intentionally, or forced it out
accidentally during its struggles, we cannot tell, but certain it is
that it got it out somehow, made its escape, and glided away into the
darkest corner it could find.

Meanwhile its box was treated after the manner of parcels, and put
safely into one of the mail-bags.

As the mass of letters began to diminish in bulk the snake began to feel
uncomfortably exposed.  At the same time Miss Lillycrop, with that
wicked delight in evil prophecy which is peculiar to mankind, began to
feel comfortably exultant.

"You see I was right!" she said to her guide, glancing at the clock,
which now indicated ten minutes to eight; "the confusion is almost as
great as ever."

"We shall see," replied Mr Bright, quietly, as he led the way back to
the gallery.

From this point it could be seen, even by unpractised eyes, that,
although the confusion of letters all over the place was still
considerable, there were huge gaps on the sorting-tables everywhere,
while the facing-tables were of course empty.  There was a push and
energy also which had not prevailed at first.  Men seemed as though they
really were in considerable haste.  Letters were being bundled up and
tied with string and thrust into bags, and the bags sealed with a degree
of celerity that transfixed Miss Lillycrop and silenced her.  A few
minutes more and the tables were cleared.  Another minute, and the bags
were being carried out.  Thirty red vans outside gaped to receive them.
Eight o'clock struck, whips cracked, wheels rattled, the eight o'clock
mail was gone, and there was not a single letter left in the great
sorting-room of St. Martin's-le-Grand!

"I was right, you see," said Mr Bright.

"You were right," responded Miss Lillycrop.

They descended and crossed the now unencumbered floor.  The snake took
it into its mottled head at that moment to do the same.  Miss Lillycrop
saw it, shrieked, sprang to get out of its way, fell, and sprained her
ankle!

There was a rush of sorters, letter-carriers, boy-sorters, and
messengers; the snake was captured, and Miss Lillycrop was tenderly
borne from the General Post-Office in a state of mental amazement and
physical collapse.



CHAPTER FOURTEEN.

FORMATION OF THE PEGAWAY LITERARY ASSOCIATION AND OTHER MATTERS.

Close to the residence of Solomon Flint there was a small outhouse or
shed, which formed part of the letter-carrier's domain, but was too
small to be sub-let as a dwelling, and too inconveniently situated in a
back court to be used as an apartment.  It was therefore devoted to the
reception of lumber.  But Solomon, not being a rich man, did not possess
much lumber.  The shed was therefore comparatively empty.

When Philip Maylands came to reside with Solomon, he was allowed to use
this shed as a workroom.

Phil was by nature a universal genius--a Jack-of-all-trades--and formed
an exception to that rule about being master of none, which is asserted,
though not proved, by the proverb, for he became master of more than one
trade in the course of his career.  Solomon owned a few tools, so that
carpentry was naturally his first attempt, and he very soon became
proficient in that.  Then, having discovered an old clock among the
lumber of the shed, he took to examining and cleaning its interior of an
evening after his work at the Post-Office was done.  As his mechanical
powers developed, his genius for invention expanded, and soon he left
the beaten tracks of knowledge and wandered into the less trodden
regions of fancy.

In all this Phil had an admirer and sympathiser in his sister May; but
May's engagements, both in and out of the sphere of her telegraphic
labours, were numerous, so that the boy would have had to pursue his
labours in solitude if it had not been for his friend Peter Pax, whose
admiration for him knew no bounds, and who, if he could, would have
followed Phil like his shadow.  As often as the little fellow could
manage to do so, he visited his friend in the shed, which they named
Pegaway Hall.  There he sometimes assisted Phil, but more frequently
held him in conversation, and commented in a free and easy way on his
work,--for his admiration of Phil was not sufficient to restrain his
innate insolence.

One evening Phil Maylands was seated at his table, busy with the works
of an old watch.  Little Pax sat on the table swinging his legs.  He had
brought a pipe with him, and would have smoked, but Phil sternly forbade
it.

"It's bad enough for men to fumigate their mouths," he said, with a
smile on his lip and a frown in his eye, "but when I see a thing like
you trying to make yourself look manly by smoking, I can't help thinking
of a monkey putting on the boots and helmet of a Guardsman.  The boots
and helmet look grand, no doubt, but that makes the monkey seem all the
more ridiculous.  Your pipe suggests manhood, Pax, but you look much
more like a monkey than a man when it's in your mouth."

"How severe you are to-night, Phil!" returned Pax, putting the pipe,
however, in his pocket; "where did you graduate, now--at Cambridge or
Oxford?  Because w'en my eldest boy is big enough I'd like to send 'im
w'ere he'd acquire sitch an amazin' flow of eloquence."

Phil continued to rub the works of the watch, but made no reply.

"I say, Phil," observed the little fellow, after a thoughtful pause.

"Well?"

"Don't it strike you, sometimes, that this is a queer sort of world?"

"Yes, I've often thought that, and it has struck me, too, that you are
one of the queerest fish in it."

"Come, Phil, don't be cheeky.  I'm in a sedate frame of mind to-night,
an' want to have a talk in a philosophical sort o' way of things in
general."

"Well, Pax, go ahead.  I happen to have been reading a good deal about
things in general of late, so perhaps between us we may grind something
out of a talk."

"Just so; them's my ideas precisely.  There's nothin'," said Pax,
thrusting both hands deeper into his trousers pockets, and swinging his
legs more vigorously--"nothin' like a free an' easy chat for developin'
the mental powers.  But I say, what a fellow you are for goin' ahead!
Seems to me that you're always either workin' at queer contrivances or
readin'."

"You forget, Pax, that I sometimes carry telegraphic messages."

"Ha! true, then you and I are bound together by the cords of a common
dooty--p'r'aps I should say an uncommon dooty, all things considered."

"Among other things," returned Phil, "I have found out by reading that
there are two kinds of men in the world, the men who push and strive and
strike out new ideas, and the men who jog along easy, on the
let-be-for-let-be principle, and who grow very much like cabbages."

"You're right there, Phil--an' yet cabbages ain't bad vegetables in
their way," remarked Pax, with a contemplative cast of his eyes to the
ceiling.

"Well," continued Phil gravely, "I shouldn't like to be a cabbage."

"W'ich means," said the other, "that you'd rather be one o' the fellows
who push an' strive an strike out noo ideas."

Phil admitted that such were his thoughts and aspirations.

"Now, Pax," he said, laying down the tool with which he had been
working, and looking earnestly into his little friend's face, "something
has been simmering in my mind for a considerable time past."

"You'd better let it out then, Phil, for fear it should bu'st you,"
suggested Pax.

"Come, now, stop chaffing for a little and listen, because I want your
help," said Phil.

There was something in Phil's look and manner when he was in earnest
which effectually quelled the levity of his little admirer.  The appeal
to him for aid, also, had a sedative effect.  As Phil went on, Pax
became quite as serious as himself.  This power of Pax to suddenly
discard levity, and become interested, was indeed one of the qualities
which rendered him powerfully attractive to his friend.

"The fact is," continued Phil, "I have set my heart on forming a
literary association among the telegraph-boys."

"A what?"

"A literary association.  That is, an association of those boys among us
who want to read, and study: and discuss, and become knowing and wise."

The daring aspirations suggested by this proposition were too much for
little Pax.  He remained silent--open mouthed and eyed--while Phil went
on quietly to expound his plans.

"There is a capital library, as you know, at the Post-Office, which is
free to all of us, though many of us make little use of it--more's the
pity,--so that we don't require a library of our own, though we may come
to that, too, some day, who knows?  Sure it wouldn't be the first time
that great things had come out of small beginnings, if all I have read
be true.  But it's not only books we would be after.  What we want, Pax,
is to be organised--made a body of.  When we've got that done we shall
soon put soul into the body,--what with debates, an' readings, an'
lectures, an' maybe a soiree now and then, with music and speeches, to
say nothing of tea an' cakes."

As Phil Maylands warmed with his subject his friend became excited.  He
ceased to chaff and raise objections, and finally began to see the
matter through Phil's rose-coloured glasses.

"Capital," he exclaimed heartily.  "It'll do, Phil.  It'll work--like
everything else you put your hand to.  But"--here his chubby little
visage elongated--"how about funds?  Nothin' in this world gets along
without funds; an' then we've no place to meet in."

"We must content ourselves with funds of humour to begin with," returned
Phil, resuming his work on the watch.  "As for a meeting-room, wouldn't
this do?  Pegaway Hall is not a bad place, and quite enough room in it
when the lumber's cleared out o' the way.  Then, as to members, we would
only admit those who showed a strong desire to join us."

"Just so--who showed literary tastes, like you an' me," suggested Pax.

"Exactly so," said Phil, "for, you see, I don't want to have our society
flourished about in the eyes of people as a public Post-Office affair.
We must make it private and very select."

"Yes, _uncommon_ select," echoed Pax.

"It would never do, you know," continued the other, "to let in every
shallow young snipe that wanted to have a lark, and make game of the
affair.  We will make our rules very stringent."

"Of course," murmured Pax, with a solemn look, "_tremendously_
stringent.  For first offences of any kind--a sousin' with dirty water.
For second offences--a woppin' and a fine.  For third--dismissal, with
ears and noses chopped off, or such other mutilation as a committee of
the house may invent.  But, Phil, who d'yee think would be suitable men
to make members of?"

"Well, let me see," said Phil, again laying down his tools, and looking
at the floor with a thoughtful air, "there's Long Poker, he's a
long-legged, good-hearted fellow--fond o' the newspapers."

"Yes," put in Pax, "Poker'll do for one.  He'd be a capital member.
Long and thin as a literary c'racter ought to be, and pliable too.  We
could make a'most anything of him, except a fire-screen or a tablecloth.
Then there's Big Jack--he's got strong sedate habits."

"Too fond of punning," objected Phil.

"A little punishment in the mutilation way would stop that," said Pax.

"And there's Jim Brown," rejoined Phil.  "He's a steady, enthusiastic
fellow; and little Grigs, he's about as impudent as yourself, Pax.
Strange, isn't it, that it's chiefly little fellows who are impudent?"

"Wouldn't it be strange if it were otherwise?" retorted Pax, with an
injured look.  "As we can't knock people down with our fists, aren't we
justified in knockin' 'em down with our tongues?"

"Then," continued Phil, "there's George Granger and Macnab--"

"Ah! ain't he the boy for argufyin' too?" interrupted Pax, "and he'll
meet his match in Sandy Tod.  And there's Tom Blunter--"

"And Jim Scroggins--"

"An' Limp Letherby--"

"An' Fat Collins--"

"An' Bobby Sprat.  Oh!" exclaimed Pax, with a glowing countenance,
"we've got lots o' first-rate men among the message-boys, though there
_are_ some uncommon bad 'uns.  But we'll have none except true-blues in
_our_ literary association."

The society thus planned was soon called into being, for Philip Maylands
was one of those determined characters who carry their plans into
execution with vigour and despatch.  His first move was to seek counsel
of Mr Sterling, a city missionary--the same who had directed George
Aspel to the abode of Abel Bones on the night of that youth's visit to
Archangel Court,--with whom he had become acquainted on one of his
visits to Miss Lillycrop.  That good lady was a staunch ally and able
assistant of many city missionaries, and did much service in the way of
bringing them into acquaintance with people who she thought might be
helpful to them, or get help from them.  A mutual liking had sprung up
between Mr Antony Sterling and Phil on that occasion, which had ripened
into friendship.

"You'll help us at our first meeting, won't you?" asked Phil, after they
had talked the matter over.

"Yes, if you wish it," replied Mr Sterling.  "But I won't come at the
beginning.  I'll drop in towards the close, and won't say much.  You'd
best begin the work by yourselves.  I'll come to your aid whenever you
seem to require it.  But have a care how you start, Phil.  Whatever the
other members may do, remember that you, as the originator of the
association, are bound to lay the foundations with the blessing of God."

Phil did not neglect this all-important point, and, having obtained
permission from Solomon Flint to use the shed, the society was soon
auspiciously commenced with a lively debate, in Pegaway Hall, as to the
best method of conducting its own affairs.  On this occasion Philip
Maylands proved himself to be an able organiser.  Long Poker showed that
he had not dabbled in newspapers without fishing up and retaining a vast
amount of miscellaneous knowledge.  Jim Brown roused the meeting to a
pitch of enthusiasm almost equal to his own.  Little Grigs made stinging
remarks all round, and chaffed little Pax with evident delight.  Macnab
disputed with everybody.  Sandy Tod argued and objected more or less to
everything, while Tom Blunter, Jim Scroggins, Limp Letherby, Fat
Collins, and Bobby Sprat, lent more or less effectual fire to the
debate.  Big Jack did not speak much.  He preferred, as he said, to form
a large audience, but, if he might be permitted to offer an opinion,
would suggest that less talk and more action might facilitate the
despatch of business, and that they ought to try to emulate the House of
Commons by allowing a little common sense to mingle with their
discussions.

As for Peter Pax, he assumed the _role_ of peacemaker-general.  When the
debaters seemed to be getting too warm, he rose to order; and, in a calm
dignified manner, commented on the conduct of the disputants with such
ineffable insolence as to draw down their wrath on his devoted head--to
the great delight of the other members.  Thus he threw oil on the
troubled waters, and, generally, kept the meeting lively.

Finally, the laws of the Pegaway Literary Association were fixed, the
plan of meetings was arranged, and the whole thing fairly started.

The society worked well for a time, but after the various members had
done their best, as Pax said, to keep the pot boiling, it was felt and
suggested that they should seek a little aid from without.  A reading or
a lecture was proposed, seconded, and carried.  Then came the question
who should be asked to read or lecture.  Macnab proposed that their
chairman should endeavour to procure a lecturer, and report to next
meeting.  Sandy Tod objected, and proposed a committee to consider the
subject.  Phil Maylands said he had anticipated the demand, and had
already secured the promise of a lecturer--if the members chose to
accept him.

"Name! name!" cried several voices.

"Our excellent landlord, Solomon Flint," said Phil.  "You all know his
admirable powers of memory, and his profound knowledge of men and things
(`At least if you don't, you ought to,' from Pax), and you may be sure
he'll give us something good."

"And proverbial," added little Grigs.

"Ay, Flint will certainly strike fire out of whatever he tackles," said
Big Jack.

("Order!" from Pax.)

"When is he to give it?" asked one.

"Won't fix the time just yet," said Phil.

"What's his subject?" asked another.

"Can't say; not yet decided."

With this uncertainty as to time and subject the association was obliged
to rest content, and thereafter the meeting was dissolved.

We are grieved to be obliged to state that the society thus hopefully
commenced came to a premature close at an early period of its career,
owing to circumstances over which its members had no control.

Some time before that sad event occurred, however, Solomon Flint
delivered his discourse, and as some of the events of that memorable
evening had special bearing on the issues of our tale, we shall recur to
it in a succeeding chapter.



CHAPTER FIFTEEN.

GEORGE ASPEL RECEIVES VARIOUS VISITORS AT THE ORNITHOLOGICAL SHOP, AND
IS CALLED TO VIGOROUS ACTION.

As long as a man retains a scrap of self-respect, and struggles, from
any motive whatever, against his evil tendencies, his journey to
destruction is comparatively slow; but when once he gives way to
despair, assumes that he has tried his best in vain, and throws the
reins on the neck of his passions, his descent into the dark abyss is
terribly rapid.

For a time George Aspel was buoyed up by hope.  He hoped that May
Maylands might yet come to regard him with favour, though she studiously
avoided giving him ground for such hope.  He also continued, though
faintly, to hope that Sir James Clubley might still think of fulfilling
his promises, and, in pursuance of that hope, frequently inquired
whether any letters had been left for him at the hotel where he first
put up on arriving in London.  But, when both of these hopes forsook
him, and he found himself in what he deemed the ridiculous position of
shopman to a bird-stuffer, without an influential friend in the great
city, or the slightest prospect of improving his condition, he gave way
to despair.

Before quite giving way, however, he made several attempts to obtain
work more suited to his tastes and acquirements, in which efforts he was
heartily seconded by Mr Enoch Blurt; but Enoch was about as unknown in
London as himself, so that their united efforts failed.

In these circumstances the ambitious youth began to regard himself as a
martyr to misfortune, and resolved to enjoy himself as he best might.
With a view to this he spent his evenings in places of amusement, with
companions whose example and influence helped to drag him down and
increase his tendency to drink.

This tendency was in part hereditary.  His father had been a confirmed
drinker.  Although well aware of this, he did not believe in his own
fallibility.  Few young men of his stamp do.  Other men might give way
to it, but there was no fear of him.  He admitted that he could, and
sometimes did, take a stiff glass of grog--but what then?  It did him no
harm.  He was not a slave to it.  He could give it up and do without it
if he chose--although, it is to be remarked, he had never made the
trial, and only assumed this power.  To be rather "screwed" now and then
was, he admitted, somewhat discreditable; but he wasn't worse than many
others, and it didn't occur often.  Thus he reasoned, half-justifying
himself in a thoroughly selfish, sinful course; growling at his "bad
luck," and charging the guilt of his sin, which he said he couldn't
help, on Fate--in other words, on God.

It never occurred to George Aspel that the true way to get out of his
troubles was to commit his way to his Maker; to accept the position
assigned him; to do the work of a faithful servant therein; to get
connected with good society through the medium of churches and young
men's Christian associations, and to spend a few years in establishing a
character for trustworthiness, capacity, vigour, and intelligence, which
would secure his advancement in life.  At least, if such thoughts did
occur to him, he refused to entertain them, and resolved to fling care
to the dogs and defy fortune.

Of course, it soon became apparent to his employer that there was a
great change for the worse in the youth, whom he not only admired for
his frank bearing and strapping appearance, but loved as his deliverer
from death.  Delicacy of feeling, however, prevented Mr Blurt from
alluding to dissipations at which he could only guess.

Poverty and distress bring about strange companionships.  When Aspel
first arrived in London he would have scouted the idea of his having
anything whatever to do with such a man as Abel Bones, but he had not
proceeded far in his downward course when that disreputable character
became, if not a companion, at least an acquaintance.

This state of things was brought about primarily by the patronage which
Aspel had extended to the "poor worthless fellow" whom he had so
unceremoniously knocked down.  But the poor worthless fellow, although
born in a lower rank of life, was quite equal to him in natural mental
power, and much superior in cunning and villainy.  Mr Bones had also a
bold, reckless air and nature, which were attractive to this descendant
of the sea-kings.  Moreover, he possessed a power of mingling flattery
with humbug in a way that made his victim fall rather easily into his
toils.

Revenge, as we have said, lay at the bottom of Abel Bones' desire to
become better acquainted with Aspel, but profit soon took the place of
revenge.  Mr Bones earned his livelihood chiefly by appropriating what
belonged to other people.  He was not particular as to what he took, or
how he took it, but on the whole preferred easy work (like most people)
and large profit.  Being a man of bold, ambitious views, he had often
thought of forgery, but a neglected education stood in the way of that.
Being also a man of resource, he did not doubt that this, like many
other difficulties, would ere long succumb to his perseverance.  While
in this frame of mind it occurred to him that he might make a tool of
his new acquaintance and would-be patron.  At the same time he had
penetration enough to perceive that his intended tool was a dangerous
instrument, highly-tempered and sharp-set, with a will of its own, not
yet quite demoralised, and not by any means to be played with.

It might be tedious to trace the steps and winding ways by which Abel
Bones led his victim from one piece of impropriety to another--always
concealing his real character, and playing the _role_ of an unfortunate
man, willing to work, but unable to find employment--until he almost had
him in his toils.

"It's of no use your dancing attendance on me any longer, Bones," said
Aspel one day, as the former appeared at the door of the ornithological
shop.  "I have all the will to help you, but I have not the power.  My
friends have failed me, and I can do no more than keep my own soul in my
body.  You must look to some one else with more influence than I
possess."

"That's a bad job, sir," returned Bones, with a downcast look.  "I've
bin down at the docks all day, an' earned only enough to get a plate of
bacon and beans.  Surely there's somethin' wrong when a cove that's
willin' to work must starve; and there's my wife and child starvin' too.
Seems to me that a cove is justified in stealin' in the circumstances."

He cast a sidelong glance at Aspel.  It was the first time he had
ventured to suggest dishonest intentions.  If they should be taken ill,
he could turn it off as a jest; if taken well, he could proceed.

"I'm very sorry for you, Bones," said Aspel, not noticing the hint,
"very sorry, but what can I do?  I have not a copper left beyond what I
absolutely require."

"Well, sir, I know that you can do nothing, but now that my wife and
child are actually starvin', I really don't see the sin of helpin'
myself to a loaf at the nearest baker's, and giving him leg-bail for
it."

"Nothing justifies stealing," said Aspel.

"D'ee think not, sir?" said Bones.  "If you saw your wife now, supposin'
you had one, at the pint of death with hunger, an' you saw a loaf lyin'
as didn't belong to you, would you let her die?"

Aspel thought of May Maylands.

"I don't know," he replied, "what I should _do_.  All that I say is,
that stealing is unjustifiable."

The argument was stopped at this point by the entrance of a small
telegraph message-boy.

Bones was startled by his sudden entrance.

"Well, good-night, sir, we'll talk that matter over some other time," he
said quickly, pulling his wideawake well over his face as he went out,
and giving the message-boy a prolonged stare.

The boy paid no regard to him, but, turning to Aspel, introduced himself
as Peter Pax.

"What! the comrade-in-arms of my friend Phil Maylands?" asked Aspel.

"The same, at your service," replied the small messenger; "an' if you
are the friend he talks to me so much about, as goes by the name of
George Aspel, an' is descended in a direct line from the old sea-kings,
I'm proud to make your acquaintance."

Aspel laughed at the consummate self-possession of the boy, and shaking
hands with him heartily as a comrade of their common friend Phil, bade
him take a seat, which he immediately did on the counter.

"You're surrounded by pleasant company here," observed Pax, gazing
intently at the pelican of the wilderness.

"Well, yes; but it's rather silent company," said Aspel.

"Did that fellow, now," continued Pax, pointing to the owl, "die of
surprise?"

"Perhaps he did, but I wasn't present at his death," returned the other.

"Well, now, I do like this sort o' thing."

Little Pax said this with such genuine feeling, and looked round him
with such obvious interest, that Aspel, with some surprise, asked him
why he liked it.

"Why? because from my earliest years I always was fond of animals.  No
matter what sort they wos, I liked 'em all--birds an' beasts an' fishes,
flyers and creepers, an' squeakers and flutterers," said the boy,
clasping both hands over one knee, and rocking himself to and fro on the
counter, while he gazed into the owl's face with the air of one whose
mind is rambling far away into the remote past.

"Once on a time," he continued, sadly, "I dwelt in the country.  I was
born in the country.  I'm a sort o' country gentleman by nature, so to
speak, and would have bin revellin' in the country to this day if a
perwerse fate hadn't driven me into the town--a very perwerse fate
indeed."

"Indeed?" said Aspel, unable to restrain a laugh at his visitor's
old-fashioned ways, "what sort of fate was it?"

"A perwerse one, didn't I tell you?"

"Yes, but wherein consisted its perversity?  How did it act, you know?"

"Ah, its perwersity consisted in drivin' me into town in a market-cart,"
said Pax.  "You must know that my perwerse fate was a uncle.  He was a
big brute.  I don't mean to speak of 'im disrespectfully.  I merely give
'im his proper name.  He was a market-gardener and kept cows--also a
pump.  He had a wife and child--a little girl.  Ah! a sweet child it
was."

"Indeed," said Aspel, as the boy relapsed into a silent contemplative
gaze at the pelican.

"Yes," resumed Pax, with a sigh, "it _was_ a child, that was.  Her name
was Mariar, but we called 'er Merry.  Her father's name--the Brute's,
you know--was Blackadder, and a blacker adder don't wriggle its slimy
way through filthy slums nowhere--supposin' him to be yet unscragged,
for he was uncommon hard on his wife--that's my Aunt Georgie.  _Her_
name was Georgianna.  I wonder how it is that people _never_ give people
their right names!  Well, Mr Aspel, you must know I was nuss to baby.
An amytoor nuss I was--got no pay for it, but a considerable allowance
o' kicks from the Brute, who wasn't fond o' me, as I'd done 'im a mortal
injury, somehow, by being his defunct brother's orphan child.  You
understand?"

George Aspel having professed a thorough comprehension of these family
relationships, little Pax went on.

"Well then, bein' nuss to Merry, I used to take 'er out long walks in
the fields among the flowers, an' I was used to catch butterflies and
beetles for 'er, an' brought 'em home an' stuck pins through 'em an'
made c'lections; an' oh, I _did_ like to scuttle about the green lanes
an' chase the cows, an' roll on the grass in the sunshine with Merry,
an' tear an bu'st my trousers, for w'ich I got spanked by the Brute, but
didn't care a rap, because that brought me double allowance o' coddlin'
from Aunt Georgie.  One day the Brute drove me into town in the
market-cart; set me down in the middle of a street, and drove away, an'
I haven't seen him, nor Aunt Georgie, nor Merry from that day to this."

"Dear me!" exclaimed George Aspel, rather shocked at this sudden and
unexpected termination of the narrative; "do you mean to say--"

"It strikes me," interrupted Pax, looking pointedly at the door, "that
you've got another visitor."

Aspel turned and saw the dishevelled curls and pretty face of Tottie
Bones in the doorway.

"Please, sir," she said, entering, "I didn't like to interrupt you, but
Miss Lillycrop sent me to say that there was a strange smell of singein'
in the 'ouse, an' would Mr Aspel be so kind as to come and try to find
out where it was, as she didn't understand such things."

"Smell of singeing, child!" exclaimed Aspel, rising at once and putting
on his coat and hat.  "Did you search for the cause, especially about
your kitchen fireplace?"

"O yes, sir," exclaimed Tottie, "an' we couldn't see no cause at all--
only the flue seemed to be 'otter than usual.  We looked all over the
'ouse too, but couldn't see nothink--but we could feel a most drefful
smell."

Desiring Mrs Murridge to call Mr Blurt to attend to the shop, George
Aspel hurried out.

"Don't try to keep up with us," said Aspel to Tottie; "I must run.  It
may be fire!"

"Oh! please, sir, don't leave me behind," pleaded the child.

"All right--we won't; kitch hold of my hand; give the other to Mr
Aspel," said Peter Pax.

Holding on to her two friends, Tottie was swept along the streets at a
rate which she had never before experienced--at least not as a
foot-passenger,--and in a few minutes they were in Miss Lillycrop's
dwelling.

That excellent lady was in a state of dreadful perturbation, as well she
might be, for the house was filled with a thin smoke of very peculiar
odour.

Few persons except the initiated are fully alive to the immense
importance of checking fire at its commencement.  The smoke, although
not dense enough to attract the attention of people outside, was
sufficiently so to make those inside commence an anxious search, when
they should have sent at once for the fire-engine.

Three families occupied the tenement.  Miss Lillycrop's portion was at
the top.  A dealer in oils and stores of a miscellaneous and unsavoury
kind occupied the basement.

George Aspel at once suspected and made for this point, followed by Miss
Lillycrop, who bade Tottie remain in her kitchen, with the intention of
keeping her at once out of danger and out of the way.

"There's certainly fire somewhere, Pax; run, call the engines out," said
Aspel, descending three steps at a time.

Pax took the last six steps at a bound, and rushed along the street,
overturning in his flight two boys bigger than himself, and a
wheelbarrow.

The owner of the cellars was absent and his door locked.  Where was the
key?  No one knew, but George Aspel knew of a key that had done some
service in times past.  He retreated a few steps, and, rushing at the
door with all his weight and momentum, dashed it in with a tremendous
crash, and went headlong into the cellar, from out of which came
belching flames and smoke.  Re-issuing instantly therefrom with singed
hair and glaring eyes, he found Miss Lillycrop lying on her back in a
faint, where the fire and smoke had floored her.  To gather her up and
dash into the street was the work of a moment.  Scarcely less rapid was
the rush of the fire, which, having been richly fed and long pent up in
the cellar, now dashed up the staircases like a giant refreshed.

Meanwhile little Pax ran headlong into a policeman, and was collared and
throttled.

"Now then, young 'un!"

"Fire! station!" gasped Pax.

"All right, this way--just round the corner," said the man in blue,
releasing his captive, and running along with him; but the man in blue
was stout, middle-aged, and heavy.  Pax outran him, saw the red lamp,
found the fire-station door open, and leaped through with a yell of
"_Fire_!" that nearly split his little lungs.

The personification of calmness in the form of a fireman rose and
demanded "Where?"

Before Pax could gasp the address, two other personifications of
calmness, who had been snoring on trestle-beds, dressed and booted, when
he entered, now moved swiftly out, axed and helmeted.  There was a
clattering of hoofs outside.  The double doors flew open, and the red
engine rolled out almost of its own accord.  More brass helmets were
seen flashing outside.

"Are you sure of the address, youngster?" asked one of the imperturbable
firemen, settling his chinstrap more comfortably.

"Are you sure o' your own grandmother?" said Pax.

"You're cheeky," replied the man, with a smile.

"You make haste," retorted Pax; "three minutes allowed to get under
weigh.  Two and a half gone already.  Two-and-six fine if late, besides
a--"

The whip cracked, and Pax, leaping forward, seized the side of the
engine.  Six brass helmets bounded into the air, and their owners
settled on their seats, as the horses made that momentary pause and
semi-rear which often precedes a dashing start.  The man whom he had
been insulting held out a hand; Pax seized it, and was next moment in a
terrestrial heaven, while calmness personified sauntered into the back
office to make a note of the circumstance, and resume his pipe.

Oh! it was a brief but maddening ride.  To experience such a magnificent
rush seemed to Pax worth living for.  It was not more than half-a-mile;
but in that brief space there were three corners to turn like zigzag
lightning, which they did chiefly on the two near wheels, and there were
carts, vans, cabs, drays, apple-stalls, children, dogs, and cats
innumerable.  To have run over or upset these would have been small
gratification to the comparatively tender spirit of Pax, but to _shave_
them; to graze the apple-stalls; to just scrape a lamp-post with your
heart in your mouth; to hear the tremendous roar of the firemen; to see
the abject terror of some people, the excitement of others, the obedient
"skedaddling" of all, while the sparks from the pump-boiler trailed
behind, and the two bull's-eyes glared ahead, so that the engine
resembled some awful monster rushing through thick and thin, and waving
in triumph its fiery tail--ah! words are but feeble exponents of
thought: it was excruciating ecstasy!  To have been born for this one
burst, and died, would have been better than never to have been born at
all,--in the estimation of the enthusiastic Peter Pax!

A few minutes after George Aspel had borne the fainting Miss Lillycrop
from the house the engine arrived.  Some of the men swarmed into the
house, and dived to the basement, as if fire and smoke were their
natural food.  Others got the engine to work in a few seconds, but
already the flames had rushed into the lower rooms and passages and
licked away the windows.  The thick stream of water had just begun to
descend on the fire, when another engine came rattling to the field, and
its brazen-headed warriors leaped down to join the battle.

"Oh!" groaned Miss Lillycrop at that moment, recovering in Aspel's arms.
"Oh!  Tottie--To-o-o-o-tie's in the kitchen!"

Little Pax heard and understood.  In one moment he bounded through the
blazing doorway and up the smoking stair.

Just then the fire-escape came into view, towering up against the black
sky.

"Hold her, some one!" cried Aspel, dropping his poor burden into the
ready arms of a policeman.

"The boy's lost!" he exclaimed, leaping after Pax.

Aspel was a practised diver.  Many a time had he tried his powers under
the Atlantic waves on the west of Ireland.  He drew one long breath, and
was in the attic kitchen before it was expended.  Here he found little
Pax and Tottie on the floor.  The former had fallen, suffocated, in the
act of hauling the latter along by the hair of the head.  Aspel did not
see them.  He stumbled over them, grasped both in his strong arms, and
bore them to the staircase.  It was by that time a roaring furnace.  His
power of retaining breath was exhausted.  In desperation he turned sharp
to the right, and dashed in Miss Lillycrop's drawing-room door, just as
the fire-escape performed the same feat on one of the windows.  The gush
of air drove back the smoke for one moment.  Gasping and reeling to the
window, Aspel hurled the children into the bag of the escape.  He
retained sufficient power to plunge in head first after them and ram
them down its throat.  All three arrived at the bottom in a state of
insensibility.

In this state they were borne to a neighbouring house, and soon restored
to consciousness.

The firemen battled there during the greater part of that night, and
finally gained the victory; but, before this happy consummation was
attained, poor Miss Lillycrop's home was gutted and her little property
reduced to ashes.

In these circumstances she and her little maid found a friend in need in
Miss Stivergill, and an asylum in Rosebud Cottage.



CHAPTER SIXTEEN.

BEGINS WITH JUVENILE FLIRTATION, AND ENDS WITH CANINE CREMATION.

The disreputable nature of the wind which blows good to nobody has been
so frequently referred to and commented on by writers in general that it
merits only passing notice here.  The particular breeze which fanned the
flames that consumed the property that belonged to Miss Lillycrop, and
drove that lady to a charming retreat in the country thereby rescuing
her from a trying existence in town, also blew small Peter Pax in the
same direction.

"Boy," said Miss Stivergill in stern tones, on the occasion of her first
visit to the hospital in which Pax was laid up for a short time after
his adventure, "you're a good boy.  I like you.  The first of your sex I
ever said that to."

"Thank you, ma'am.  I hope I shan't be the last," returned Pax
languidly, for he was still weak from the effects of the partial
roasting and suffocation he had undergone.

"Miss Lillycrop desired me to come and see you," resumed Miss
Stivergill.  "She has told me how bravely you tried to rescue poor
little Bones, who--"

"Not much hurt, I hope?" asked the boy eagerly.

"No, very little--scarcely at all, I'm glad to say.  Those inexplicable
creatures called firemen, who seem to me what you may call fire-fiends
of a good-natured and recklessly hilarious type, say that her having
fallen down with her nose close to the ground, where there is usually a
free current of air, saved her.  At all events she _is_ saved, and quite
well."

"I hope I didn't haul much of the hair out of her poor head?" said Pax.

"Apparently not, if one may judge from the very large quantity that
remains," replied his visitor.

"You see, ma'am, in neck-or-nothin' scrimmages o' that sort," continued
Pax, in the off-hand tone of one much experienced in such scrimmages,
"one can't well stop to pick and choose; besides, I couldn't see well,
d'ee see? an' her hair came first to hand, you know, an' was convenient.
It's well for both on us, however, that that six foot odd o'
magnificence came to the rescue in time.  I like 'im, I do, an' shall
owe 'im a good turn for savin' little Bones.--What was her other name,
did you say, ma'am?"

"I didn't mention any other name, but I believe it is Tottie.--Now,
little Peter, when the doctor gives you leave to be moved, you are to
come to me to recruit your health in the country."

"Thank you, ma'am.  You're too good," said Pax, becoming languid again.
"Pray give my best respects to Tottie and Miss Lillycrop."

"So small, and so pretty, and such a wise little thing," murmured Miss
Stivergill, unaware, apparently, that she soliloquised aloud.

"So big, and so ugly, and such a good-hearted stoopid old thing!"
murmured Pax; but it is only just to add that he was too polite to allow
the murmur to be heard.

"Good-bye, little Peter, till we meet again," said Miss Stivergill,
turning away abruptly.

"Farewell, ma'am," said Pax, "farewell; and if for ever--"

He stopped, because his visitor was gone.

According to this arrangement, Pax found himself, not many days after,
revelling in the enjoyment of what he styled "tooral-ooral" felicity--
among cows and hay, sunshine and milk, buttercups and cream, green
meadows and blue skies,--free as a butterfly from telegraphic messagery
and other postal cares.  He was allowed to ramble about at will, and, as
little Bones was supposed to be slightly invalided by her late
semi-suffocation, she was frequently allowed by her indulgent mistress
to accompany him.

Seated on a stile one day, Pax drew Tottie out as to her early life, and
afterwards gave an account of his own in exchange.

"How strange," said Tottie, "that you and I should both have had bybies
to nuss w'en we was young, ain't it?"

"It is, Tot--very remarkable.  And we've had a sad fate, both of us, in
havin' bin wrenched from our babbies.  But the wrench couldn't have bin
so bad in your case as in mine, of course, for your babby was nobody to
you, whereas mine was a full cousin, an' such a dear one too.  Oh, Tot,
you've no notion what splendid games we used to have, an' such
c'lections of things I used to make for 'er!  Of course she was too
young to understand it, you know, for she could neither walk nor speak,
and I don't think could understand, though she crowed sometimes as if
she did.  My! how she crowed!--But what's the matter, Tot?"

Tottie was pouting.

"I don't like your bybie at all--not one bit," she said emphatically.

"Not like my babby!" exclaimed Pax.

"No, I don't, 'cause it isn't 'alf so good as mine."

"Well," returned Pax, with a smile, "I was took from mine.  I didn't
forsake it like you."

"I _didn't_ forsake it," cried Tottie, with flashing eyes, and shaking
her thick curls indignantly--which latter, by the way, since her coming
under the stern influence of Miss Stivergill, had been disentangled, and
hung about her like a golden glory.--"I left it to go to service, and
mother takes care of it till I return home.  I won't speak to you any
more.  I hate _your_ bybie, and I _adore_ mine!"

So saying, little Bones jumped up and ran away.  Small Pax made no
attempt to stop her or to follow.  He was too much taken aback by the
sudden burst of passion to be able for more than a prolonged whistle,
followed by a still more prolonged stare.  Thereafter he sauntered away
slowly, ruminating, perhaps, on the fickle character of woman, even in
her undeveloped stages.

Tottie climbed hastily over a stile and turned into a green lane, where
she meant to give full vent to her feelings in a satisfactory cry, when
she was met face to face by Mr Abel Bones.

"Why, father!" she exclaimed, running to her sire with a look of joyful
surprise, for occasional bad treatment had failed to dry up the
bottomless well of love in her little heart.

"Hush!  Tottie; there--take my hand, an' don't kick up such a row.  You
needn't look so scared at seein' me here.  I'm fond o' the country, you
know, an' I've come out to 'ave a little walk and a little talk with
you.--Who was that you was talkin' with just now?"

Tottie told him.

"Stoppin' here, I s'pose?"

"Yes.  He's bin here for some time, but goes away soon--now that he's
better.  It was him as saved my life--at least him and Mr Aspel, you
know."

"No, I don't know, Tot.  Let's hear all about it," replied Mr Bones,
with a look of unwonted gravity.

Tottie went off at once into a glowing account of the fire and the
rescue, to which her father listened with profound attention, not
unmingled with surprise.  Then he reverted to the aspect of the
surrounding country.

"It's a pretty place you live in here, Tot, an' a nice house.  It's
there the lady lives, I suppose who has the strange fancy to keep her
wealth in a box on the sideboard?  Well, it _is_ curious, but there's no
accountin' for the fancies o' the rich, Tot.  An' you say she keeps no
men-servants about her?  Well, that's wise, for men are dangerous
characters for women to 'ave about 'em.  She's quite right.  There's a
dear little dog too, she keeps, I'm told.  Is that the only one she
owns?"

"Yes, it's the only one, and such a darlin' it is, and _so_ fond of me!"
exclaimed Tottie.

"Ah, yes, wery small, but wery noisy an' vicious," remarked Mr Bones,
with a sudden scowl, which fortunately his daughter did not see.

"O no, father; little Floppart ain't vicious, though it _is_ awful noisy
w'en it chooses."

"Well, Tot, I'd give a good deal to see that dear little Floppart, and
make friends with it.  D'you think you could manage to get it to follow
you here?"

"Oh, easily.  I'll run an' fetch it; but p'r'aps you had better come to
the house.  I know they'd like to see you, for they're _so_ kind to me."

Mr Bones laughed sarcastically, and expressed his belief that they
wouldn't like to see him at all.

Just at that moment Miss Stivergill came round the turn of the lane and
confronted them.

"Well, little Bones, whom have you here?" asked the lady, with a stern
look at Mr Bones.

"Please, ma'am, it's father.  He 'appened to be in this neighbourhood,
and came to see me."

"Your father!" exclaimed Miss Stivergill, with a look of surprise.
"Indeed!"

"Yes, ma'am," said Bones, politely taking off his hat and looking her
coolly in the face.  "I 'ope it's no offence, but I came a bit out o' my
way to see 'er.  She says you've bin' wery kind to her."

"Well, she says the truth.  I mean to be kind to her," returned Miss
Stivergill, as sternly as before.--"Take your father to the cottage,
child, and tell them to give him a glass of beer.  If you see Miss
Lillycrop, tell her I've gone to the village, and won't be back for an
hour."  So saying, Miss Stivergill walked down the lane with masculine
strides, leaving Tottie pleased, and her father smiling.

"I don't want no beer, Tot," said the latter.  "But you go to the
cottage and fetch me that dear little dog.  I want to see it; and don't
forget the lady's message to Miss Lillycrop--but be sure you don't say
I'm waitin' for you.  Don't mention me to nobody.  D'ee understand?"

Poor Tottie, with a slight and undefined misgiving at her heart,
professed to understand, and went off.

In a few minutes she returned with the little dog--a lively poodle--
which at first showed violent and unmistakable objections to being
friendly with Mr Bones.  But a scrap of meat, which that worthy had
brought in his pocket, and a few soothing words, soon modified the
objection.

Presently Mr Bones pulled a small muzzle from his pocket.

"D'you think, now, that Floppart would let you put it on 'er, Tot?"

Tot was sure she would, and soon had the muzzle on.

"That's right; now, hold 'er fast a moment--just a--there--!"

He sprang at and caught the dog by the throat, choked a snarling yelp in
the bud, and held it fast.

"Dear, dear, how wild it has got all of a sudden!  W'y, it must be ill--
p'r'aps mad.  It's well you put that muzzle on, Tot."

While he spoke Abel Bones thrust the dog into one of the capacious
pockets of his coat.

"Now, Tot," he said, somewhat sternly, "I durstn't let this dog go.  It
wants a doctor very bad.  You go back to the 'ouse and tell 'em a man
said so.  You needn't say what man; call me a philanthropist if you
choose, an' tell 'em I'll send it back w'en it recovers.  But you
needn't tell 'em anything until you're axed, you know--it might get me
into trouble, d'ee see, an' say to Miss Stivergill it wasn't your father
as took the dog, but another man."

He leaped over a low part of the hedge and was gone, leaving poor Tottie
in a state of bewildered anxiety on the other side.

Under the influence of fear Tottie told the lies her father had bid her
tell, and thereafter dwelt at Rosebud Cottage with an evil conscience
and a heavy heart.

Having gained the high-road, Mr Bones sauntered easily to the railway
station, took a third-class ticket for Charing Cross, and in due time
found himself passing along the Strand.  In the course of that journey
poor little Floppart lay on its back in the bottom of its captor's
pocket, with a finger and thumb gently pressing her windpipe.  Whenever
she became restive, the finger and thumb tightened, and this with such
unvarying regularity that she soon came to understand the advantage of
lying still.  She did, however, make sundry attempts to escape--once
very violently, when the guard was opening the carriage-door to let Mr
Bones enter, and again almost as violently at Charing Cross, when Mr
Bones got out.  Indeed, the dog had well-nigh got off, and was restored
to its former place and position with difficulty.

Turning into Chancery Lane, and crossing over to Holborn, Abel Bones
continued his way to Newgate, where, appropriately enough, he stopped
and gazed grimly up at the massive walls.

"Don't be in a 'urry," said a very small boy, with dirt and daring in
equal proportions on his face, "it'll wait for you."

Mr Bones made a tremendous demonstration of an intention to rush at the
boy, who precipitately fled, and the former passed quietly on.

At St. Martin's-le-Grand he paused again.

"Strange," he muttered, "there seems to be some sort o' fate as links me
wi' that Post-Office.  It was here I began my London life as a porter,
and lost my situation because the Postmaster-General couldn't see the
propriety of my opening letters that contained coin and postage-stamps
and fi'-pun' notes, which was quite unreasonable, for I had a special
talent that way, and even the clargy tell us that our talents was given
us to be used.  It wasn't far from here where I sot my little nephy
down, that time I got rid of him, and it was goin' up these wery steps I
met with the man I'm tryin' my best to bring to grief, an' that same man
wants to marry one of the girls in the Post-Office, and now, I find, has
saved my Tot from bein' burnt alive!  Wery odd!  It was here, too,
that--"

Floppart at this moment turned the flow of his meditations by making a
final and desperate struggle to be free.  She shot out of his pocket and
dropped with a bursting yell on the pavement.  Recovering her feet
before Bones recovered from his surprise she fled.  Thought is quick as
the lightning-flash.  Bones knew that dogs find their way home
mysteriously from any distance.  He knew himself to be unable to run
down Floppart.  He saw his schemes thwarted.  He adopted a mean device,
shouted "Mad dog!" and rushed after it.  A small errand-boy shrieked
with glee, flung his basket at it, and followed up the chase.  Floppart
took round by St. Paul's Churchyard.  However sane she might have been
at starting, it is certain that she was mad with terror in five minutes.
She threaded her way among wheels and legs at full speed in perfect
safety.  It was afterwards estimated that seventeen cabmen, four
gentlemen, two apple-women, three-and-twenty errand-boys--more or
less,--and one policeman, flung umbrellas, sticks, baskets, and various
missiles at her, with the effect of damaging innumerable shins and
overturning many individuals, but without hurting a hair of Floppart's
body during her wild but brief career.  Bones did not wish to recapture
her.  He wished her dead, and for that end loudly reiterated the calumny
as to madness.  Floppart circled round the grand cathedral erected by
Wren and got into Cheapside.  Here, doubling like a hare, she careered
round the statue of Peel and went blindly back to St. Martin's-le-Grand,
as if to add yet another link to the chain of fate which bound her
arch-pursuer to the General Post-Office.  By way of completing the
chain, she turned in at the gate, rushed to the rear of the building,
dashed in at an open door, and scurried along a passage.  Here the crowd
was stayed, but the policeman followed heroically.  The passage was cut
short by a glass door, but a narrow staircase descended to the left.
"Any port in a storm" is a proverb as well known among dogs as men.
Down went Floppart to the basement of the building, invading the
sanctity of the letter-carriers' kitchen or _salle-a-manger_.  A dozen
stalwart postmen leaped from their meals to rush at the intruder.  In
the midst of the confusion the policeman's truncheon was seen to sway
aloft.  Next instant the vaulted roof rang with a terrible cry, which
truth compels us to state was Floppart's dying yell.

None of those who had begun the chase were in at the death--save the
policeman,--not even Abel Bones, for that worthy did not by any means
court publicity.  Besides, he felt pretty sure that his end was gained.
He remembered, no doubt, the rule of the Office, that no letters or
other things that have been posted can be returned to the sender, and,
having seen the dog safely posted, he went home with a relieved mind.

Meanwhile the policeman took the remains of poor Floppart by the tail,
holding it at arm's-length for fear of the deadly poison supposed to be
on its lips; and left the kitchen by a long passage.  The men of the
Post-Office returned to their food and their duties.  Those who manage
the details of her Majesty's mails cannot afford to waste time when on
duty.  The policeman, left to himself, lost himself in the labyrinth of
the basement.  He made his way at last into the warm and agreeable room
in which are kept the boilers that drive the engine that works the
lifts.  He was accosted by a stalwart stoker, whose appearance and air
were as genial as the atmosphere of his apartment.

"Hallo!" said he, "what 'ave you got there?"

"A mad dog," answered the policeman.--"I say, stoker, have you any
ashpit where I could bury him?"

"Couldn't allow 'im burial in our ashpit," replied the stoker, with a
decided shake of the head; "altogether out of the question."

The policeman looked at the dead dog and at the stoker with a perplexed
air.

"I say, look here," he said, "couldn't we--ah--don't you think that we
might--"

He paused, and cast a furtive glance at the furnaces.

"What! you don't mean--cremate 'im?"

The policeman nodded.

"Well, now, I don't know that it's actooally against the rules of the
GPO," replied the stoker, with a meditative frown, "but it seems to me a
raither unconstitootional proceedin'.  It's out o' the way of our usual
line of business, but--"

"That's right," said the policeman, as the stoker, who was an obliging
man, took up a great shovel and flung open the furnace-door.

A terrific glare of intense heat and light shot out, appearing as if
desirous of licking the stoker and policeman into its dreadful embrace.

"I don't half like it," said the stoker, glancing in; "the
Postmaster-General might object, you know."

"Not a bit of it, he's too much of a gentleman to object--come," said
the policeman encouragingly.

The stoker held up the shovel.  The body of Floppart was put thereon,
after the removal of its collar.  There was one good swing of the
shovel, followed by a heave, and the little dog fell into the heart of
the fiery furnace.  The stoker shut the great iron door with a clang,
and looked at the policeman solemnly.  The policeman returned the look,
thanked him, and retired.  In less probably than three minutes
Floppart's body was reduced to its gaseous elements, vomited forth from
the furnace chimney, and finally dissipated by the winds of heaven.

Thus did this, the first recorded and authentic case of cremation in the
United Kingdom, emanate--as many a new, advantageous, and national
measure has emanated before--from the prolific womb of the General
Post-Office.



CHAPTER SEVENTEEN.

TOTTIE AND MRS. BONES IN DIFFICULTY.

The descent of George Aspel became very rapid in course of time.  As he
lost self-respect he became reckless and, as a natural consequence, more
dissipated.  Remonstrances from his friend Mr Blurt, which were
repelled at first with haughty disdain, came to be received with sullen
indifference.  He had nothing to say for himself in reply, because, in
point of fact, there was nothing in his case to justify his taking so
gloomy and despairing a view of life.  Many men, he knew, were at his
age out of employment, and many more had been crossed in love.  He was
too proud to condescend to false reasoning with his lips, though he
encouraged it in his heart.  He knew quite well that drink and bad
companionship were ruining him, and off-hand, open-hearted fellow though
he was said to be, he was mean enough, as we have already said, to
growlingly charge his condition and his sins on Fate.

At last he resolved to give up the business that was so distasteful to
him.  Unable to give a satisfactory reason for so doing, or to say what
he meant to attempt next, and unwilling or ashamed to incur the
remonstrances and rebut the arguments of his patron, the bold descendant
of the sea-kings adopted that cowardly method of departure called taking
French leave.  Like some little schoolboy, he ran away!  In other words,
he disappeared, and left no trace behind him.

Deep was Mr Enoch Blurt's regret, for he loved the youth sincerely, and
made many fruitless efforts to find him--for lost in London means lost
indeed!  He even employed a detective, but the grave man in grey--who
looked like no class of man in particular, and seemed to have no
particular business in hand, and who talked with Mr Blurt, at their
first meeting, in a quiet, sensible, easy way, as though he had been one
of his oldest friends--could find no clue to him, for the good reason
that Mr Bones had taken special care to entice Aspel into a distant
locality, under pretence of putting him in the way of finding
semi-nautical employment about the docks.  Moreover, he managed to make
Aspel drunk, and arranged with boon companions to strip him, while in
that condition, of his garments, and re-clothe him in the seedy garb
peculiar to those gentlemen who live by their wits.

"Very strange," muttered Aspel, on recovering sufficiently to be led by
his friend towards Archangel Court,--"very strange that I did not feel
the scoundrels robbing me.  I must have slept very soundly."

"Yes, you slep' wery sound, and they're a bad lot, and uncommon sharp in
that neighbourhood.  It's quite celebrated.  I tried to get you away,
but you was as obstinate as a mule, an' kep' on singing about some sort
o' coves o' the old times that must have bin bigger blackguards than we
'ave about us now-a-days, though the song calls 'em glorious."

"Well, well," said Aspel, shrinking under the public gaze as he passed
through the streets, "don't talk about that.  Couldn't you get into some
by-lanes, where there are not so many people?  I don't like to be seen,
even by strangers, in this disreputable guise.  I wish the sun didn't
shine so brightly.  Come, push on, man."

"W'y, sir," said Bones, becoming a little more respectful in spite of
himself, "you've no need to be ashamed of your appearance.  There's not
'alf a dozen people in a mile walk in London as would look twice at you
whatever appearance you cut--so long as it was only disreputable."

"Never mind--push on," said Aspel sternly; "I _am_ ashamed whether I
have need to be or not.  I'm a fool.  I'm more--I'm a brute.  I tell you
what it is, Bones, I'm determined to turn over a new leaf.  I'll write
to Mr Blurt and tell him where I am, for, of course, I can't return to
him in such clothes as these, and--and--I'll give up drink."

Bones met this remark with an unexpected and bitter laugh.

"What d'you mean?" demanded Aspel, turning fiercely upon him.

"I mean," replied Bones, returning his stare with the utmost coolness,
"that you _can't_ give up drink, if you was to try ever so much.  You're
too far gone in it.  I've tried it myself, many a time, and failed,
though I've about as strong a will as your own--maybe stronger."

"We shall see," returned Aspel, as they moved on again and turned into
the lane which led to the wretched abode of Bones.

"Bring me pen, ink, and paper!" he exclaimed, on entering the room, with
a grand air--for a pint of ale, recently taken, had begun to operate.

Bones, falling in with his friend's humour, rummaged about until he
found the stump of a quill, a penny inkbottle, and a dirty sheet of
paper.  These he placed on a rickety table, and Aspel wrote a scrawly
note, in which he gave himself very bad names, and begged Mr Blurt to
come and see him, as he had got into a scrape, and could by no means see
his way out of it.  Having folded the note very badly, he rose with the
intention of going out to post it, but his friend offered to post it for
him.

Accepting the offer, he handed him the note and flung himself down in a
heap on the straw mattress in the dark corner, where he had first become
acquainted with Bones.  In a few seconds he was in a deep lethargic
slumber.

"What a wretched spectacle!" exclaimed Bones, touching him with his toe,
and, in bitter mockery, quoting the words that Aspel had once used
regarding himself.

He turned to leave the room, and was met by Mrs Bones.

"There's a friend o' yours in the corner, Molly.  Don't disturb him.
I'm goin' to post a letter for him, and will be back directly."

Bones went out, posted the letter in the common sewer, and returned
home.

During the brief interval of his absence Tottie had come in--on a visit
after her prolonged sojourn in the country.  She was strangling her
mother with a kiss when he entered.

"Oh, mother!  I'm _so_ happy, and _so_ sorry!" she exclaimed, laughing
and sobbing at once.

Tottie was obviously torn by conflicting emotions.  "Take your time,
darling," said Mrs Bones, smoothing the child's hair with her red
toil-worn hand.

"Ay, take it easy, Tot," said her father, with a meaning glance, that
sent a chill to the child's heart, while he sat down on a stool and
began to fill his pipe.  "What's it all about?"

"Oh! it's the beautiful country I've been in.  Mother, you can't think--
the green fields and the trees, and, oh! the flowers, and no bricks--
almost no houses--and--But did you know"--her grief recurred here--"that
Mr Aspel 'as bin lost? an' I've been tellin' _such_ lies!  We came in
to town, Miss Lillycrop an' me, and we've heard about Mr Aspel from old
Mr Blurt, who's tryin' to find him out with 'vertisements in the papers
an' detectives an' a message-boy they call Phil, who's a friend of Mr
Aspel, an' also of Peter."

"Who's Peter?" asked Mrs Bones.

"Ah, who's Peter?" echoed Mr Bones, with a somewhat sly glance under
his brows.

"He's a message-boy, and such a dear fellow," replied Tottie.  "I don't
know his other name, he didn't mention it, and they only call him little
Peter, but he saved me from the fire; at least he tried--"

"Saved you from the fire!" exclaimed Mrs Bones in amazement.

"Yes; didn't Miss Lillycrop tell you?" asked Tottie in no less surprise.

Now it is but justice to Miss Lillycrop to say that even in the midst of
her perturbation after the fire she sought to inform Mrs Bones of her
child's safety, and sent her a note, which failed to reach her, owing to
her being away at the time on one of her prolonged absences from home,
and the neighbour to whose care it had been committed had forgotten all
about it.  As Mrs Bones read no newspapers and took no interest in
fires, she knew nothing about the one that had so nearly swallowed up
Tottie.

"Come, tell us all about it, Tot.  You mentioned it to me, but we
couldn't go into details at the time," said her father, puffing a
vigorous cloud of smoke into the chimney.

Nothing loath, the child gave her parents an account of the event, which
was as glowing as the fire itself.  As she dwelt with peculiar delight
on the brave rescue effected by Aspel at the extreme peril of his life,
conscience took Abel Bones by surprise and gave him a twinge.

At that moment the sleeper in the corner heaved a deep sigh and turned
round towards the light.  Mrs Bones and the child recognised him at
once, and half rose.

"Keep still!" said Bones, in a low savage growl, which was but too
familiar to his poor wife and child.  "Now, look here," he continued in
the same voice, laying down his pipe,--"if either of you two tell man,
woman, or child w'ere George Aspel is, it'll be the death of you both,
and of him too."

"Oh, Abel! don't be hard on us," pleaded his wife.  "You would--no, you
_can't_ mean to do 'im harm!"

"No, I won't hurt him," said Bones, "but you must both give me your word
that you'll make no mention of him or his whereabouts to any one till I
give you leave."

They were obliged to promise, and Bones, knowing from experience that he
could trust them, was satisfied.

"But you'll make a promise to me too, Abel, won't you, dear?" said Mrs
Bones; "you'll promise not to do 'im harm of any kind--not to tempt
'im?"

"Yes, Molly, I promise that."

Mrs Bones knew, by some peculiarity in the tone of her husband's voice,
that he meant what he said, and was also satisfied.

"Now, Molly," said Bones, with a smile, "I want you to write a letter
for me, so get another sheet of paper, if you can; Mr Aspel used up my
last one."

A sheet was procured from a neighbouring tobacconist.  Mrs Bones always
acted as her husband's amanuensis (although he wrote very much better
than she did), either because he was lazy, or because he entertained
some fear of his handwriting being recognised by his enemies the police!
Squaring her elbows, and with her head very much on one side--almost
reposing on the left arm--Mrs Bones produced a series of hieroglyphics
which might have been made by a fly half-drowned in ink attempting to
recover itself on the paper.  The letter ran as follows:--

"Deer bil i am a-goin to doo it on mundy the 15th tother cove wont wurk
besides Iv chaningd my mind about him.  Don't fale."

"What's the address, Abel?" asked Mrs Bones.

"Willum Stiggs," replied her husband.

"So--i--g--s," said Mrs Bones, writing very slowly, "Rosebud Cottage."

"What!" exclaimed the man fiercely, as he started up.

"Oh, I declare!" said Mrs Bones, with a laugh, "if that place that
Tottie's been tellin' us of ain't runnin' in my 'ead.  But I've not writ
it, Abel, I only said it."

"Well, then, don't say it again," growled Bones, with a suspicious
glance at his wife; "write number 6 Little Alley, Birmingham."

"So--numr sx littlaly bringinghum," said Mrs Bones, completing her task
with a sigh.

When Bones went out to post this curious epistle, his wife took Tottie
on her knee, and, embracing her, rocked to and fro, uttering a moaning
sound.  The child expressed anxiety, and tried to comfort her.

"Come what's the use o' strivin' against it?" she exclaimed suddenly.
"She's sure to come to know it in the end, and I need advice from some
one--if it was even from a child."

Tottie listened with suspense and some anxiety.

"You've often told me, mother, that the best advice comes from God.  So
has Miss Lillycrop."

Mrs Bones clasped the child still closer, and uttered a short, fervent
cry for help.

"Tottie," she said, "listen--you're old enough to understand, I think.
Your father is a bad man--at least, I won't say he's altogether bad,
but--but, he's not good."

Tottie quite understood that, but said that she was fond of him
notwithstanding.

"Fond of 'im, child!" cried Mrs Bones, "that's the difficulty.  I'm so
fond of 'im that I want to save him, but I don't know how."

Hereupon the poor woman explained her difficulties.  She had heard her
husband murmuring in his sleep something about committing a burglary,
and the words Rosebud Cottage had more than once escaped his lips.

"Now, Tottie dear," said Mrs Bones firmly, "when I heard you tell all
about that Rosebud Cottage, an' the treasure Miss Stiffinthegills--"

"Stivergill, mother."

"Well, Stivergill.  It ain't a pretty name, whichever way you put it.
When I heard of the treasure she's so foolish as to keep on her
sideboard, I felt sure that your father had made up his mind to rob Miss
Stivergill--with the help of that bad man Bill Stiggs--all the more w'en
I see how your father jumped w'en I mentioned Rosebud Cottage.  Now,
Tottie, we _must_ save your father.  If he had only got me to post his
letter, I could easily have damaged the address so as no one could read
it.  As it is, I've writ it so bad that I don't believe there's a man in
the Post-Office could make it out.  This is the first time, Tottie, that
your father has made up his mind to break into a 'ouse, but when he do
make up his mind to a thing he's sure to go through with it.  He must be
stopped, Tottie, somehow--_must_ be stopped--but I don't see how."

Tottie, who was greatly impressed with the anxious determination of her
mother, and therefore with the heinous nature of her father's intended
sin, gave her entire mind to this subject, and, after talking it over,
and looking at it in all lights, came to the conclusion that she could
not see her way out of the difficulty at all.

While the two sat gazing on the ground with dejected countenances, a
gleam of light seemed to shoot from Tottie's eyes.

"Oh!  I've got it!" she cried, looking brightly up.  "Peter!"

"What! the boy you met at Rosebud Cottage?" asked Mrs Bones.

"Yes.  He's _such_ a nice boy, and you've no idea, mother, what a
inventor he is.  He could invent anythink, I do believe--if he tried,
and I'm sure he'll think of some way to help us."

Mrs Bones was not nearly so hopeful as her daughter in regard to Peter,
but as she could think of nothing herself, it was agreed that Tottie
should go at once to the Post-Office and inquire after Peter.  She did
so, and returned crestfallen with the news that Peter was away on a
holiday until the following Monday.

"Why, that's the 15th," said Mrs Bones anxiously.  "You must see him
that day, Tottie dear, though I fear it will be too late.  How did you
find him out?  There must be many Peters among the telegraph-boys."

"To be sure there are, but there are not many Peters who have helped to
save a little girl from a fire, you know," said Tottie, with a knowing
look.  "They knew who I wanted at once, and his other name is such a
funny one; it is Pax--"

"What?" exclaimed Mrs Bones, with a sudden look of surprise.

"Pax, mother; Peter Pax."

Whatever Mrs Bones might have replied to this was checked by the
entrance of her husband.  She cautioned Tottie, in earnest, hurried
tones, to say nothing about Rosebud Cottage unless asked, and especially
to make no mention whatever of the name of Pax.



CHAPTER EIGHTEEN.

BUSINESS INTERFERED WITH IN A REMARKABLE MANNER.

The modest estimate which Mrs Bones had formed of her penmanship turned
out to be erroneous, and her opinion that there was not a man in the
Post-Office able to read it was ill-founded.  She was evidently ignorant
of the powers and intelligence of the Blind Division.

To make this more plain we will follow the letter.  You and I, reader,
will post ourselves, as it were, and pass through the General
Post-Office unstamped.  At a few minutes to six p.m. the mouth is wide
enough to admit us bodily.  Mr Bones has just put in his epistle and
walked away with the air of a man who feels that he has committed
himself, and is "in for it."  He might have posted it at an office or a
pillar nearer home, but he has an idea, founded no doubt on experience,
that people, especially policemen, are apt to watch his movements and
prefers a longish walk to the General.

There! we take a header and descend with the cataract into the basket.
On emerging in the great sorting-room, somehow, we catch sight of the
Bones epistle at once.  There is no mistaking it.  We should know its
dirty appearance and awry folding--not to mention bad writing--among ten
thousand.  Having been turned with its stamp in the right direction at
the facing-tables and passed under the stamping-machines without notice,
it comes at last to one of the sorters, and effectually, though briefly,
stops him.  His rapid distributive hand comes to a dead pause.  He looks
hard at the letter, frowns, turns it upside down, turns his head a
little on one side, can make nothing of it, puts it on one side, and
continues his work.

But at the Blind Division, to which it is speedily conveyed, our letter
proves a mere trifle.  It is nothing to the hieroglyphics which
sometimes come under the observation of the blind officers.  One of
these officers gazes at it shrewdly for a few seconds.  "William Stiggs,
I think," he says, appealing to a comrade.  "Yes," replies the comrade,
"number six little lady--no--aly--oh, Little Alley, Bring--Bringing--ah,
Birmingham!"

Just so--the thing is made out almost as quickly as though it had been
written in copperplate, and the letter, redirected in red ink, finds its
way into the Birmingham mail-bag.

So far so good, but there is many a slip 'twixt the cup and the lip, and
other elements were more successful than bad writing in preventing Mr
William Stiggs from receiving that letter.

When the mail-bag containing it was put into the Travelling Post-Office
van, Mr Bright passed in after it.  Our energetic sorter was in charge
of the van that night, and went to work at once.  The letters to be
dropped at the early stages of the journey had to be commenced even
before the starting of the train.  The letter did not turn up at first.
The officials, of whom there were six in the van, had littered their
sorting-table and arranged many of the letters, and the limited mail was
flying north at full speed before the Bones epistle found its
appropriate pigeon-hole--for it must be understood that the vans of the
Travelling Post-Office--the T.P.O., as it is familiarly called by its
friends--are fitted up on one side with a long narrow table, above which
are numerous pigeon-holes, arranged somewhat like those of the
sorting-tables in the non-travelling Post-Offices.  There is a
suggestive difference, however, in the former.  Their edges are padded
to prevent the sorters' knuckles and noses from being damaged in the
event of violent jolting.  The sides and ends of the vans are padded all
round to minimise their injuries in the event of an accident.  Beyond
this padding, however, there are no luxuries--no couches or chairs; only
a few things like bicycle saddles attached to the tables, astride which
the sorters sit in front of their respective pigeon-holes.  On the other
side of the van are the pegs on which to hang the mail-bags, a lamp and
wax for sealing the same, and the apparatus for lowering and lifting the
net which catches the bags.

Everything connected with railways must needs be uncommonly strong, as
the weight of materials, coupled with high speed, subjects all the parts
of a carriage to extremely violent shocks.  Hence the bag-catching
affair is a powerful iron frame with rope netting, the moving of which,
although aided by a pulley and heavy weight, tries the strength of a
strong man.

Nimbly worked the sorters, as they swept by town and field, village,
tunnel, bridge, and meadow,--for time may not be wasted when space
between towns is being diminished at the rate of forty or fifty miles an
hour, and chaos has to be reduced to order.  The registered-letter clerk
sat in one corner in front of a set of special pigeon-holes, with a
sliding cover, which could be pulled over all like a blind and locked if
the clerk should have occasion to quit his post for a moment.  While
some were sorting, others were bagging and sealing the letters.
Presently the junior sorter, whose special duty it is to manipulate the
net, became aware that a bag-exchanging station drew near.  His eyes
might have assured him of this, but officers of the Travelling
Post-Office become so expert with their ears as to know stations by the
peculiarity of the respective sounds connected with them--caused, it
might be, by the noise of tunnels, cuttings, bridges, or even slighter
influences.

Going quietly to the apparatus above referred to, the junior sorter
looked out at the window and lowered the net, which, instead of lying
flat against the van, now projected upwards of three feet from it.  As
he did so something flashed about his feet.  He leaped aside and gave a
shout.  Fearful live creatures were sometimes sent by post, he knew, and
serpents had been known before that to take an airing in Post-Office
vans as well as in the great sorting-room of St. Martin's-le-Grand!  A
snake had only a short time before been observed at large on the floor
of one of the night mail sorting carriages on the London and
North-Western Railway, which, after a good deal of confusion and
interruption to the work, was killed.  This flashed into his mind, but
the moment was critical, and the junior sorter had no time to indulge in
private little weaknesses.  Duty required prompt action.

About a hundred yards from the approaching station, a mail-bag hung
suspended from a massive wooden frame.  The bag weighed nearly eighty
pounds.  It was fitted so exactly in its place, with reference to the
approaching train, that its neck was caught to a nicety in a fork, which
swept it with extreme violence off its hook, and laid it in the net.
This process, reversed, had been at the same moment performed on the bag
given out by the train.  To prevent the receiving and delivering
apparatus from causing mutual destruction in passing each other, the
former is affixed to the upper, the latter to the lower, part of the
van.  There was a rather severe jerk.  The junior sorter exerted his
powers, raised the net, and hauled in the bag, while the train with
undiminished speed went thundering on.

"What was that I saw on the floor?" asked the junior sorter, looking
anxiously round as he set the mail-bags down.

"Only two white mice," replied Bright, who was busy in front of his
pigeon-holes.  "They nibbled themselves out of a parcel under my very
nose.  I made a grab at 'em, but they were too quick for me."

"Isn't it strange," observed the registered-letter clerk, sealing one of
the bags which had just been made up, "that people _will_ break the law
by sending live animals through the post?"

"More strange, it seems to me," returned Bright, as he tied up a bundle
of letters, "that the people who do it can't pack 'em properly."

"There's the next station," said the junior sorter, proceeding once more
to the net.

"Whew!" shrieked the steam-whistle, as the train went crashing towards
the station.  Bright looked out.  The frame and its mail-bags were all
right and ready.  The net was lowered.  Another moment and the mail-bags
were swept into the van, while the out-going bags were swept off the
projecting arm into the fixed net of the station.  The train went
through the station with a shriek and a roar.  There was a bridge just
beyond.  The junior sorter forgot to haul up the net, which caught some
object close to the bridge--no one knew what or how.  No one ever does
on such occasions!  The result was that the whole apparatus was
demolished; the side of the van was torn out, and Mr Bright and the
junior sorter, who were leaning against it at the time, were sent, in a
shower of woodwork, burst bags, and letters, into the air.  The rest of
the van did not leave the rails, and the train shot out of sight in a
few seconds, like a giant war-rocket, leaving wreck and ruin behind!

There are many miraculous escapes in this world.  Mr Bright and the
junior sorter illustrated this truth by rising unhurt from the debris of
their recent labours, and began sadly to collect the scattered mails.
These however were not, like their guardians, undamaged.  There were
several fatal cases, and among these was the Bones epistle.  That
important document had been caught by a mass of timber and buried beyond
recovery in the ballast of the line.

But why pursue this painful subject further?  It is sufficient to say
that although the scattered mails were carefully collected, re-sorted,
and, finally, as far as possible, delivered, the letter with which we
have specially to do never reached its destination.  Indeed, it never
more saw the light of day, but remained in the hole where it had been
buried, and thus it came to pass that Mr William Stiggs failed to make
his appearance on the appointed night of the 15th, and Abel Bones was
constrained to venture on his deed of darkness alone.

On the appointed night, however, Tottie did not fail to do her best to
frustrate her father's plans.  After a solemn, and last, consultation
with her mother, she left her home with fluttering heart and dry tongue,
and made for the General Post-Office.



CHAPTER NINETEEN.

DEEP-LAID PLANS FOR CHECKMATING MR. BONES.

Now it chanced that the Post-Office Message-boys' Literary Association
had fixed to hold its first grand soiree on the night of the 15th.

It was a great occasion.  Of course it was held in Pegaway Hall, the
shed in rear of Solomon Flint's dwelling.  There were long planks on
trestles for tables, and school forms to match.  There were slabs of
indigestible cake, buns in abundance, and tea, with milk and sugar
mixed, in illimitable quantities.  There were paper flowers, and
illuminated texts and proverbs round the walls, the whole being lighted
up by two magnificent paraffin lamps, which also served to perfume the
hall agreeably to such of the members and guests as happened to be fond
of bad smells.

On this particular evening invitations had been issued to several
friends of the members of the Association, among whom were Mr Enoch
Blurt and Mr Sterling the missionary.  No ladies were invited.  A
spirited discussion had taken place on this point some nights before the
soiree, on which occasion the bashful Poker opposed the motion "that
invitations should be issued to ladies," on the ground that, being
himself of a susceptible nature, the presence of the fair sex would tend
to distract his attention from the business on hand.  Big Jack also
opposed it, as he thought it wasn't fair to the fair sex to invite them
to a meeting of boys, but Big Jack was immediately called to order, and
reminded that the Society was composed of young men, and that it was
unmanly--not to say unmannerly--to make puns on the ladies.  To this
sentiment little Grigs shouted "Hear! hear!" in deafening tones, and
begged leave to support the motion.  This he did in an eloquent but much
interrupted speech, which was finally cut short by Macnab insisting that
the time of the Society should not be taken up with an irrelevant
commentary on ladies by little Grigs; whereupon Sandy Tod objected to
interruptions in general--except when made by himself--and was going on
to enlarge on the inestimable blessing of free discussion when he was in
turn called to order.  Then Blunter and Scroggins, and Fat Collins and
Bobby Sprat, started simultaneously to their feet, but were put down by
Peter Pax, who rose, and, with a calm dignified wave of his hand,
remarked that as the question before the meeting was whether ladies
should or should not be invited to the soiree, the simplest plan would
be to put it to the vote.  On this being done, it was found that the
meeting was equally divided, whereupon the chairman--Phil Maylands--gave
his casting vote in favour of the amendment, and thus the ladies were
excluded from the soiree amid mingled groans and cheers.

But although the fair sex were debarred from joining in the festivities,
they were represented on the eventful evening in question by a Mrs
Square, an angular washer-woman with only one eye (but that was a
piercingly black one), who dwelt in the same court, and who consented to
act the double part of tea-maker and doorkeeper for that occasion.  As
most of the decorations and wreaths had been made and hung up by May
Maylands and two of her telegraphic friends, there was a pervading
influence of woman about Pegaway Hall, in spite of Phil's ungallant and
un-Irish vote.

When Tottie Bones arrived at the General Post-Office in search of Peter
Pax, she was directed to Pegaway Hall by those members of the staff
whose duties prevented their attendance at the commencement of the
soiree.

Finding the hall with difficulty, she was met and stopped by the
uncompromising and one-eyed stare of Mrs Square.

"Please, ma'am, is Mr Peter Pax here?" asked Tottie.

"Yes, he is, but he's engaged."

Tottie could not doubt the truth of this, for through the half-open door
of the hall she saw and heard the little secretary on his little legs
addressing the house.

"Please may I wait till he's done?" asked Tottie.

"You may, if you keep quiet, but I doubt if he'll 'ave time to see you
even w'en he _is_ done," said the one-eyed one, fiercely.--"D'you like
buns or cake best?"

Tottie was much surprised by the question, but stated at once her
decided preference for cake.

"Look here," said Mrs Square, removing a towel from a large basket.

Tottie looked, and saw that the basket was three-quarters full of buns
and cakes.

"That," said the washer-woman, "is their leavin's.  One on 'em called it
the debree of the feast, though what that means is best known to
hisself.  For one hour by the clock these literairies went at it, tooth
an' nail, but they failed to get through with all that was purwided,
though they stuffed themselves to their muzzles.--There, 'elp yourself."

Tottie selected a moderate slab of the indigestible cake, and sat down
on a stool to eat it with as much patience as she could muster in the
circumstances.

Peter Pax's remarks, whatever else they might have been considered,
possessed the virtue of brevity.  He soon sat down amid much applause,
and Mr Sterling rose to speak.

At this point Tottie, who had cast many anxious glances at a small clock
which hung in the outer porch or vestibule of the hall, entreated Mrs
Square to tell Pax that he was wanted very much indeed.

"I durstn't," said Mrs Square; "it's as much as my sitooation's worth.
I was told by Mr Maylands, the chairman, to allow of no interruptions
nor anythink of the kind."

"But please, ma'am," pleaded Tottie, with such an earnest face that the
woman was touched, "it's a matter of--of--life an' death--at least it
_may_ be so.  Oh! do-o-o-o tell 'im he's wanted--by Tottie Bones.  Only
say Tottie Bones, that'll be _sure_ to bring 'im out."

"Well--I never!" exclaimed Mrs Square, sticking her fists in her waist
and leaning her head to one side in critical scrutiny of her small
petitioner.  "You do seem cock-sure o' your powers.  H'm! p'r'aps you're
not far out neither.  Well, I'll try it on, though it _may_ cost me a
deal of abuse.  You sit there an' see that cats don't get at the
wittles, for the cats in this court are a sharper set than or'nar."

Mrs Square entered the hall, and begged one of the members near the
door to pass up a message--as quietly as possible--to the effect that
Mr Pax was wanted.

This was immediately done by the member shouting, irreverently, that the
secretary's mother "'ad come to take 'im 'ome."

"Order, order!  Put 'im out!" from several of the members.

"Any'ow, 'e's wanted by some one on very partikler business," growled
the irreverent member, and the secretary made his way to the door.

"W'y, Tottie!" exclaimed Pax, taking both the child's hands
patronisingly in his, "what brings you here?"

With a furtive glance at Mrs Square, Tottie said, "Oh! please, I want
to speak about something very partikler."

"Indeed! come out to the court then," said little Pax, leading the way;
"you'll be able to air the subject better there, whatever it is, and the
cats won't object.  Sorry I can't take you into the hall, little 'un,
but ladies ain't admitted."

When the child, with eager haste, stated the object of her visit, and
wound up her discourse with the earnest remark that her father _must_ be
stopped, and _mustn't_ be took, her small counsellor looked as perplexed
and anxious as herself.  Wrinkling up his smooth brow, he expressed the
belief that it was a difficult world to deal with, and he had had some
trouble already in finding out how to manage it.

"You see, Tot," he said, "this is a great evenin' with the literary
message-boys.  Not that I care a rap for that, but I've unfortunately
got to move a vote of thanks to our lecturer to-night, and say somethin'
about the lecture, which I couldn't do, you know, unless I remained to
hear it.  To be sure, I might get some one else to take my place, but
I'm not easily spared, for half the fun o' the evenin' would be lost if
they hadn't got me to make game of and air their chaff upon.  Still, as
you say, your dad must have his little game stopped.  He must be a great
blackg--I beg pardon, Tot, I mean that he must be a great disregarder of
the rights of man--woman, as it happens, in this case.  However, as you
said, with equal truth, he must not be took, for if he was, he'd
probably be hanged, and I couldn't bear to think of your father bein'
scragged.  Let me see.  When did you say he meant to start?"

"He said to mother that he'd leave at nine, and might 'ave to be out all
night."

"At nine--eh?  That would just give 'im time to get to Charing Cross to
catch the 9:30 train.  Solomon Flint's lecture will be over about eight.
I could polish 'im off in ten minutes or so, and 'ave plenty of time to
catch the same train.  Yes, that will do.  But how am I to know your
father, Tot, for you know I haven't yet had the pleasure of makin' his
acquaintance?"

"Oh, you _can't_ mistake him," replied the child confidently.  "He's a
big, tall, 'andsome man, with a 'ook nose an' a great cut on the bridge
of it all down 'is left cheek.  You'll be sure to know 'im.  But how
will you stop 'im?"

"That is more than I can tell at present, my dear," replied Pax, with a
careworn look, "but I'll hatch a plot of some sort durin' the lecture.--
Let me see," he added, with sudden animation, glancing at the limited
portion of sky that roofed the court, "I might howl 'im down!  That's
not a bad idea.  Yellin' is a powerful influence w'en brought properly
to bear.  D'you mind waitin' in the porch till the lecture's over?"

"O no!  I can wait as long as ever you please, if you'll only try to
save father," was Tottie's piteous response.

"Well, then, go into the porch and sit by the door, so that you can hear
and see what's goin' on.  Don't be afraid of the one-eyed fair one who
guards the portals.  She's not as bad as she looks; only take care that
you don't tread on her toes; she can't stand _that_."

Tottie promised to be careful in this respect, and expressed a belief
that she was too light to hurt Mrs Square, even if she did tread on her
toes accidentally.

"You're wrong, Tottie," returned Pax; "most females of your tender years
are apt to jump at wrong conclusions.  As you live longer you'll find
out that some people's toes are so sensitive that they can't bear a
feather's weight on 'em.  W'y, there's a member of our Society who riles
up directly if you even look at his toes.  We keep that member's feet in
hot water pretty continuously, we do.--There now, I'll be too late if I
keep on talkin' like this.  You'll not feel tired of the lecture, for
Solomon's sure to be interesting, whatever his subject may be.  I don't
know what it is--he hasn't told us yet.  You'll soon hear it if you
listen."

Pax re-entered the hall, and Tottie sat down by the door beside Mrs
Square, just as Solomon Flint rose to his legs amid thunders of
applause.



CHAPTER TWENTY.

THE POST OF THE OLDEN TIME.

When the applause had subsided Solomon Flint caused a slight feeling of
depression in the meeting by stating that the subject which he meant to
bring before them that evening was a historical view of the Post-Office.
Most of those present felt that they had had more than enough of the
Post-Office thrust on their attention every day of their lives, and the
irreverent member ventured to call out "Shop," but he was instantly and
indignantly called to order.

When, however, Solomon went on to state his firm belief that a
particular branch of the Post-Office began in the immediate
neighbourhood of the Garden of Eden, and that Adam was the first
Postmaster-General, the depression gave way to interest, not unmingled
with curiosity.

"You see, my young friends," continued the lecturer, "our information
with regard to the origin of the Post-Office is slight.  The same may be
said as to the origin of a'most everythink.  Taking the little
information that we do possess, and applying to it the reasoning power
which was given to us for the purpose of investigatin' an' discoverin'
truth, I come to the following conclusions:--

"Adam was a tiller of the ground.  There can be no doubt about that.
Judging from analogy, we have the best ground for supposing that while
Adam was digging in the fields Eve was at home preparing the dinner, and
otherwise attending to the domestic arrangements of the house, or hut,
or hovel, or cave.  Dinner being ready, Eve would naturally send little
Cain or Abel to fetch their father, and thus, you see, the branch of
boy-messengers began."  (Applause, mingled with laughter and cheers.)

"Of course," continued Solomon, "it may be objected--for some people can
always object--(Hear, hear)--that these were not _Post-Office_
messengers, but, my young friends, it is well known that the greater
includes the less.  As mankind is involved in Adam, and the oak is
embedded in the acorn, so it may be maintained that the first faint germ
of the Boy-Messenger Branch of the Post-Office was included in Cain and
Abel.

"Passing, however, from what I may style this Post-Office germ, over
many centuries, during which the records of postal history are few and
faint and far between, we come down to more modern times--say five or
six hundred years ago--and what do we find?"  (Here Solomon became
solemn.) "We find next to nothink!  Absolutely next to nothink!  The
Boy-Messenger Department had indeed developed amazingly, insomuch that,
whereas there were only two to begin with, there were in the 15th
century no fewer than innumerable millions of 'em in every region and
land and clime to which the 'uman family had penetrated, but no section
of them had as yet prefixed the word `Telegraph' to their name, and as
to postal arrangements, w'y, they were simply disgraceful.  Just think,
now, up to the century of which I speak--the fifteenth--there was no
regular Post-Office in this country.  Letters were conveyed by common
carriers at the rate, probably, of three or four miles an hour.  Flesh
and blood couldn't stand that, you know, so about the close of the
century, places, or `posts,' were established in some parts of the
country, where horses could be hired by travellers, and letters might be
conveyed.  The post-boys of those days evidently required spurring as
well as their horses, for letters of the period have been preserved with
the words `_Haste, post haste_' on their backs.  Sometimes the writers
seem to have been in a particularly desperate hurry.  One letter,
written by a great man of the period, had on the back of it the words,
`In haste; post haste, for thy life, for thy life, for thy life;' and it
is believed that this was no idle caution, but a threat which was apt to
be carried out if the post-boy loitered on the way."

It may be remarked that Solomon's language became more refined as he
proceeded, but lapsed into a free-and-easy style whenever he became
jocular.

"The first horse-posts," continued the lecturer, "were established for
military purposes--the convenience of the public being deemed quite a
secondary matter.  Continental nations were in advance of England in
postal arrangements, and in the first quarter of the sixteenth century
(1514) the foreign merchants residing in London were so greatly
inconvenienced by the want of regular letter conveyance, that they set
up a Post-Office of their own from London to its outports, and appointed
their own Postmaster, but, quarrelling among themselves, they referred
their dispute to Government.  James the First established a Post-Office
for letters to foreign countries, for the benefit of English merchants,
but it was not till the year 1635--in the reign of Charles the First--
that a Post-Office for inland letters was established.  It was ordained
that the Postmaster of England for foreign parts `should settle a
running post or two to run night and day between Edinburgh and London,
to go thither and come back again in six days, and to take with them all
such letters as shall be directed to any post-town in or near that
road.'

"In 1640 the Post-Office was placed under the care and superintendence
of the Principal Secretary of State, and became one of the settled
institutions of the country.

"Here, then, we have what may be considered the birth of the
Post-Office, which is now pretty nigh two centuries and a half old.  And
what a wonderful difference there is between this infant Post-Office and
the man!  _Then_, six days; _now_, less than a dozen hours, between the
capitals of England and Scotland--to say nothing of other things.  But,
my lads, we must not turn up our noses at the day of small things."

"Hear, hear," cried little Grigs, who approved the sentiment.

"Lay it to heart then, Grigs," said Peter Pax, who referred to the fact
that little Grigs's nose was turned up so powerfully by nature that it
could not help turning up at things small and great alike.

Laughter and great applause were mingled with cries of "Order," which
Solomon subdued by holding up his hand.

"At the same time," continued the lecturer, "bye-posts were set a-going
to connect the main line with large towns, such as Hull, Lincoln,
Chester, etcetera.  These bye-posts were farmed out to private
individuals, and the rates fixed at 2 pence a single letter to any place
under 80 miles; 4 pence up to 140 miles; 6 pence to any more distant
place in England; and 8 pence to Scotland.

"From that date forward the infant began to grow--sometimes slowly,
sometimes quickly, now and then by spurts--just like other infants, and
a horribly spoiled and mismanaged baby it was at first.  Those who see
it now,--in the prime of its manhood, wielding its giant strength with
such ease, accomplishing all but miraculous work with so great speed,
regularity, and certainty, and with so little fuss,--can hardly believe
what a cross-grained little stupid thing it was in those early days, or
what tremendous difficulties it had to contend with.

"In the first place, the roads in the land were few, and most of them
inconceivably bad, besides which they were infested by highwaymen, who
often took a fancy to rummage the mail-bags and scatter their contents.
The post in those days was slow, but not sure.  Then it experienced some
trouble from other infants, of the same family, who claimed a right to
share its privileges.  Among these was a Post-Office established by the
Common Council of London in direct rivalry to the Parliamentary child.
This resulted in a great deal of squabbling and pamphleteering, also in
many valuable improvements--for it is well known that opposition is the
life of trade.  The Council of State, however, came to the conclusion
that, in an affair so thoroughly national, the office of Postmaster and
the management of the Post-Office ought to rest in the sole power and
disposal of Parliament; the City posts were peremptorily suppressed;
opposition babies were quietly--no doubt righteously--murdered; and from
that date the carrying of letters has remained the exclusive privilege
of the Crown.  But considerable and violent opposition was made to this
monopoly.  This is a world of opposition, my young friends"--the
lecturer was pathetic here--"and I have no doubt whatever that it was
meant to be a world of opposition"--the lecturer was energetic here, and
drew an emphatic "Hear, hear," from the Scotch members.  "Why, it is
only by opposition that questions are ventilated and truth is
established!

"No doubt every member of this ancient and literary Society is well
acquainted with the name of Hill--(great cheering)--Sir Rowland Hill,
who in the year 1840 succeeded in getting introduced to the nation one
of the greatest boons with which it has been blessed--namely, the Penny
Post."  (Renewed cheering.) "Well, it is a curious and interesting fact
that in the middle of the seventeenth century--more than two hundred
years ago--a namesake of Sir Rowland (whether an ancestor or not I
cannot tell), a Mr John Hill, wrote a pamphlet in which monopoly was
condemned and a penny post suggested.  The title of the pamphlet was
`John Hill's Penny Post; or, A Vindication of every Englishman in
carrying Merchants' or any other Men's Letters against any restraints of
Farmers of such Employment.'  So, you see, in regard to the Penny Post,
the coming event cast its shadow about two hundred years in advance.

"The Creeping Era may be the title assigned to this period of
Post-Office history.  Little was expected of the Post-Office, and not
much was done.  Nevertheless, considering the difficulties in its way,
our infant progressed wonderfully.  Its revenue in 1649 was 5000 pounds.
Gradually it got upon its legs.  Then it monopolised post-horses and
began to run.  Waxing bolder, it also monopolised packet-boats and went
to sea.  Like all bold and energetic children, it had numerous falls,
and experienced many troubles in its progress.  Nevertheless its heart
was kept up by the steady increase of its revenue, which amounted to
76,000 pounds in 1687.  During the following seventy-eight years the
increase was twofold, and during the next ninety years (to 1854) it was
tenfold.

"It was hard times with the Post-Office officials about the beginning of
last century.

"During what we may call the Post-boy Era, the officials were maltreated
by robbers on shore and by privateers (next thing to pirates) at sea.
In fact they were compelled to become men of war.  And the troubles and
anxieties of the Postmaster-Generals were proportionately great.  The
latter had to fit out the mail-packets as ships of war, build new ships,
and sell old ones, provide stores and ammunition for the same, engage
captains and crews, and attend to their disputes, mutinies, and
shortcomings.  They had also to correspond with the deputy-postmasters
all over the country about all sorts of matters--chiefly their arrears
and carelessness or neglect of duty--besides foreign correspondence.
What the latter involved may be partly gathered from lists of the
articles sent by post at that time.  Among other things, we find
reference to `fifteen couple of hounds going to the King of the Romans
with a free pass.'  A certain `Dr Crichton, carrying with him a cow and
divers other necessaries,' is mentioned as having been posted! also `two
servant-maids going as laundresses to my Lord Ambassador Methuen,' and
`a deal case with four flitches of bacon for Mr Pennington of
Rotterdam.'  The captains of the mail-packets ought to have worn coats
of mail, for they had orders to run while they could, to fight when they
could not run, and to throw the mails overboard when fighting failed!

"Of course, it is to be hoped, this rule was not strictly enforced when
doctors and females formed part of the mails.

"In one case a certain James Vickers, captain of the mail-packet `Grace
Dogger,' lay in Dublin Bay waiting till the tide should enable him to
get over the bar.  A French privateer chanced to be on the look-out in
these waters, and pounced upon James Vickers, who was either unable or
unwilling to fight.  The French captain stripped the `Grace Dogger'--as
the chronicler writes--`of rigging, sails, spars, yards, and all
furniture wherewith she had been provided for due accommodation of
passengers, leaving not so much as a spoone, or a naile, or a hooke to
hang anything on.'  Having thus made a clean sweep of her valuables, and
having no use for the hull, the Frenchman ransomed the `Grace Dogger' to
poor J.V. for fifty guineas, which the Post-Office had to pay!

"But our mail-packets were not always thus easily or summarily mastered.
Sometimes they fought and conquered, but, whatever happened, the result
was invariably productive of expense, because wounded men had to be
cared for and cured or pensioned.  Thus one Edward James had a donation
of 5 pounds, because `a musket shot had grazed the tibia of his left
leg.'  What the _tibia_ may be, my young friends, is best known to the
doctors--I have not taken the trouble to inquire!"  (Hear, hear, and
applause.) "Then another got 12 pounds `because a shot had divided his
frontal muscles and fractured his skull;' while a third received a
yearly pension of 6 pounds, 13 shillings, 4 pence `on account of a shot
in the hinder part of the head, whereby a large division of scalp was
made.'  Observe what significance there is in that fourpence!  Don't it
speak eloquently of the strict justice of the Post-Office authorities of
those days?  Don't it tell of tender solicitude on their part thus to
gauge the value of gunshot wounds?  Might it not be said that the men
were carefully rated when wounded?  One Postmaster-General writes to an
agent at Falmouth in regard to rates: `Each arm or leg amputated above
the elbow or knee is 8 pounds per annum; below the knee, 20 nobles.
Loss of sight of one eye, 4 pounds; of pupil of the eye, 5 pounds; of
sight of both eyes, 12 pounds; of pupils of both eyes, 14 pounds.'  Our
well-known exactitude began to crop up, you see, even in those days.

"The post-boys--who in many instances were grey-headed men--also gave
the authorities much trouble, many of them being addicted to strong
drink, and not a few to dilatory habits and dishonesty.  One of them was
at one time caught in the act of breaking the laws.  At that period the
bye-posts were farmed, but the post-boys, regardless of farmers' rights,
often carried letters and brought back answers on their own account--
receiving and keeping the hire, so that neither the Post-Office nor the
farmer got the benefit.  The particular boy referred to was convicted
and committed to prison, but as he could not get bail--having neither
friends nor money--he begged to be whipped instead!  His petition was
granted, and he was accordingly whipped to his heart's content--or, as
the chronicler has it, he was whipped `to the purpose.'

"Many men of great power and energy contributed to the advance of the
Post-Office in those times.  I won't burden your minds with many of
their names however.  One of them, William Dockwra, started a penny post
in London for letters and small parcels in 1683.  Twenty-three years
later an attempt was made to start a halfpenny post in London, but that
was suppressed.

"Soon after that a great man arose named Ralph Allen.  He obtained a
lease of the cross posts from Government for life at 6000 pounds a year.
By his wisdom and energy he introduced vast improvements in the postal
system, besides making a profit of 12,000 pounds a year, which he lived
to enjoy for forty-four years, spending much of his fortune in charity
and in the exercise of hospitality to men of learning and genius.

"About the middle of last century--the eighteenth--the Post-Office,
although greatly increased in efficiency, was an insignificant affair
compared with that of the present day.  It was bound to pay into the
Exchequer 700 pounds a week.  In Ireland and Scotland improvements also
went on apace, but not so rapidly as in England, as might have been
expected, considering the mountainous nature of these countries.  In
Scotland the first modern stage-coach was introduced in 1776.  The same
year a penny post was started in Edinburgh by a certain Peter Williamson
of Aberdeen, who was a keeper of a coffee-stall in the Parliament House,
and his experiment was so successful that he had to employ four carriers
to deliver and collect letters.  These men rang a bell on their rounds
and wore a uniform.  Others soon entered into competition, but the
Post-Office authorities came forward, took the local penny post in hand,
and pensioned Williamson off.

"It was not till the end of the century that the Post-Office made one of
its greatest and most notable strides.

"The Mail-coach Era followed that of the post-boys, and was introduced
by Mr John Palmer, manager of the Bath theatre.  The post-boys had
become so unbearably slow and corrupt that people had taken to sending
valuable letters in brown paper parcels by the coaches, which had now
begun to run between most of the great towns.  Palmer, who afterwards
became Controller-General of the Post-Office, proposed that mail-bags
should be sent by passenger-coaches with trusty and armed guards.  His
advice, after some opposition, was acted on, and thus the mails came to
travel six miles an hour, instead of three or four--the result being an
immediate increase of correspondence, despite an increase of postage.
Rapidity, security, regularity, economy, are the great requisites in a
healthy postal system.  Here, then, was an advance in at least two of
these.  The advance was slight, it is true, but once more, I repeat, we
ought not to turn up our noses at the day of small things."  (Little
Grigs was going to repeat "Hear! hear!" but thought better of it and
checked himself.) "Of course there was opposition to the stage-coaches.
There always is and will be opposition to everything in a world of mixed
good and evil."  (The Scotsman here thought of repeating "Hear! hear!"
but refrained.) "One pamphleteer denounced them as the `greatest evil
that had happened of late years in these kingdoms,--mischievous to the
public, prejudicial to trade, and destructive to lands.  Those who
travel in these coaches contract an idle habit of body, become weary and
listless when they had rode a few miles, and were unable to travel on
horseback, and not able to endure frost, snow, or rain, or to lodge in
the fields.'  Opposition for ever!  So it ever is.  So it was when
foot-runners gave place to horsemen; so it was when horseflesh succumbed
to steam.  So it will be when electro-galvanic aerial locomotives take
the place--."  (The remainder of the sentence was lost in laughter and
rapturous applause.) "But roads were still intolerably bad.  Stage-coach
travelling was a serious business.  Men made their wills before setting
out on a journey.  The journey between Edinburgh and London was
advertised to last ten days in summer, and twelve in winter, and that,
too, in a so-called `flying machine on steel springs.'  But, to
return:--Our infant, having now become a sturdy youth, advanced somewhat
more rapidly.  In 1792 a money-order office was set on foot for the
first time.  It had been originally undertaken by some post-office
clerks on their own account, but was little used until the introduction
of the penny postage.  Great reforms were made in many departments.
Among them was an Act passed to authorise the sending of letter-bags by
private ships.  This originated the ship-letter system, by which letters
are now conveyed to every part of the world visited by private ships.

"Another mighty influence for good was the introduction (about 1818) of
macadamised roads, which brought travelling up to the point of ten miles
an hour.  So also was the opening for use in 1829 of St.
Martin's-le-Grand--a _grand_ event this, in every sense of the word."
(Here a member objected to punning, and was immediately hooted out of
countenance.)

"With mail-coaches, macadamised roads, security, ten miles an hour, and
a vastly increased revenue, the Post-Office seemed to have reached the
highest heights of prosperity.  The heights from which we now look down
upon these things ought to make us humble in our estimate of the future!
We have far surpassed the wildest dreams of those days, but there were
some points of picturesque interest in which we can never surpass them.
Ah! boys," said Solomon, looking up with a gleam of enthusiasm in his
eyes, "I mind the old mail-coaches well.  They had for a long time
before I knew them reached their best days.  It was about the year 1820
that most of the post-roads had been macadamised, and the service had
reached its highest state of efficiency.  In 1836 there were fifty
four-horse mails in England, thirty in Ireland, and ten in Scotland,
besides forty-nine two-horse mails in England.  Those who have not seen
the starting of the mail-coaches from the General Post-Office can never
understand the magnificence and excitement of that scene.  The coaches
were clean, trim, elegant, and glittering; the blood-horses were the
finest that could be procured, groomed to perfection, and full of fire;
the drivers and guards were tried and trusty men of mettle, in bright
scarlet costume--some of the former being lords, baronets, and even
parsons!  It was a gay and stirring sight when the insides and outsides
were seated, when the drivers seized their reins, and the bugles
sounded, the whips cracked, the impatient steeds reared, plunged, or
sprang away, and the Royal Mails flew from the yard of St.
Martin's-le-Grand towards every corner of the Kingdom.

"Their progress, too, was a sort of royal progress--a triumphal march.
Wherever they had to pass, crowds of people waited for them in subdued
excitement, hailed them with delight, and waved them on with cheers, for
they were almost the only means of distributing news; and when a great
victory, such as Trafalgar, Vittoria, or Waterloo had to be announced,
the mail-coaches--dressed in flowers and ribbons, with guards shouting
the news to eager crowds as they passed through hamlet, village, and
town--swept like a thrill of electric fire throughout the land.  News
_was_ news in those days!  You didn't get it at all till you got it
altogether, and then you got it like a thunderbolt.  There was no
dribbling of advance telegrams; no daily papers to spread the news (or
lies), and contradict 'em next day, in the same columns with
commentaries or prophetic remarks on what might or should have been, but
wasn't, until news got muddled up into a hopeless entanglement, so that
when all was at last cleared up you'd been worried out of all your
interest in it!  Yes, my lads, although I would not wish to see the
return of those stirring days, I'm free to assert that the world lost
something good, and that it was not all clear gain when the old
four-in-hand Royal Mail coaches drove out of the present into the past,
and left the Iron Horse in possession of the field.

"But nothing can arrest the hand of Time.  When mail-coaches were at
their best, and a new Great North Road was being laid out by Telford,
the celebrated engineer, another celebrated engineer, named Stephenson,
was creating strange commotion among the coal-pits of the North.  The
iron horse was beginning to snort.  Soon he began to shriek and claw the
rails.  Despite the usual opposition, he succeeded in asserting himself,
and, in the words of a disconsolate old mail-coach guard, `men began to
make a gridiron of old England.'  The romance of the road had faded
away.  No more for the old guard were there to be the exciting bustle of
the start, the glorious rush out of the smoky town into the bright
country; the crash through hamlet and village; the wayside changings;
the rough crossing of snow-drifted moorlands; the occasional breakdowns;
the difficulties and dangers; the hospitable inns; the fireside
gossipings.  The old guard's day was over, and a new act in the drama of
human progress had begun.

"The Railway Era may be said to have commenced about the time of the
opening of the Liverpool and Manchester line in 1830, though the railway
system developed slowly during the first few years.  Men did not believe
in it, and many suggestions were made to accelerate the speed of mails
in other ways.  One writer proposed balloons.  Another--Professor
Babbage--suggested a series of high pillars with wires stretched
thereon, along which letter-bags might be drawn.  He even hinted that
such pillars and wires might come to be `made available for a species of
_telegraphic communication_ yet more rapid'--a hint which is peculiarly
interesting when we consider that it was given long prior to the time of
the electric telegraph.  But the Iron Horse rode roughshod over all
other plans, and finally became the recognised and effective method of
conveyance.

"During this half-century of the mail-coach period many improvements and
alterations had been made in the working of the Post-Office.

"Among other things, the mails to India were despatched for the first
time by the `overland route'--the Mediterranean, Suez, and the Red Sea--
in 1835.  A line of communication was subsequently extended to China and
Australia.  In the following year the reduction of the stamp-duty on
newspapers to one penny led to a great increase in that branch of the
service.

"But now approached the time for the greatest reform of all--that
reduction of postage of which I have already spoken--namely, the uniform
rate of _one penny_ for all inland letters not exceeding a certain
weight.

"The average postage of a letter in 1837 was 8 pence three farthings.
Owing to the heavy rates the net proceeds of the Department had remained
stationary for nearly twenty years.  To mend this state of matters, Sir
Rowland Hill fought his long and famous fight, the particulars of which
I may not enter on just now, but which culminated in victory in 1840,
when the Penny Post was established throughout the kingdom.  Sir Rowland
still (1879) lives to witness the thorough success of his daring and
beneficent innovation!  It is impossible to form a just estimate of the
value of cheap postage to the nation,--I may say, to the world.  Trade
has been increased, correspondence extended, intelligence deepened, and
mental activity stimulated.

"The immediate result of the change was to raise the number of letters
passing through the post from seventy-six millions in 1839 to one
hundred and sixty-nine millions in 1840.  Another result was the entire
cessation of the illicit smuggling of letters.  Despite penal laws, some
carriers had been doing as large a business in illegal conveyance of
letters as the Post-Office itself!  One seizure made, a single bag in
the warehouse of a well-known London carrier, revealed eleven hundred
such letters!  The horrified head of the firm hastened to the
Postmaster-General, and offered immediate payment of 500 pounds to
escape the penalties incurred.  The money was accepted, and the letters
were all passed through the Post-Office the same night!

"Sir Rowland--then Mr--Hill had said that the Post-Office was `capable
of performing a distinguished part in the great work of national
education.'  His prophetic words have been more than justified.  People
who never wrote letters before write them now.  Those who wrote only a
few letters now write hundreds.  Only grave and important subjects were
formerly treated of by letter, now we send the most trifling as well as
the most weighty matters by the penny post in such floods that there is
scarce room to receive the correspondence, but liberal men and measures
have been equal to the emergency.  One objector to cheap rates
prophesied that their adoption would cause the very walls of the General
Post-Office to burst.  Well, it has seemed as if his prophecy were about
to come true, especially on recent Christmas eves, but it is not yet
fulfilled, for the old place has a tough skin, and won't burst up for a
considerable time to come."  (Great applause.)

"Financially, too," continued Solomon, "the Penny Post reform was an
immense success, though at first it showed a tendency to hang fire.  The
business of the Money-Order Office was enormously increased, as the
convenience of that important department became obvious to the public,
and trade was so greatly improved that many tradesmen, at the end of the
first three years, took the trouble to write to the Post-Office to tell
how their business had increased since the introduction of the change.
In short, the Penny Post would require a lecture to itself.  I will
therefore dismiss it with the remark that it is one of the greatest
blessings of modern times, and that the nation owes an everlasting debt
of gratitude to its author.

"With decreased rates came the other great requisites,--increased speed
and security; and now, as you all know, the work of the Post-Office, in
all its wide ramifications, goes on with the uniform regularity of a
good chronometer from year to year.

"To the special duty of letter-carrying the Post-Office has now added
the carriage of books and patterns, and a Savings-Bank as well as a
Money Order department; but if I were to enlarge on the details of all
this it would become necessary to order coffee and buns for the whole
Society of literary message-boys, and make up our beds on the floor of
Pegaway Hall--(Hear! hear! applause, and cries of `Go on!')--to avoid
which I shall bring my discourse to a close, with a humble apology for
having detained you so long."



CHAPTER TWENTY ONE.

TELLS OF A SERIES OF TERRIBLE SURPRISES.

"Well, what did you think of that, old girl?" asked Peter Pax of Tottie,
on issuing from the Literary Message-Boys' Hall, after having performed
his duties there.

"It was wonderful.  I 'ad no idear that the Post-Office was so old or so
grand a' institootion--But please don't forget father," said Tottie,
with an anxious look at the battered clock.

"I don't forget 'im, Tot.  I've been thinkin' about 'im the whole time,
an' I've made up my mind what to do.  The only thing I ain't sure of is
whether I shouldn't take my friend Phil Maylands into partnership."

"Oh, please, don't," pleaded Tottie; "I shouldn't like 'im to know about
father."

"Well, the less he knows about 'im the better.  P'r'aps you're right.
I'll do it alone, so you cut away home.  I'll go to have my personal
appearance improved, and then off to Charing Cross.  Lots of time,
Tottie.  Don't be anxious.  Try if you can trust me.  I'm small, no
doubt, but I'm tough.--Good-night."

When Abel Bones seated himself that night in a third-class carriage at
Charing Cross, and placed a neat little black hand-bag, in which he
carried his housebreaking tools, on the floor between his feet, a small
negro boy entered the carriage behind him, and, sitting down directly
opposite, stared at him as if lost in unutterable amazement.

Mr Bones took no notice of the boy at first, but became annoyed at last
by the pertinacity of his attention.

"Well, you chunk of ebony," he said, "how much are you paid a week for
starin'?"

"No pound no shillin's an' nopence, massa, and find myself," replied the
negro so promptly that Bones smiled in spite of himself.  Being,
however, in no mood for conversation, he looked out at the carriage
window and let the boy stare to his heart's content.

On drawing up to the platform of the station for Rosebud Cottage, Mr
Bones seemed to become anxious, stretched his head out at the carriage
window, and muttered to himself.  On getting out, he looked round with a
disappointed air.

"Failed me!" he growled, with an anathema on some one unknown.  "Well,
I'll do it alone," he muttered, between his teeth.

"O no! you won't, my fine fellow," thought the negro boy; "I'll help you
to do it, and make you do it badly, if you do it at all.--May I carry
your bag, massa?" he added, aloud.

Mr Bones replied with a savage kick, which the boy eluded nimbly, and
ran with a look of mock horror behind a railway van.  Here he put both
hands to his sides, and indulged in a chuckle so hearty--though
subdued--that an ordinary cat, to say nothing of a Cheshire one, might
have joined him from sheer sympathy.

"O the brute!" he gasped, on partially recovering, "and Tottie!--
Tottie!! why she's--" Again this eccentric boy went off into subdued
convulsions, in which state he was discovered by a porter, and chased
off the premises.

During the remainder of that night the "chunk of ebony" followed Mr
Bones like his shadow.  When he went down to the small public-house of
the hamlet to moisten his throat with a glass of beer, the negro boy
waited for him behind a hay-stack; when he left the public-house, and
took his way towards Rosebud Cottage, the boy walked a little behind
him--not far behind, for the night was dark.  When, on consulting his
watch, with the aid of a match, Bones found that his time for action had
not arrived and sat down by the side of a hedge to meditate, the chunk
crept through a hole in the same hedge, crawled close up like a panther,
lay down in the grass on the other side, and listened.  But he heard
nothing, for the burglar kept his thoughts, whatever they might have
been, to himself.  The hour was too still, the night too dark, the scene
too ghostly for mutterings.  Peering through the hedge, which was high
and thick, the boy could see the red glow of Mr Bones's pipe.

Suddenly it occurred to Pax that now was a favourable opportunity to
test his plan.  The hedge between him and his victim was impassable to
any one larger than himself; on his side the ground sloped towards a
plantation, in which he could easily find refuge if necessary.  There
was no wind.  Not a leaf stirred.  The silence was profound--broken only
by the puffing of the burglar's lips.  Little Pax was quick to conceive
and act.  Suddenly he opened his mouth to its widest, took aim where he
thought the ear of Bones must be, and uttered a short, sharp, appalling
yell, compared to which a shriek of martyrdom must have been as nothing.

That the effect on Bones was tremendous was evinced by the squib-like
action of his pipe, as it flew into the air, and the stumbling clatter
of his feet, as he rushed blindly from the spot.  Little Pax rolled on
the grass in indescribable ecstasies for a few seconds, then crept
through the hole, and followed his victim.

But Bones was no coward.  He had only been taken by surprise, and soon
stopped.  Still, he was sufficiently superstitious to look frequently
over his shoulder as he walked in the direction of Miss Stivergill's
Cottage.

Pax was by that time on familiar ground.  Fearing that Bones was not to
be scared from his purpose by one fright, he made a detour, got ahead of
him, and prepared to receive him near the old well of an adjoining farm,
which stood close by the road.  When the burglar's footsteps became
audible, he braced himself up.  As Bones drew near Pax almost burst his
little chest with an inhalation.  When Bones was within three feet of
him, he gave vent to such a skirl that the burglar's reason was again
upset.  He bounded away, but suddenly recovered self-possession, and,
turning round, dashed at the old well, where Pax had prematurely begun
to enjoy himself.

To jump to his feet and run like the wind was the work of a moment.
Bones followed furiously.  Rage lent him for the moment unwonted power.
He kept well up for some distance, growling fiercely as he ran, but the
lithe limbs and sound lungs of the boy were too much for him.  He soon
fell behind, and finally stopped, while Pax ran on until out of breath.

Believing that he had now rid himself of some mischievous boy of the
neighbourhood, the burglar turned back to transact his business at
Rosebud Cottage.

Peter Pax also turned in the same direction.  He felt that things were
now beginning to look serious.  To thwart Mr Bones in his little game
by giving information as to his intentions, would have been easy, but
then that would have involved his being "took," which was not to be
thought of.  At the same time, it was evident that he was no longer to
be scared by yells.

Somewhat depressed by his failure, Pax hastened towards the cottage as
fast as he could, resolved to give his enemy a last stunning reception
in the garden, even although, by so doing, he would probably scare Miss
Stivergill and her household out of their wits.

He reached the garden some minutes before Bones, and clambered over the
wall.  While in the very act of doing so, he felt himself seized by the
throat and nearly strangled.

"Now then, young 'un," growled a deep voice, which was not that of
Bones, "what little game may you be up to?"

"Ease your grip and I'll tell you," gasped Pax.

It was the constable of the district who had caught him.  That faithful
guardian of the night, having been roused by the unwonted yells, and
having heard Pax's footsteps, had followed him up.

"I'm not a burglar, sir," pleaded Pax, not well knowing what to say.
Suddenly he opened his mouth in desperation, intending to give one final
yell, which might scare Bones from his impending fate, but it was nipped
in the bud by the policeman's strong hand.

"Ha! you'd give your pal a signal, would you?" he said, in a gruff
whisper.  "Come now, keep quiet if you don't want to be choked.  You
can't save 'im, so you'd better give in."

Poor Pax now saw that nothing more could be done.  He therefore made a
virtue of necessity, and revealed as much of the object of his mission
as he deemed prudent.  The man believed him, and, on his promising to
keep perfectly still, released him from his deadly grip.

While the policeman and the boy lay thus biding their time in the
shrubbery, Bones got over the wall and quietly inspected the premises.

"I'll let him begin, and take him in the act," whispered the policeman.

"But he's an awful big, strong, determined feller," said Pax.

"So am I," returned the policeman, with a smile, which was lost in the
dark.

Now it so happened that Miss Lillycrop, who had been spending that day
with Miss Stivergill, had been induced to spend the night also with her
friend.  Of course these two had much to talk about--ladies generally
have in such circumstances--and they were later than usual in going to
bed.  Mr Bones was therefore, much against his will, obliged to delay
the execution of his plans.  Little dreaming that two admirers lay in
ambush about fifty yards off, he retired to a dark corner behind a bit
of old wall, and there, appropriately screened by a laurel bush, lit his
pipe and enjoyed himself.

"My dear," said Miss Stivergill to her friend about midnight, "we must
go to bed.  Do you go up to my room; I'll follow after looking round."

It was the nightly practice of this lady to go over her premises from
cellar to garret, to make quite sure that the servant had fastened every
bolt and bar and lock.  She began with the cellars.  Finding everything
right there, she went to the dining-room windows.

"Ha! the gipsy!--unbolted, and the shutters open!" exclaimed Miss
Stivergill, fastening the bolt.

"H'm!  The old fool," thought the burglar, observing her tall square
figure while thus engaged, "might as well bolt the door of Newgate with
a steel pen.  Cottage window-gear is meant for show, not for service,
old girl."

"I look round regularly every night," observed Miss Stivergill, entering
her bedroom, in which Miss Lillycrop usually occupied a chair bed when
on a visit to The Rosebud.  "You've no idea how careless servants are
(`Haven't I, just?' thought her friend), and although I have no personal
fear of burglars, I deem it advisable to interpose some impediments to
their entrance."

"But what would you do if they did get in?" asked Miss Lillycrop, in
some anxiety, for she had a very strong personal fear of burglars.

"Oh!  I have several little plans for their reception," replied the
lady, with a quiet smile.  There's a bell in the corner there, which was
meant for the parish church, but was thought to be a little too small.
I bought it, had a handle affixed to it, as you see, and should ring it
at an open window if the house were attempted.

"But they might rush in at the door and stop you--kill you even!"
suggested the other, with a shudder.

"Have you not observed," said Miss Stivergill, "that I lock my door on
the inside?  Besides, I have other little appliances which I shall
explain to you in the morning, for I scorn to be dependent on a
man-servant for protection.  There's a revolver in that drawer beside
you"--Miss Lillycrop shrank from the drawer in question--"but I would
only use it in the last extremity, for I am not fond of taking human
life.  Indeed, I would decline to do so even to save my own, but I
should have no objection to maim.  Injuries about the legs or feet might
do burglars spiritual as well as physical good in the long-run, besides
being beneficial to society.--Now, my dear, good-night."

Miss Stivergill extinguished the candle as violently as she would have
maimed a burglar, and poor Miss Lillycrop's heart leapt as she was
suddenly plunged into total darkness--for she was naturally timid, and
could not help it.

For some time both ladies lay perfectly still; the hostess enjoying that
placid period which precedes slumber; the guest quaking with fear caused
by the thoughts that the recent conversation had raised.

Presently Miss Lillycrop raised herself on one elbow, and glared in the
direction of her friend's bed so awfully that her eyes all but shone in
the dark.

"Did you hear THAT, dear?" she asked, in a low whisper.

"Of course I did," replied Miss Stivergill aloud.  "Hush! listen."

They listened and heard "that" again.  There could be no doubt about
it--a curious scratching sound at the dining-room window immediately
below theirs.

"Rats," said Miss Stivergill in a low voice.

"Oh!  I _do_ hope so," whispered Miss Lillycrop.  She entertained an
inexpressible loathing of rats, but compared with burglars they were as
bosom friends whom she would have welcomed with a glad shudder.

In a few minutes the scratching ceased and a bolt or spring snapped.
The wildest of rats never made a sound like that!  Miss Lillycrop sat
bolt up in her bed, transfixed with horror, and could dimly see her
friend spring from her couch and dart across the room like a ghostly
phantom.

"Lilly, if you scream," said Miss Stivergill, in a voice so low and
stern that it caused her blood to curdle, "I'll do something awful to
you.--Get up!"

The command was peremptory.  Miss Lillycrop obeyed.

"Here, catch hold of the bell-handle--so.  Your other hand--there--keep
the tongue fast in it, and don't ring till I give the word."

Miss Lillycrop was perfect in her docility.

A large tin tea-tray hung at the side of Miss Stivergill's bed.  Beside
it was a round ball with a handle to it.  Miss Lillycrop had wondered
what these were there for.  She soon found out.

Miss Stivergill put the dressing-table a little to one side, and placed
a ewer of water on it.

At that moment the dining-room window was heard to open slowly but
distinctly.

Miss Stivergill threw up the bedroom window.

The marrow in Miss Lillycrop's spine froze.

Mr Bones started and looked up in surprise.  He received a deluge of
water on his face, and at the same moment a ewer burst in atoms on the
gravel at his feet--for Miss Stivergill did nothing by halves.  But
Bones was surprise-proof by that time; besides, the coveted treasure was
on the sideboard--almost within his grasp.  He was too bold a villain to
be frightened by women, and he knew that sleeping country-folk are not
quickly roused to succour the inmates of a lonely cottage.  Darting into
the room, he tumbled over chairs, tables, work-boxes, fire-irons, and
coal-scuttle.

"Ring!" said Miss Stivergill sharply.  At the same moment she seized the
tea-tray in her left hand and belaboured it furiously with the
drumstick.

"Ring out at the window!" shouted Miss Stivergill.

Miss Lillycrop did so until her spinal marrow thawed.

The noise was worse than appalling.  Little Pax, unable to express his
conflicting emotions in any other way, yelled with agonising delight.
Even the hardened spirit of Bones trembled with mingled feelings of
alarm and surprise.  He found and grasped the coveted box, and leaped
out of the window with a bound.  It is highly probable that he would
have got clear off but for the involuntary action of Miss Lillycrop.  As
that lady's marrow waxed warm she dashed the great bell against the
window-sill with such fervour that it flew from her grasp and descended
full on the burglar's cranium, just as he leaped into the arms of the
policeman, and both fell heavily to the ground.  The guardian of the
night immediately jumped up uninjured, but Bones lay prone on the green
sward--stunned by the bell.

"That's well done, anyhow, an' saved me a world o' trouble," said the
constable, looking up at the window as he held the burglar down, though
there was little necessity for that.  "You couldn't shy me over a bit of
rope, could you, ma'am?"

Miss Stivergill, to whom nothing seemed difficult, and who had by that
time stopped her share in the noise, went into a cupboard and fetched
thence a coil of rope.

"I meant it to be used in the event of fire," she said quietly to her
friend, who had thrown herself flat on her bed, "but it will serve other
purposes as well.--There, policeman."

She threw it down, and when Bones recovered consciousness he found
himself securely tied and seated in a chair in the Rosebud kitchen--the
policeman looking at him with interest, and the domestics with alarm.
Miss Stivergill regarded him with calm severity.

"Now he's quite safe, ma'am, but I can't venture to take 'im to the
station alone.  If you'll kindly consent to keep an eye on him, ma'am,
till I run down for a comrade, I'll be greatly obleeged.  There's no
fear of his wrigglin' out o' that, ma'am; you may make your mind easy."

"My mind is quite easy, policeman; you may go.  I shall watch him."

When the man had left, Miss Stivergill ordered the servants to leave the
kitchen.  Little Pax, who had discreetly kept out of range of the
burglar's eye, went with them, a good deal depressed in spirit, for his
mission had failed.  The burglary had not indeed, been accomplished,
but--"father" was "took."

When Miss Stivergill was left alone with the burglar she gazed at him
for some time in silence.

"Man," she said at length, "you are little Bones's father."

"If you means Tottie, ma'am, I is," replied Bones, with a look and tone
which were not amiable.

"I have a strong feeling of regard for your child, though not a scrap of
pity for yourself," said Miss Stivergill, with a frown.

Mr Bones muttered something to the effect that he returned the
compliment with interest.

"For Tottie's sake I should be sorry to see you transported," continued
the lady, "therefore I mean to let you off.  Moreover, bad as you are, I
believe you are not so bad as many people would think you.  Therefore
I'm going to trust you."

Bones looked inquiringly and with some suspicion at his captor.  He
evidently thought there was a touch of insanity about her.  This was
confirmed when Miss Stivergill, seizing a carving-knife from the
dresser, advanced with masculine strides towards him.  He made a
desperate effort to burst his bonds, but they were too scientifically
arranged for that.  "Don't fear," said the lady, severing the cord that
bound the burglar's wrists, and putting the knife in his hands.  "Now,"
she added, "you know how to cut yourself free, no doubt."

"Well, you _are_ a trump!" exclaimed Bones, rapidly touching his bonds
at salient points with the keen edge.

In a few seconds he was free.

"Now, go away," said Miss Stivergill, "and don't let me see you here
again."

Bones looked with admiration at his deliverer, but could only find words
to repeat that she _was_ a trump, and vanished through the back-door,
just as a band of men, with pitchforks, rakes, spades, and lanterns,
came clamouring in at the front garden gate from the neighbouring farm.

"What is it?" exclaimed the farmer.

"Only a burglar," answered Miss Stivergill.

"Where is he?" chorussed everybody.

"That's best known to himself," replied the lady, who, in order to give
the fugitive time, went into a minute and slow account of the whole
affair--excepting, of course, her connivance at the escape--to the great
edification of her audience, among whom the one who seemed to derive the
chief enjoyment was a black boy.  He endeavoured to screen himself
behind the labourers, and was obviously unable to restrain his glee.

"But what's come of 'im, ma'am?" asked the farmer impatiently.

"Escaped!" answered Miss Stivergill.

"Escaped!" echoed everybody, looking furtively round, as though they
supposed he had only escaped under the dresser or into the keyhole.

"Escaped!" repeated the policeman, who entered at the moment with two
comrades; "impossible!  I tied 'im so that no efforts of his own could
avail 'im.  Somebody _must_ 'ave 'elped 'im."

"The carving-knife helped him," said Miss Stivergill, with a look of
dignity.--"Perhaps, instead of speculating how he escaped, policeman, it
would be better to pursue him.  He can't be very far off, as it is not
twenty minutes since he cut himself free."

In a state of utter bewilderment the policeman rushed out of the
cottage, followed by his comrades and the agriculturists.  Peter Pax
essayed to go with them, but was restrained by an iron grip on his
collar.  Pulling him back, Miss Stivergill dragged her captive into a
parlour and shut the door.

"Come now, little Pax," she said, setting the boy in a chair in front of
her, "you needn't try to deceive _me_.  I'd know you among a thousand in
any disguise.  If you were to blacken your face with coal-tar an inch
thick your impertinence would shine through.  You know that the burglar
is little Bones's father; you've a pretty good guess that I let him off.
You have come here for some purpose in connection with him.  Come--out
with it, and make a clean breast."

Little Pax did make a clean breast then and there, was washed white,
supped and slept at The Rosebud, returned to town next day by the first
train, and had soon the pleasure of informing Tottie that the intended
burglary had been frustrated, and that her father wasn't "took" after
all.



CHAPTER TWENTY TWO.

SHOWS HOW ONE THING LEADS TO ANOTHER, AND SO ON.

It is a mere truism to state that many a chain of grave and far-reaching
events is set in motion by some insignificant trifle.  The touching of a
trigger by a child explodes a gun which extinguishes a valuable life,
and perhaps throws a whole neighbourhood into difficulties.  The
lighting of a match may cause a conflagration which shall "bring down"
an extensive firm, some of whose dependants, in the retail trade, will
go down along with it, and cause widespreading distress, if not ruin,
among a whole army of greengrocers, buttermen, and other small fry.

The howling of a bad baby was the comparatively insignificant event
which set going a certain number of wheels, whose teeth worked into the
cogs which revolved in connection with our tale.

The howling referred to awoke a certain contractor near Pimlico with a
start, and caused him to rise off what is popularly known as the "wrong
side."  Being an angry man, the contractor called the baby bad names,
and would have whipped it had it been his own.  Going to his office
before breakfast with the effects of the howl strong upon him, he met a
humble labourer there with a surly "Well, what do you want?"

The labourer wanted work.  The contractor had no work to give him.  The
labourer pleaded that his wife and children were starving.  The
contractor didn't care a pinch of snuff for his wife or children, and
bade him be off.  The labourer urged that the times were very hard, and
he would be thankful for any sort of job, no matter how small.  He
endeavoured to work on the contractor's feelings by referring to the
premature death, by starvation, of his pet parrot, which had been for
years in the family, and a marvellous speaker, having been taught by his
mate Bill.  The said Bill was also out of work, and waiting for him
outside.  He too would be thankful for a job--anything would do, and
they would be willing to work for next to nothing.  The contractor still
professed utter indifference to the labourer's woes, but the incident of
the parrot had evidently touched a cord which could not be affected by
human suffering.  After a few minutes' consideration he said there _was_
a small job--a pump at the corner of a certain street not far off had to
be taken down, to make way for contemplated alterations.  It was not
necessary to take it down just then, but as the labourers were so hard
up for a job they were at liberty to undertake that one.

Thus two wheels were set in motion, and the result was that the old pump
at the corner of Purr Street was uprooted and laid low by these
labourers, one of whom looked into the lower end of the pump and said
"Hallo!"

His companion Bill echoed the "Hallo!" and added "What's up?"

"W'y, if there ain't somethink queer inside of the old pump," said the
labourer, going down on both knees in order to look more earnestly into
it.  "I do b'lieve it's letters.  Some double-extra stoopids 'ave bin
an' posted 'em in the pump."

He pulled out handfuls of letters as he spoke, some of which, from their
appearance, must have lain there for years, while others were quite
fresh!

A passing letter-carrier took charge of these letters, and conveyed them
to the Post-Office, where the machinery of the department was set in
motion on them.  They were examined, faced, sorted, and distributed.
Among them was the letter which George Aspel had committed to the care
of Tottie Bones at the time of his first arrival in London, and thus it
came to pass that the energies of Sir James Clubley, Baronet, were
roused into action.

"Dear me! how strange!" said Sir James to himself, on reading the
letter.  "This unaccountable silence is explained at last.  Poor fellow,
I have judged him hastily.  Come!  I'll go find him out."

But this resolve was more easily made than carried into effect.  At the
hotel from which the letter had been dated nothing was known of the
missing youth except that he had departed long long ago, leaving as his
future address the name of a bird-stuffer, which name had unfortunately
been mislaid--not lost.  Oh no--only mislaid!  On further inquiry,
however, there was a certain undersized, plain-looking, and rather
despised chamber-maid who retained a lively and grateful recollection of
Mr Aspel, in consequence of his having given her an unexpectedly large
tip at parting, coupled with a few slight but kindly made inquiries as
to her welfare, which seemed to imply that he regarded her as a human
being.  She remembered distinctly his telling her one evening that if
any one should call for him in his absence he was to be found at the
residence of a lady in Cat Street, Pimlico, but for the life of her she
couldn't remember the number, though she thought it must have been
number nine, for she remembered having connected it in her mind with the
well-known lives of a cat.

"Cat Street!  Strange name--very!" said Sir James.  "Are you sure it was
Cat Street?"

"Well, I ain't quite sure, sir," replied the little plain one, with an
inquiring frown at the chandelier, "but I know it 'ad somethink to do
with cats.  P'r'aps it was Mew Street; but I'm _quite_ sure it was
Pimlico."

"And the lady's name?"

"Well, sir, I ain't sure of that neither.  It was somethink queer, I
know, but then there's a-many queer names in London--ain't, there, sir?"

Sir James admitted that there were, and advised her to reflect on a few
of them.

The little plain one did reflect--with the aid of the chandelier--and
came to the sudden conviction that the lady's name had to do with
flowers.  "Not roses--no, nor yet violets," she said, with an air of
intense mental application, for the maiden's memory was largely
dependent on association of ideas; "it might 'ave been marigolds, though
it don't seem likely.  Stay, was it water--?--Oh! it was lilies!  Yes, I
'ave it now: Miss Lilies-somethink."

"Think again, now," said the Baronet, "everything depends on the
`something,' for Miss Lilies is not so extravagantly queer as you seem
to think her name was."

"That's true, sir," said the perplexed maid, with a last appealing gaze
at the chandelier, and beginning with the first letter of the alphabet--
Miss Lilies A-- Lilies B-- Lilies C--, etcetera, until she came to K.
"That's it now.  I 'ave it _almost_.  It 'ad to do with lots of lilies,
I'm quite sure--quantities, it must 'ave been."

On Sir James suggesting that quantities did not begin with a K the
little plain one's feelings were slightly hurt, and she declined to go
any further into the question.  Sir James was therefore obliged to rest
content with what he had learned, and continued his search in Pimlico.
There he spent several hours in playing, with small shopkeepers and
policemen, a game somewhat analogous to that which is usually commenced
with the words "Is it animal, vegetable, or mineral?"  The result was
that eventually he reached Number 9 Purr Street, and found himself in
the presence of Miss Lillycrop.

That lady, however, damped his rising hopes by saying that she did not
know where George Aspel was to be found, and that he had suddenly
disappeared--to her intense regret--from the bird-warehouse in which he
had held a situation.  It belonged to the brothers Blurt, whose address
she gave to her visitor.

Little Tottie Bones, who had heard the conversation through the open
parlour door, could have told where Aspel was to be found, but the
promise made to her father sealed her lips; besides, particular
inquiries after any one were so suggestive to her of policemen, and
being "took," that she had a double motive to silence.

Mr Enoch Blurt could throw no light on the subject, but he could, and
did, add to Sir James's increasing knowledge of the youth's reported
dissipation, and sympathised with him strongly in his desire to find out
Aspel's whereabouts.  Moreover, he directed him to the General
Post-Office, where a youth named Maylands, a letter-sorter--who had
formerly been a telegraph message-boy,--and an intimate friend of Aspel,
was to be found, and might be able to give some information about him,
though he (Mr Blurt) feared not.

Phil Maylands could only say that he had never ceased to make inquiries
after his friend, but hitherto without success, and that he meant to
continue his inquiries until he should find him.

Sir James Clubley therefore returned in a state of dejection to the
sympathetic Miss Lillycrop, who gave him a note of introduction to a
detective--the grave man in grey,--a particular friend and ally of her
own, with whom she had scraped acquaintance during one of her many
pilgrimages of love and mercy among the poor.

To the man in grey Sir James committed his case, and left him to work it
out.

Now, the way of a detective is a mysterious way.  Far be it from us to
presume to point it out, or elucidate or expound it in any degree.  We
can only give a vague, incomplete, it may be even incorrect, view of
what the man in grey did and achieved, nevertheless we are bound to
record what we know as to this officer's proceedings, inasmuch as they
have to do with the thread of our narrative.

It may be that other motives, besides those connected with George Aspel,
induced the man in grey to visit the General Post-Office, but we do not
certainly know.  It is quite possible that a whole host of subsidiary
and incidental cases on hand might have induced him to take up the
Post-Office like a huge stone, wherewith to knock down innumerable birds
at one and the same throw; we cannot tell.  The brain of a detective
must be essentially different from the brains of ordinary men.  His
powers of perception--we might add, of conception, reception, deception,
and particularly of interception--are marvellous.  They are altogether
too high for us.  How then can we be expected to explain why it was
that, on arriving at the Post-Office, the man in grey, instead of asking
eagerly for George Aspel at the Inquiry Office, or the Returned Letter
Office, or the _poste restante_, as any sane man would have done, began
to put careless and apparently unmeaning questions about little dogs,
and to manifest a desire to be shown the chief points of interest in the
basement of St. Martin's-le-Grand?

In the gratifying of his desires the man in grey experienced no
difficulty.  The staff of the Post-Office is unvaryingly polite and
obliging to the public.  An order was procured, and he soon found
himself with a guide traversing the mysterious regions underneath the
splendid new building where the great work of postal telegraphy is
carried on.

While his conductor led him through the labyrinthine passages in which a
stranger would infallibly have lost his way, he explained the various
objects of interest--especially pointing out the racks where thousands
on thousands of old telegrams are kept, for a short time, for reference
in case of dispute, and then destroyed.  He found the man in grey so
intelligent and sympathetic that he quite took a fancy to him.

"Do you happen to remember," asked the detective, in a quiet way, during
a pause in his companion's remarks, "anything about a mad dog taking
refuge in this basement some time ago--a small poodle I think it was--
which disappeared in some mysterious way?"

The conductor had heard a rumour of such an event, but had been ill and
off duty at the time, and could give him no details.

"This," said he, opening a door, "is the Battery Room, where the
electricity is generated for the instruments above.--Allow me to
introduce you to the Battery Inspector."

The man in grey bowed to the Inspector, who was a tall, powerful man,
quite fit, apparently, to take charge of a battery of horse artillery if
need were.

"A singular place," remarked the detective, looking sharply round the
large room, whose dimensions were partially concealed, however, by the
rows of shelving which completely filled it from floor to ceiling.

"Somewhat curious," assented the Inspector; "you see our batteries
require a good deal of shelving.  All put together, there is in this
room about three miles of shelving, completely filled, as you see, with
about 22,000 cells or jars.  The electricity is generated in these jars.
They contain carbon and zinc plates in a solution of bichromate of
potash and sulphuric acid and water.  We fill them up once every two
weeks, and renew the plates occasionally.  There is a deal of sulphate
of copper used up here, sir, in creating electricity--about six tons in
the year.  Pure copper accumulates on the plates in the operation, but
the zinc wears away."

The detective expressed real astonishment and interest in all this, and
much more that the Inspector told him.

"Poisonous stuff in your jars, I should fancy?" he inquired.

"Rather," replied the Inspector.

"Does your door ever stand open?" asked the detective.

"Sometimes," said the other, with a look of slight surprise.

"You never received a visit down here from a mad dog, did you?" asked
the man in grey.

"Never!"

"I only ask the question," continued the other, in a careless tone,
"because I once read in the newspapers of a poodle being chased into the
Post-Office and never heard of again.  It occurred to me that poison
might account for it.--A curious-looking thing here; what is it?"

He had come to a part of the Battery Room where there was a large frame
or case of dark wood, the surface of which was covered with innumerable
brass knobs or buttons, which were coupled together by wires.

"That is our Battery Test-Box," explained the Inspector.  "There are
four thousand wires connected with it--two thousand going to the
instruments up-stairs, and two thousand connected with the battery-jars.
When I complete the circuit by connecting any couple of these buttons,
the influence of the current is at once perceived."

He took a piece of charcoal, as he spoke, and brought it into contact
with two of the knobs.  The result was to convert the coal instantly
into an intense electric light of dazzling beauty.  The point of an
ordinary lead pencil applied in the same way became equally brilliant.

"That must be a powerful battery," remarked the detective.

The Inspector smilingly took two handles from a neighbouring shelf and
held them out to his visitor.

"Lay hold of these," he said, "and you will feel its powers."

The detective did as directed, and received a shock which caused him to
fling down the handles with great promptitude and violence.  He was too
self-possessed a man, however, to seem put out.

"Strong!" he said, with a short laugh; "remarkably strong and
effective."

"Yes," assented the Inspector, "it _is_ pretty powerful, and it requires
to be so, for it does heavy work and travels a considerable distance.
The greater the distance, you know, the greater the power required to do
the work and transmit the messages.  This is the battery that fires two
signal-guns every day at one o'clock--one at Newcastle, the other at
South Shields, and supplies Greenwich time to all our principal stations
over a radius of three hundred miles.--I sent the contents of one
hundred and twenty jars through you just now!"

"That's curious and interesting; I may even say it is suggestive,"
returned the detective, in a meditative tone.  "Double that number of
jars, now, applied to the locks of street doors at night and the
fastenings of windows would give a powerful surprise to burglars."

"Ah, no doubt, and also to belated friends," said the Inspector, "not to
mention the effect on servant-maids in the morning when people forgot to
disconnect the wires."

The man in grey admitted the truth of the observation, and, thanking the
Battery Inspector for his kind attentions, bade him a cordial adieu.
Continuing his investigation of the basement, he came to the three huge
fifty-horse-power engines, whose duty it is to suck the air from the
pneumatic telegraph tubes in the great hall above.  Here the detective
became quite an engineer, asked with much interest and intelligence
about governors, pistons, escape-valves, actions, etcetera, and wound up
with a proposition.

"Suppose, now," he said, "that a little dog were to come suddenly into
this room and dash about in a miscellaneous sort of way, could it by any
means manage to become entangled in your machinery and get so demolished
as never more to be seen or heard of?"

The engineer looked at his questioner with a somewhat amused expression.
"No, sir, I don't think it could.  No doubt it might kill itself with
much facility in various ways, for fifty horsepower, properly applied,
would do for an elephant, much more a dog.  But I don't believe that
power to be sufficient to produce annihilation.  There would have been
remains of some sort."

From the engine-room our detective proceeded to the boiler-room and the
various kitchens, and thence to the basement of the old building on the
opposite side of the street, where he found a similarly perplexing
labyrinth.  He was taken in hand here by Mr Bright, who chanced to be
on duty, and led him first to the Stamp Department.  There was much to
draw him off his "canine" mania here.  First he was introduced to the
chief of the department, who gave him much interesting information about
stamps in general.

Then he was conducted to another room, and shown the tables at which men
were busy counting sheets of postage-stamps and putting them up in
envelopes for all parts of the United Kingdom.  The officer in charge
told him that the weight of stamps sent out from that room averaged a
little over three tons daily, and that the average value of the weekly
issue was 150,000 pounds.  Then he was led into a fireproof safe--a
solid stone apartment--which was piled from floor to ceiling with sheets
of postage-stamps of different values.  Those for letters ranged from
one halfpenny to one pound, but those used for telegrams ran up to as
much as five pounds sterling for a single stamp.  Taking down from a
shelf a packet of these high-priced stamps, which was about the size of
a thick octavo book, the official stated that it was worth 35,000
pounds.

"Yes, sir," he added, "this strong box of ours holds a deal of money.
You are at this moment in the presence of nearly two millions sterling!"

"A tidy little sum to retire upon.  Would build two thousand Board
Schools at a thousand pounds each," said the detective, who was an adept
at figures,--as at everything else.

Feeling that it would be ridiculous to inquire about mad dogs in the
presence of two millions sterling, the man in grey suffered himself to
be led through long passages and vaulted chambers, some of which latter
were kitchens, where the men on duty had splendid fires, oceans of hot
water, benches and tables, and liberty to cook the food either brought
by themselves for the day or procured from a caterer on the premises--
for Post-Office officials when on duty may not leave the premises for
any purpose whatever, _except_ duty, and must sign books specifying to
the minute when, where, and why, they come and go.  In this basement
also, as in the other, were long rows of numbered cupboards or large
pigeon-holes with lockable doors, one of which was appropriated to each
man for the safe depositing of his victuals and other private property.

Here, too, were whitewashed lavatories conveniently and plentifully
distributed, with every appliance for cleanliness and comfort, including
a large supply of fresh and good water.  Of this, 49,000 gallons a day
is supplied by an artesian well, and 39,000 gallons a day by the New
River Company, in the new building.  In the old building the 27,000
gallons consumed daily is supplied by the New River Company.  It is,
however, due to the 5900 human beings who labour in both buildings to
state that at least 55,000 of these gallons are swallowed by
steam-engines on the premises.

To all these things Mr Bright directed attention with professional
zeal, and the man in grey observed with much interest all that he saw
and heard, until he came to the letter-carriers' kitchen, where several
of the men were cooking food at the fire, while others were eating or
chatting at the tables.

Happening to mention the dog here, he found that Mr Bright was
partially acquainted with the incident.

"It was down these stairs it ran," he said, "and was knocked on the head
in this very room by the policeman.  No one knows where he took the body
to, but he went out at that door, in the direction, it is supposed, of
the boiler-house."

The detective had at last got hold of a clew.  He was what is styled, in
a well-known game, "getting warm."

"Let us visit the boiler-house," he said.

Again, for the nonce, he became an engineer.  Like Paul, he was all
things to all men.  He was very affable to the genial stoker, who was
quite communicative about the boilers.  After a time the detective
referred to the dog, and the peculiar glance of the stoker at once
showed him that his object was gained.

"A policeman brought it?" he asked quietly.

"Yes, a policeman brought it," said the stoker suspiciously.

The man in grey soon, however, removed his suspicions and induced him to
become confidential.  When he had obtained all the information that the
stoker could give--in addition to poor Floppart's collar, which had no
name on it, but was stamped with three stars on its inside--the
detective ceased to make any further inquiries after mad dogs, and, with
a disengaged mind, accompanied Mr Bright through the remainder of the
basement, where he commented on the wise arrangement of having the
mail-bags made by convicts, and on the free library, which he pronounced
a magnificent institution, and which contained about 2000 volumes, that
were said by the courteous librarian to be largely used by the
officials, as well as the various newspapers and magazines, furnished
gratuitously by their proprietors.  He was also shown the "lifts," which
raised people--to say nothing of mails, etcetera--from the bottom to the
top of the building, or _vice versa_; the small steam-engine which
worked the same, and the engineer of which--an old servant--was
particularly impressive on the peculiar "governor" by which his engine
was regulated; the array of letter stampers, which were kept by their
special guardian in immaculate order and readiness; the fire-hose, which
was also ready for instant service, and the firemen, who were in
constant attendance with a telegraphic instrument at their special
disposal, connecting them with other parts of the building.  All this,
and a great deal more which we have not space to mention, the man in
grey saw, admired, and commented on, as well as on the general evidence
of order, method, regularity, neatness, and system which pervaded the
whole place.

"You manage things well here," he said to his conductor at parting.

"We do," responded Mr Bright, with an approving nod; "and we had need
to, for the daily despatch of Her Majesty's mails to all parts of the
world is no child's play.  Our motto is--or ought to be--`Security,
Celerity, Punctuality, and Regularity.'  We couldn't carry that out,
sir, without good management.--Good-bye."

"Good-bye, and thank you," said the detective, leaving St.
Martin's-le-Grand with his busy brain ruminating on a variety of
subjects in a manner that no one but a detective could by any
possibility understand.



CHAPTER TWENTY THREE.

THE TURNING-POINT.

As time advanced Philip Maylands' circumstances improved, for Phil
belonged to that class of which it is sometimes said "they are sure to
get on."  He was thorough-going and trustworthy--two qualities these
which the world cannot do without, and which, being always in demand,
are never found begging.

Phil did not "set up" for anything.  He assumed no airs of superior
sanctity.  He did not even aim at being better than others, though he
did aim, daily, at being better than he was.  In short, the lad, having
been trained in ways of righteousness, and having the Word of God as his
guide, advanced steadily and naturally along the narrow way that leads
to life.  Hence it came to pass in the course of time that he passed
from the ranks of Out-door Boy Telegraph Messenger to that of
Boy-Sorter, with a wage of twelve shillings a week, which was raised to
eighteen shillings.  His hours of attendance at the Circulation
Department were from 4:30 in the morning till 9; and from 4:30 in the
evening till 8.  These suited him well, for he had ever been fond of
rising with the lark while at home, and had no objection to rise before
the lark in London.  The evening being free he devoted to study--for
Phil was one of that by no means small class of youths who, in default
of a College education, do their best to train themselves, by the aid of
books and the occasional help of clergymen, philanthropists, and evening
classes.

In all this Phil was greatly assisted by his sister May, who, although
not much more highly educated than himself, was quick of perception, of
an inquiring mind, and a sympathetic soul.  He was also somewhat
assisted, and, at times, not a little retarded, by his ardent admirer
Peter Pax, who joined him enthusiastically in his studies, but, being of
a discursive and enterprising spirit, was prone to tempt him off the
beaten paths of learning into the thickets of speculative philosophy.

One evening Pax was poring over a problem in Euclid with his friend in
Pegaway Hall.

"Phil," he said uneasily, "drop your triangles a bit and listen.  Would
you think it dishonest to keep a thing secret that ought to be known?"

"That depends a good deal on what the secret is, and what I have got to
do with it," replied Phil.  "But why do you ask?"

"Because I've been keeping a secret a long time--much against my will--
an' I can stand it no longer.  If I don't let it out, it'll bu'st me--
besides, I've got leave to tell it."

"Out with it, then, Pax; for it's of no use trying to keep down things
that don't agree with you."

"Well, then," said Pax.  "I know where George Aspel is!"

Phil, who had somewhat unwillingly withdrawn his mind from Euclid,
turned instantly with an eager look towards his little friend.

"Ah, I thought that would rouse you," said the latter, with a look of
unwonted earnestness on his face.  "You must know, Phil, that a long
while ago--just about the time of the burglary at Miss Stivergill's
cottage--I made the amazin' discovery that little Tottie Bones is
Mariar--alias Merry,--the little baby-cousin I was nuss to in the
country long ago, whom I've often spoke to you about, and from whom I
was torn when she had reached the tender age of two or thereby.  It
follows, of course, that Tottie's father--old Bones--is my uncle,
_alias_ Blackadder, _alias_ the Brute, of whom I have also made mention,
and who, it seems, came to London to try his fortune in knavery after
havin' failed in the country.  I saw him once, I believe, at old Blurt's
bird-shop, but did not recognise 'im at the time, owin' to his hat bein'
pulled well over his eyes, though I rather think he must have recognised
me.  The second time I saw him was when Tottie came to me for help and
set me on his tracks, when he was goin' to commit the burglary on
Rosebud Cottage.  I've told you all about that, but did not tell you
that the burglar was Tottie's father, as Tottie had made me promise not
to mention it to any one.  I knew the rascal at once on seeing him in
the railway carriage, and could hardly help explodin' in his face at the
fun of the affair.  Of course he didn't know me on account of my bein'
as black in the face as the King of Dahomey.--Well," continued Pax,
warming with his subject, "it also follows, as a matter of course, that
Mrs Bones is my blessed old aunt Georgie--now changed into Molly, on
account, no doubt, of the Brute's desire to avoid the attentions of the
police.  Now, as I've a great regard for aunt Georgie, and have lost a
good deal of my hatred of the Brute, and find myself fonder than ever of
Tottie--I beg her pardon, of Merry--I've been rather intimate--indeed, I
may say, pretty thick--with the Boneses ever since; and as I am no
longer a burden to the Brute--can even help 'im a little--he don't
abominate me as much as he used to.  They're wery poor--awful poor--are
the Boneses.  The Brute still keeps up a fiction of a market-garden and
a dairy--the latter bein' supplied by a cow and a pump--but it don't
pay, and the business in the city, whatever it may be, seems equally
unprofitable, for their town house is not a desirable residence."

"This is all very interesting and strange, Pax, but what has it to do
with George Aspel?" asked Phil.  "You know I'm very anxious about him,
and have long been hunting after him.  Indeed, I wonder that you did not
tell me about him before."

"How could I," said Pax, "when Tot--I mean Merry--no, I'll stick to
Tottie it comes more natural than the old name--told me not for worlds
to mention it.  Only now, after pressin' her and aunt Georgie wery hard,
have I bin allowed to let it out, for poor Aspel himself don't want his
whereabouts to be known."

"Surely!" exclaimed Phil, with a troubled, anxious air, "he has not
become a criminal."

"No.  Auntie assures me he has not, but he is sunk very low, drinks hard
to drown his sorrow, and is ashamed to be seen.  No wonder.  You'd
scarce know 'im, Phil, workin' like a coal-heaver, in a suit of dirty
fustian, about the wharves--tryin' to keep out of sight.  I've come
across 'im once or twice, but pretended not to recognise 'im.  Now,
Phil," added little Pax, with deep earnestness in his face, as he laid
his hand impressively on his friend's arm, "we must save these two men
somehow--you and I."

"Yes, God helping us, we must," said Phil.

From that moment Philip Maylands and Peter Pax passed, as it were, into
a more earnest sphere of life, a higher stage of manhood.  The influence
of a powerful motive, a settled purpose, and a great end, told on their
characters to such an extent that they both seemed to have passed over
the period of hobbledehoyhood at a bound, and become young men.

With the ardour of youth, they set out on their mission at once.  That
very night they went together to the wretched abode of Abel Bones,
having previously, however, opened their hearts and minds to May
Maylands, from whom, as they had expected, they received warm
encouragement.

Little did these unsophisticated youths know what a torrent of anxiety,
grief, fear, and hope their communication sent through the heart of poor
May.  The eager interest she manifested in their plans they regarded as
the natural outcome of a kind heart towards an old friend and
playfellow.  So it was, but it was more than that!

The same evening George Aspel and Abel Bones were seated alone in their
dismal abode in Archangel Court.  There were tumblers and a pot of beer
before them, but no food.  Aspel sat with his elbows on the table,
grasping the hair on his temples with both hands.  The other sat with
arms crossed, and his chin sunk on his chest, gazing gloomily but
intently at his companion.

Remorse--that most awful of the ministers of vengeance--had begun to
torment Abel Bones.  When he saved Tottie from the fire, Aspel had
himself unwittingly unlocked the door in the burglar's soul which let
the vengeful minister in.  Thereafter Miss Stivergill's illustration of
mercy, _for the sake of another_, had set the unlocked door ajar, and
the discovery that his ill-treated little nephew had nearly lost his
life in the same cause, had pulled the door well back on its rusty
hinges.

Having thus obtained free entrance, Remorse sat down and did its work
with terrible power.  Bones was a man of tremendous passions and
powerful will.  His soul revolted violently from the mean part he had
been playing.  Although he had not succeeded in drawing Aspel into the
vortex of crime as regards human law, he had dragged him very low, and,
especially, had fanned the flame of thirst for strong drink, which was
the youth's chief--at least his most dangerous--enemy.  His thirst was
an inheritance from his forefathers, but the sin of giving way to it--of
encouraging it at first when it had no power, and then of gratifying it
as it gained strength, until it became a tyrant--was all his own.  Aspel
knew this, and the thought filled him with despair as he sat there with
his now scarred and roughened fingers almost tearing out his hair, while
his bloodshot eyes stared stonily at the blank wall opposite.

Bones continued to gaze at his companion, and to wish with all his heart
that he had never met him.  He had, some time before that, made up his
mind to put no more temptation in the youth's way.  He now went a step
further--he resolved to attempt the task of getting him out of the
scrapes into which he had dragged him.  But he soon found that the will
which had always been so powerful in the carrying out of evil was
woefully weak in the unfamiliar effort to do good!

Still, Bones had made up his mind to try.  With this end in view he
proposed a walk in the street, the night being fine.  Aspel sullenly
consented.  The better to talk the matter over, Bones proposed to retire
to a quiet though not savoury nook by the river-side.  Aspel objected,
and proposed a public-house instead, as being more cheerful.

Just opposite that public-house there stood one of those grand
institutions which are still in their infancy, but which, we are
persuaded, will yet take a prominent part in the rescue of thousands of
mankind from the curse of strong drink.  It was a "public-house without
drink"--a coffee-tavern, where working men could find a cheap and
wholesome meal, a cheerful, warm, and well-lit room wherein to chat and
smoke, and the daily papers, without being obliged to swallow fire-water
for the good of the house.

Bones looked at the coffee-house, and thought of suggesting it to his
companion.  He even willed to do so, but, alas! his will in this matter
was as weak as the water which he mingled so sparingly with his grog.
Shame, which never troubled him much when about to take a vicious
course, suddenly became a giant, and the strong man became weak like a
little child.  He followed Aspel into the public-house, and the result
of this first effort at reformation was that both men returned home
drunk.

It seemed a bad beginning, but it _was_ a beginning, and as such was not
to be despised.

When Phil and Pax reached Archangel Court, a-glow with hope and good
resolves, they found the subjects of their desires helplessly asleep in
a corner of the miserable room, with Mrs Bones preparing some warm and
wholesome food against the period of their recovery.

It was a crushing blow to their new-born hopes.  Poor little Pax had
entertained sanguine expectations of the effect of an appeal from Phil,
and lost heart completely.  Phil was too much cast down by the sight of
his friend to be able to say much, but he had a more robust spirit than
his little friend, and besides, had strong faith in the power and
willingness of God to use even weak and sinful instruments for the
accomplishment of His purposes of mercy.

Afterwards, in talking over the subject with his friend Sterling, the
city missionary, he spoke hopefully about Aspel, but said that he did
not expect any good could be done until they got him out of his
miserable position, and away from the society of Bones.

To his great surprise the missionary did not agree with him in this.

"Of course," he said, "it is desirable that Mr Aspel should be restored
to his right position in society, and be removed from the bad influence
of Bones, and we must use all legitimate means for those ends; but we
must not fall into the mistake of supposing that `no good can be done'
by the Almighty to His sinful creatures even in the worst of
circumstances.  No relatives or friends solicited the Prodigal Son to
leave the swine-troughs, or dragged him away.  It was God who put it
into his heart to say `I will arise and go to my father.'  It was God
who gave him `power to will and to do.'"

"Would you then advise that we should do nothing for him, and leave him
entirely in the hands of God?" asked Phil, with an uncomfortable feeling
of surprise.

"By no means," replied the missionary.  "I only combat your idea that no
good can be done to him if he is left in his present circumstances.  But
we are bound to use every influence we can bring to bear in his behalf,
and we must pray that success may be granted to our efforts to bring him
to the Saviour.  Means must be used as if means could accomplish all,
but means must not be depended on, for `it is God who giveth us the
victory.'  The most appropriate and powerful means applied in the wisest
manner to your friend would be utterly ineffective unless the Holy
Spirit gave him a receptive heart.  This is one of the most difficult
lessons that you and I and all men have to learn, Phil--that God must be
all in all, and man nothing whatever but a willing instrument.  Even
that mysterious willingness is not of ourselves, for `it is God who
maketh us both to will and to do of His good pleasure.'  `Without me,'
says Jesus, `ye can do nothing.'  A rejecter of Jesus, therefore, is
helpless for good, yet responsible."

"That is hard to understand," said Phil, with a perplexed look.

"The reverse of it is harder to understand, as you will find if you
choose to take the trouble to think it out," replied the missionary.

Phil Maylands did take the trouble to think it out.  One prominent trait
in his character was an intense reverence for truth--any truth, every
truth--a strong tendency to distinguish between truth and error in all
things that chanced to come under his observation, but especially in
those things which his mother had taught him, from earliest infancy, to
regard as the most important of all.

Many a passer-by did Phil jostle on his way to the Post-Office that day,
after his visit to the missionary, for it was the first time that his
mind had been turned, earnestly at least, to the subject of God's
sovereignty and man's responsibility.

"Too deep by far for boys," we hear some reader mutter.  And yet that
same reader, perchance, teaches her little ones to consider the great
fact that God is One in Three!

No truth is too deep for boys and girls to consider, if they only
approach it in a teachable, reverent spirit, and are brought to it by
their teacher in a prayerful spirit.  But fear not, reader.  We do not
mean to inflict on you a dissertation on the mysterious subject referred
to.  We merely state the fact that Phil Maylands met it at this period
of his career, and, instead of shelving it--as perhaps too many do--as a
too difficult subject, which might lie over to a more convenient season,
tackled it with all the energy of his nature.  He went first to his
closet and his knees, and then to his Bible.

"To the law and to the testimony" used to be Mrs Maylands' watchword in
all her battles with Doubt.  "To whom shall we go," she was wont to say,
"if we go not to the Word of God?"

Phil therefore searched the Scripture.  Not being a Greek scholar, he
sought help of those who were learned--both personally and through
books.  Thus he got at correct renderings, and by means of dictionaries
ascertained the exact meanings of words.  By study he got at what some
have styled the general spirit of Scripture, and by reading _both_ sides
of controverted points he ascertained the thoughts of various minds.  In
this way he at length became "fully persuaded in his own mind" that
God's sovereignty and man's responsibility are facts taught in
Scripture, and affirmed by human experience, and that they form a great
unsolvable mystery--unsolvable at least by man in his present condition
of existence.

This not only relieved his mind greatly, by convincing him that, the
subject being bottomless, it was useless to try to get to the bottom of
it, and wise to accept it "as a little child," but it led him also to
consider that in the Bible there are two kinds of mysteries, or deep
things--the one kind being solvable, the other unsolvable.  He set
himself, therefore, diligently to discover and separate the one kind
from the other, with keen interest.

But this is by the way.  Phil's greatest anxiety and care at that time
was the salvation of his old friend and former idol, George Aspel.



CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR.

PLANS AND COUNTER PLANS.

One evening Phil sat in the sorting-room of the General Post-Office with
his hand to his head--for the eight o'clock mail was starting; his head,
eyes, and hands had been unusually active during the past two hours, and
when the last bundle of letters dropped from his fingers into the
mail-bags, head, eyes, and hands were aching.

A row of scarlet vans was standing under a platform, into which
mail-bags, apparently innumerable, were being shot.  As each of these
vans received its quota it rattled off to its particular railway
station, at the rate which used, in the olden time, to be deemed the
extreme limit of "haste, haste, post haste."  The yard began to empty
when eight o'clock struck.  A few seconds later the last of the scarlet
vans drove off; and about forty tons of letters, etcetera, were flying
from the great centre to the circumference of the kingdom.

Phil still sat pressing the aching fingers to the aching head and eyes,
when he was roused by a touch on the shoulder.  It was Peter Pax, who
had also, by that time, worked his way upwards in the service.

"Tired, Phil?" asked Pax.

"A little, but it soon passes off," said Phil lightly, as he rose.
"There's no breathing-time, you see, towards the close, and it's the
pace that kills in everything."

"Are you going to Pegaway Hall to-night?" asked Pax, "because, if so,
I'll go with you, bein', so to speak, in a stoodious humour myself."

"No, I'm not going to study to-night,--don't feel up to it.  Besides, I
want to visit Mr Blurt.  The book he lent me on Astronomy ought to be
returned, and I want to borrow another.--Come, you'll go with me."

After exchanging some books at the library in the basement, which the
man in grey had styled a "magnificent institootion," the two friends
left the Post-Office together.

"Old Mr Blurt is fond of you, Pax."

"That shows him to be a man of good taste," said Pax, "and his lending
you and me as many books as we want proves him a man of good sense.  Do
you know, Phil, it has sometimes struck me that, what between our
Post-Office library and the liberality of Mr Blurt and a few other
friends, you and I are rather lucky dogs in the way of literature."

"We are," assented Phil.

"And ought, somehow, to rise to somethin', some time or other," said
Pax.

"We ought--and will," replied the other, with a laugh.

"But do you know," continued Pax, with a sigh, "I've at last given up
all intention of aiming at the Postmaster-Generalship."

"Indeed, Pax!"

"Yes.  It wouldn't suit me at all.  You see I was born and bred in the
country, and can't stand a city life.  No; my soul--small though it be--
is too large for London.  The metropolis can't hold me, Phil.  If I were
condemned to live in London all my life, my spirit would infallibly
bu'st its shell an' blow the bricks and mortar around me to atoms."

"That's strange now; it seems to me, Pax, that London is country and
town in one.  Just look at the Parks."

"Pooh! flat as a pancake.  No ups and downs, no streams, no thickets, no
wild-flowers worth mentioning--nothin' wild whatever 'cept the child'n,"
returned Pax, contemptuously.

"But look at the Serpentine, and the Thames, and--"

"Bah!" interrupted Pax, "would you compare the Thames with the clear,
flowing, limpid--"

"Come now, Pax, don't become poetical, it isn't your forte; but listen
while I talk of matters more important.  You've sometimes heard me
mention my mother, haven't you?"

"I have--with feelings of poetical reverence," answered Pax.

"Well, my mother has been writing of late in rather low spirits about
her lonely condition in that wild place on the west coast of Ireland.
Now, Mr Blurt has been groaning much lately as to his having no female
relative to whom he could trust his brother Fred.  You know he is
obliged to look after the shop, and to go out a good deal on business,
during which times Mr Fred is either left alone, or under the care of
Mrs Murridge, who, though faithful, is old and deaf and stupid.  Miss
Lillycrop would have been available once, but ever since the fire she
has been appropriated--along with Tottie Bones--by that female Trojan
Miss Stivergill, and dare not hint at leaving her.  It's a good thing
for her, no doubt, but it's unfortunate for Mr Fred.  Now, do you see
anything in the mists of that statement?"

"Ah--yes--just so," said Pax; "Mr Blurt wants help; mother wants
cheerful society.  A sick-room ain't the perfection of gaiety, no doubt,
but it's better than the west coast of Ireland--at least as depicted by
you.  Yes, somethin' might come o' that."

"More may come of it than you think, Pax.  You see I want to provide
some sort of home for George Aspel to come to when we save him--for
we're sure to save him at last.  I feel certain of that," said Phil,
with something in his tone that did not quite correspond to his
words--"quite certain of that," he repeated, "God helping us.  I mean to
talk it over with May."

They turned, as he spoke, into the passage which led to Mr Flint's
abode.

May was at home, and she talked the matter over with Phil in the boudoir
with the small window, and the near prospect of brick wall, and the
photographs of the Maylands, and the embroidered text that was its
occupant's sheet-anchor.

She at once fell in with his idea about getting their mother over to
London, but when he mentioned his views about her furnishing a house so
as to offer a home to his friend Aspel, she was apparently distressed,
and yet seemed unable to explain her meaning, or to state her objections
clearly.

"Oh!  Phil, dear," she said at last, "don't plan and arrange too much.
Let us try to walk so that we may be led by God, and not run in advance
of him."

Phil was perplexed and disappointed, for May not only appeared to throw
cold water on his efforts, but seemed unwilling to give her personal aid
in the rescue of her old playmate.  He was wrong in this.  In the
circumstances, poor May could not with propriety bring personal
influence to bear on Aspel, but she could and did pray for him with all
the ardour of a young and believing heart.

"It's a very strange thing," continued Phil, "that George won't take
assistance from any one.  I know that he is in want--that he has not
money enough to buy respectable clothes so as to be able to appear among
his old friends, yet he will not take a sixpence from me--not even as a
loan."

May did not answer.  With her face hid in her hands she sat on the edge
of her bed, weeping at the thought of her lover's fallen condition.
Poor May!  People said that telegraphic work was too hard for her,
because her cheeks were losing the fresh bloom that she had brought from
the west of Ireland, and the fingers with which she manipulated the keys
so deftly were growing very thin.  But sorrow had more to do with the
change than the telegraph had.

"It must be pride," said her brother.

"Oh!  Phil," she said, looking up, "don't you think that shame has more
to do with it than pride?"

Phil stooped and kissed her.

"Sure it's that, no doubt, and I'm a beast entirely for suggesting
pride."

"Supper!  Hallo in there," shouted Mr Flint, thundering at the door;
"don't keep the old 'ooman waiting!"

Phil and May came forth at once, but the former would not remain to
supper.  He had to visit Mr Blurt, he said, and might perhaps sup with
him.  Pax would go with him.

"Well, my lads, please yourselves," said Mr Flint,--wheeling the old
woman to the table, on which smoked a plentiful supply of her favourite
sausages.

"Let me take the cat off your lap, grannie," said May.

"Let the cat be, lassie; it's daein' nae ill.  Are the callants gaein'
oot?"

"Yes, grannie," said Phil, "we have business to attend to."

"Bizness!" exclaimed Mrs Flint.  "Weel, weel, they lay heavy burdens on
'ee at that Post-Office.  Night an' day--night an' day.  They've maist
killed my Solomon.  They've muckle to answer for."

In her indignation she clenched her fist and brought it down on her
knee.  Unfortunately the cat came between the fist and the knee.  With
its usual remonstrative mew it fled and found a place of rest and refuge
in the coal-box.

"But it's not to the Post-Office we're goin', grannie," said Phil,
laying his hand kindly on the old woman's shoulder.

"What o' that? what o' that?" she exclaimed somewhat testily at being
corrected, "has that onything to dae wi' the argiment?  If ye git yer
feet wat, bairns, mind to chynge them--an' whatever ye dae--"

She stopped suddenly.  One glance at her placid old countenance sufficed
to show that she had retired to the previous century, from which nothing
now could recall her except sausages.  The youths therefore went out.

Meanwhile Mr Enoch Blurt sat in his brother's back shop entertaining a
visitor.  The shop itself had, for a considerable time past, been put
under the care of an overgrown boy, who might--by courtesy and a
powerful stretch of truth--have been styled a young man.

Jiggs--he appeared to have no other name--was simply what men style a
born idiot: not sufficiently so to be eligible for an asylum, but far
enough gone to be next to useless.  Mr Blurt had picked him up
somewhere, in a philanthropic way--no one ever knew how or where--during
one of his many searches after George Aspel.  Poor Mr Blurt was not
happy in his selection of men or boys.  Four of the latter whom he had
engaged to attend the shop and learn the business had been dismissed for
rough play with the specimens, or making free with the till when a few
coppers chanced to be in it.  They had failed, also, to learn the
business; chiefly because there was no business to learn, and Mr Enoch
Blurt did not know how to teach it.  When he came in contact with Jiggs,
Mr Blurt believed he had at last secured a prize, and confided that
belief to Mrs Murridge.  So he had, as regards honesty.  Jiggs was
honest to the core; but as to other matters he was defective--to say the
least.  He could, however, put up and take down the shutters, call Mr
Blurt down-stairs if wanted--which he never was; and tell customers,
when he was out, to call again--which he never did, as customers never
darkened the door.  Jiggs, however, formed a sufficient scarecrow to
street boys and thieves.

The visitor in the back shop--to whom we now return--was no less a
personage than Miss Gentle, whose acquaintance Mr Blurt had made on
board the ill-fated mail steamer _Trident_.  That lady had chanced, some
weeks before, to pass the ornithological shop, and, looking in, was
struck dumb by the sight of the never-forgotten fellow-passenger who had
made her a confidant.  Recovering speech, she entered the shop and
introduced herself.  The introduction was needless.  Mr Blurt
recognised her at once, dropped his paper, extended both hands, gave her
a welcome that brought even Jiggs back to the verge of sanity, and had
her into the back shop, whence he expelled Mrs Murridge to some other
and little-known region of the interior.

The interview was so agreeable that Mr Blurt begged it might be
repeated.  It was repeated four times.  The fifth time it was repeated
by special arrangement in the evening, for the purpose of talking over a
business matter.

"I fear, Miss Gentle," began Mr Blurt, when his visitor was seated in
the back shop, and Mrs Murridge had been expelled to the rear as usual,
and Jiggs had been left on guard in the front--"I fear that you may
think it rude in me to make such a proposal, but I am driven to it by
necessity, and--the fact is, I want you to become a nurse."

"A nurse, Mr Blurt!"

"There, now, don't take offence.  It's below your position, I dare say,
but I have gathered from you that your circumstances are not--are not--
not exactly luxurious, and,--in short, my poor brother Fred is a
hopeless invalid.  The doctors say he will never be able to leave his
bed.  Ah! if those diamonds I once spoke to you about had only been mine
still, instead of adorning the caves of crabs and fishes, Miss Gentle, I
would have had half-a-dozen of the best nurses in London for dear Fred.
But the diamonds are gone!  I am a poor man, a very poor man, Miss
Gentle, and I cannot afford a good nurse.  At the same time, I cannot
bear to think of Fred being, even for a brief period, at the mercy of
cheap nurses, who, like other wares, are bad when cheap--although, of
course, there may be a few good ones even among the cheap.  What I
cannot buy, therefore, I must beg; and I have come to you, as one with a
gentle and pitiful spirit, who may, perhaps, take an interest in my poor
brother's case, and agree to help us."

Having said all this very fast, and with an expression of eager anxiety,
Mr Blurt blew his nose, wiped his bald forehead, and, laying both hands
on his knees, looked earnestly into his visitor's face.

"You are wrong, Mr Blurt, in saying that the office of nurse is below
my position.  It is below the position of no one in the land.  I may not
be very competent to fill the office, but I am quite willing to try."

"My dear madam," exclaimed the delighted Mr Blurt, "your goodness is--
but I expected as much.  I knew you would.  Of course," he said,
interrupting himself, "all the menial work will be done by Mrs
Murridge.  You will be only required to fill, as it were, the part of a
daughter--or--or a sister--to my poor Fred.  As to salary: it will be
small, very small, I fear; but there are a couple of nice rooms in the
house, which will be entirely at your--"

"I quite understand," interrupted Miss Gentle, with a smile.  "We won't
talk of these details, please, until you have had a trial of me, and see
whether I am worthy of a salary at all!"

"Miss Gentle," returned Mr Blurt, with sudden gravity, "your extreme
kindness emboldens me to put before you another matter of business,
which I trust you will take into consideration in a purely business
light.--I am getting old, madam."

Miss Gentle acknowledged the truth with a slight bow.

"And you are--excuse me--not young, Miss Gentle."

The lady acknowledged this truth with a slighter bow.

"You would not object to regard me in the light of a brother, would
you?"

Mr Blurt took one of her hands in his, and looked at her earnestly.

Miss Gentle looked at Mr Blurt quite as earnestly, and replied that she
had no objection whatever to that.

"Still further, Miss Gentle: if I were to presume to ask you to regard
me in the light of a husband, would you object to that?"

Miss Gentle looked down and said nothing, from which Mr Blurt concluded
that she did _not_ object.  She withdrew her hand suddenly, however, and
blushed.  There was a slight noise at the door.  It was Jiggs, who, with
an idiotical stare, asked if it was not time to put up the shutters!

The plan thus vexatiously interrupted was, however, ultimately carried
into effect.  Miss Gentle, regardless of poverty, the absence of
prospects, and the certainty of domestic anxiety, agreed to wed Mr
Enoch Blurt and nurse his brother.  In consideration of the paucity of
funds, and the pressing nature of the case, she also agreed to dispense
with a regular honeymoon, and to content herself with, as it were, a
honey-star at home.

Of course, the event knocked poor Phil's little plans on the head for
the time being, though it did not prevent his resolving to do his utmost
to bring his mother to London.



CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE.

LIGHT SHINING IN DARK PLACES.

Down by the river-side, in an out-of-the-way and unsavoury
neighbourhood, George Aspel and Abel Bones went one evening into a small
eating-house to have supper after a day of toil at the docks.  It was a
temperance establishment.  They went to it, however, not because of its
temperance but its cheapness.  After dining they adjourned to a
neighbouring public-house to drink.

Bones had not yet got rid of his remorse, nor had he entirely given up
desiring to undo what he had done for Aspel.  But he found the effort to
do good more difficult than he had anticipated.  The edifice pulled down
so ruthlessly was not, he found, to be rebuilt in a day.  It is true,
the work of demolition had not been all his own.  If Aspel had not been
previously addicted to careless living, such a man as Bones never could
have had the smallest chance of influencing him.  But Bones did not care
to reason deeply.  He knew that he had desired and plotted the youth's
downfall, and that downfall had been accomplished.  Having fallen from
such a height, and being naturally so proud and self sufficient, Aspel
was proportionally more difficult to move again in an upward direction.

Bones had tried once again to get him to go to the temperance
public-house, and had succeeded.  They had supped there once, and were
more than pleased with the bright, cheerful aspect of the place, and its
respectable and sober, yet jolly, frequenters.  But the cup of coffee
did not satisfy their depraved appetites.  The struggle to overcome was
too much for men of no principle.  They were self-willed and reckless.
Both said, "What's the use of trying?" and returned to their old haunts.

On the night in question, after supping, as we have said, they entered a
public-house to drink.  It was filled with a noisy crew, as well as with
tobacco-smoke and spirituous fumes.  They sat down at a retired table
and looked round.

"God help me," muttered Aspel, in a low husky voice, "I've fallen _very_
low!"

"Ay," responded Bones, almost savagely, "_very_ low."

Aspel was too much depressed to regard the tone.  The waiter stood
beside them, expectant.  "Two pints of beer," said Bones,--"_ginger_-
beer," he added, quickly.

"Yessir."

The waiter would have said "Yessir" to an order for two pints of prussic
acid, if that had been an article in his line.  It was all one to him,
so long as it was paid for.  Men and women might drink and die; they
might come and go; they might go and not come--others would come if they
didn't,--but _he_ would go on, like the brook, "for ever," supplying the
terrible demand.

As the ginger-beer was being poured out the door opened, and a man with
a pack on his back entered.  Setting down the pack, he wiped his heated
brow and looked round.  He was a mild, benignant-looking man, with a
thin face.

Opening his box, he said in a loud voice to the assembled company, "Who
will buy a Bible for sixpence?"

There was an immediate hush in the room.  After a few seconds a
half-drunk man, with a black eye, said--"We don't want no Bibles 'ere.
We've got plenty of 'em at 'ome.  Bibles is only for Sundays."

"Don't people die on Mondays and Saturdays?" said the colporteur, for
such he was.  "It would be a bad job if we could only have the Bible on
Sundays.  God's Word says, `To-day if ye will hear His voice, harden not
your hearts.'  `Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, to-day, and for
ever.' `_Now_ is the accepted time, _now_ is the day of salvation.'  It
says the same on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, and every day of the week."

"That's all right enough, old fellow," said another man, "but a public
is not the right place to bring a Bible into."

Turning to this man the colporteur said quietly, "Does not death come
into public-houses?  Don't people die in public-houses?  Surely it is
right to take the Word of God into any place where death comes, for
`after death the judgment.'  `The blood of Jesus Christ, God's Son,
cleanseth us from all sin.'"

"Come, come, that'll do.  We don't want none of that here," said the
landlord of the house.

"Very well, sir," said the man respectfully, "but these gentlemen have
not yet declined to hear me."

This was true, and one of the men now came forward to look at the
contents of the box.  Another joined him.

"Have you any book that'll teach a man how to get cured of drink?" asked
one, who obviously stood greatly in need of such a book.

"Yes, I have.  Here it is--_The Author of the Sinner's Friend_; it is a
memoir of the man who wrote a little book called _The Sinner's Friend_,"
said the colporteur, producing a thin booklet in paper cover, "but I'd
recommend a Bible along with it, because the Bible tells of the sinner's
_best_ friend, Jesus, and remember that without Him you can do
_nothing_.  He is God, and it is `God who giveth us the victory.'  You
can't do it by yourself, if you try ever so much."

The man bought the booklet and a Testament.  Before he left the place
that colporteur had sold a fourpenny and a twopenny Testament, and
several other religious works, beside distributing tracts gratuitously
all round.  [See Report of "The Christian Colportage Association for
England," 1879, page 12.]

"That's what I call carryin' the war into the enemy's camp," remarked
one of the company, as the colporteur thanked them and went away.

"Come, let's go," said Aspel, rising abruptly and draining his glass of
ginger-beer.

Bones followed his example.  They went out and overtook the colporteur.

"Are there many men going about like you?" asked Aspel.

"A good many," answered the colporteur.  "We work upwards of sixty
districts now.  Last year we sold Bibles, Testaments, good books and
periodicals, to the value of 6700 pounds, besides distributing more than
300,000 tracts, and speaking to many people the blessed Word of Life.
It is true we have not yet done much in public-houses, but, as you saw
just now, it is not an unhopeful field.  That branch has been started
only a short time ago, yet we have sold in public-houses above five
hundred Bibles and Testaments, and over five thousand Christian books,
besides distributing tracts."

"It's a queer sort o' work," said Bones.  "Do you expect much good from
it?"

The colporteur replied, with a look of enthusiasm, that he _did_ expect
much good, because much had already been done, and the promise of
success was sure.  He personally knew, and could name, sinners who had
been converted to God through the instrumentality of colporteurs; men
and women who had formerly lived solely for themselves had been brought
to Jesus, and now lived for Him.  Swearers had been changed to men of
prayer and praise, and drunkards had become sober men--

"Through that little book, I suppose?" asked Bones quickly.

"Not altogether, but partly by means of it."

"Have you another copy?" asked George Aspel.

The man at once produced the booklet, and Aspel purchased it.

"What do you mean," he said, "by its being only `partly' the means of
saving men from drink?"

"I mean that there is no Saviour from sin of any kind but Jesus Christ.
The remedy pointed out in that little book is, I am told, a good and
effective one, but without the Spirit of God no man has power to
persevere in the application of the remedy.  He will get wearied of the
continuous effort; he will not avoid temptation; he will lose heart in
the battle unless he has a higher motive than his own deliverance to
urge him on.  Why, sirs, what would you expect from the soldier who, in
battle, thought of nothing but himself and his own safety, his own
deliverance from the dangers around him?  Is it not those men who boldly
face the enemy with the love of Queen and country and comrades and duty
strong in their breasts, who are most likely to conquer?  In the matter
of drink the man who trusts to remedies alone will surely fail, because
the disease is moral as well as physical.  The physical remedy will not
cure the soul's disease, but the moral remedy--the acceptance of Jesus--
will not only cure the soul, but will secure to us that spiritual
influence which will enable us to `persevere to the end' with the
physical.  Thus Jesus will save both soul and body--`it is God who
giveth us the victory.'"

They parted from the colporteur at this point.

"What think you of that?" asked Bones.

"It is strange, if true--but I don't believe it," replied Aspel.

"Well now, it appears to me," rejoined Bones, "that the man seems pretty
sure of what he believes, and very reasonable in what he says, but I
don't know enough about the subject to hold an opinion as to whether
it's true or false."

It might have been well for Aspel if he had taken as modest a view of
the matter as his companion, but he had been educated--that is to say,
he had received an average elementary training at an ordinary school,--
and on the strength of that, although he had never before given a
serious thought to religion, and certainly nothing worthy of the name of
study, he held himself competent to judge and to disbelieve!

While they walked towards the City, evening was spreading her grey
mantle over the sky.  The lamps had been lighted, and the enticing blaze
from gin-palaces and beer-shops streamed frequently across their path.

At the corner of a narrow street they were arrested by the sound of
music in quick time, and energetically sung.

"A penny gaff," remarked Bones, referring to a low music-hall; "what
d'ee say to go in?"

Aspel was so depressed just then that he welcomed any sort of
excitement, and willingly went.

"What's to pay?" he asked of the man at the door.

"Nothing; it's free."

"That's liberal anyhow," observed Bones, as they pushed in.

The room was crowded by people of the lowest order--men and women in
tattered garments, and many of them with debauched looks.  A tall thin
man stood on the stage or platform.  The singing ceased, and he
advanced.

"Bah!" whispered Aspel, "it's a prayer-meeting.  Let's be off."

"Stay," returned Bones.  "I know the feller.  He comes about our court
sometimes.  Let's hear what he's got to say."

"Friends," said Mr Sterling, the city missionary, for it was he, "I
hold in my hand the Word of God.  There are messages in this Word--this
Bible--for every man and woman in this room.  I shall deliver only two
of these messages to-night.  If any of you want more of 'em you may come
back to-morrow.  Only two to-night.  The first is, `Though your sins be
as scarlet they shall be as white as snow, though they be red like
crimson they shall be as wool.'  The other is, `It is God who giveth us
the victory.'"

Bones started and looked at his companion.  It seemed as if the
missionary had caught up and echoed the parting words of the colporteur.

Mr Sterling had a keen, earnest look, and a naturally eloquent as well
as persuasive tongue.  Though comparatively uneducated, he was deeply
read in the Book which it was his life's work to expound, and an
undercurrent of intense feeling seemed to carry him along--and his
hearers along with him--as he spoke.  He did not shout or gesticulate:
that made him all the more impressive.  He did not speak of himself or
his own feelings: that enabled his hearers to give undistracted
attention to the message he had to deliver.  He did not energise.  On
the contrary, it seemed as if he had some difficulty in restraining the
superabundant energy that burned within him; and as people usually stand
more or less in awe of that which they do not fully understand, they
gave him credit, perhaps, for more power than he really possessed.  At
all events, not a sound was heard, save now and then a suppressed sob,
as he preached Christ crucified to guilty sinners, and urged home the
two "messages" with all the force of unstudied language, but
well-considered and aptly put illustration and anecdote.

At one part of his discourse he spoke, with bated breath, of the
unrepentant sinner's awful danger, comparing it to the condition of a
little child who should stand in a blazing house, with escape by the
staircase cut off, and no one to deliver--a simile which brought
instantly to Bones's mind his little Tottie and the fire, and the rescue
by the man he had resolved to ruin--ay, whom he had ruined, to all
appearance.

"But there is a Deliverer in this case," continued the preacher.
"`Jesus Christ came to seek and to save the _lost_;' to pluck us all as
brands from the burning; to save us from the fire of sin, of impurity,
of drink!  Oh, friends, will you not accept the Saviour--"

"Yes! yes!" shouted Bones, in an irresistible burst of feeling, "I _do_
accept Him!"

Every eye was turned at once on the speaker, who stood looking fixedly
upwards, as though unaware of the sensation he had created.  The
interruption, however, was only momentary.

"Thanks be to God!" said the preacher.  "There is joy among the angels
of heaven over one sinner that repenteth."

Then, not wishing to allow attention to be diverted from his message, he
continued his discourse with such fervour that the people soon forgot
the interrupter, and Bones forgot them and himself and his friend, in
contemplation of the "Great Salvation."

When the meeting was over he hurried out into the open air.  Aspel
followed, but lost him in the crowd.  After searching a few minutes
without success, he returned to Archangel Court without him.

The proud youth was partly subdued, though not overcome.  He had heard
things that night which he had never heard before, as well as many
things which, though heard before, had never made such an impression as
then.  Lighting the remnant of the candle in the pint-bottle, he pulled
out the little book which he had purchased, and began to read, and ever
as he read there seemed to start up the words, "It is God who giveth us
the victory."  At last he came to the page on which the prescription for
drunkards is printed in detail.  He read it with much interest and some
hope, though, of course, being ignorant of medicine, it conveyed no
light to his mind.

"I'll try it at all events," he muttered in a somewhat desponding tone;
"but I've tried before now to break off the accursed habit without
success, and have my doubts of this, for--"

He paused, for the words, "It is God that giveth us the victory," leaped
again to his mind with tenfold power.

Just then there arose a noise of voices in the court.  Presently the
sound of many footsteps was heard in the passage.  The shuffling feet
stopped at the door, and some one knocked loudly.

With a strange foreboding at his heart, Aspel leaped up and opened it.

Four men entered, bearing a stretcher.  They placed it gently on the low
truckle-bed in the corner, and, removing the cover, revealed the mangled
and bloody but still breathing form of Abel Bones.

"He seemed to be a bit unhinged in his mind," said one of the men in
reply to Aspel's inquiring look--"was seen goin' recklessly across the
road, and got run over.  We would 'ave took 'im to the hospital, but he
preferred to be brought here."

"All right.  George," said Bones in a low voice, "I'll be better in a
little.  It was an accident.  Send 'em away, an' try if you can find my
old girl and Tottie.--It is strange," he continued faintly, as Aspel
bent over him, "that the lady I wanted to rob set me free, for Tottie's
sake; and the boy I cast adrift in London risked his life for Tottie;
and the man I tried to ruin saved her; and the man I have often cursed
from my door has brought me at last to the Sinner's Friend.  Strange!
very strange!"



CHAPTER TWENTY SIX.

TELLS OF A SHAM FIGHT AND A REAL BATTLE.

There are periods in the busy round of labour at the great heart in St.
Martin's-le-Grand when some members of the community cease work for a
time and go off to enjoy a holiday.

Such periods do not occur to all simultaneously, else would the great
postal work of the kingdom come to a dead-lock.  They are distributed so
that the action of the heart never flags, even when large drafts are
made on the working staff, as when a whole battalion of the employes
goes out for a field-day in the garb of Volunteers.

There are between eight and nine hundred men of the Post-Office, who,
not content with carrying Her Majesty's mails, voluntarily carry Her
Majesty's rifles.  These go through the drudgery and drill of military
service at odd hours, as they find time, and on high occasions they
march out to the martial strains of fife and drum.

On one such occasion the Post-Office battalion (better known as the 49th
Middlesex) took part in a sham fight, which Phil Maylands and Peter Pax
(who chanced to have holidays at the time) went out to see.  They did
not take part in it, not being Volunteers, but they took pride in it, as
worthy, right-spirited men of the Post could not fail to do.

The 49th Middlesex distinguished themselves on that occasion.  Their
appearance as they marched on to the battle-ground--some distance out of
London--bore creditable comparison with the best corps in the service.
So said Pax; and Pax was a good judge, being naturally critical.

When the fight began, and the rattling musketry, to say nothing of
booming artillery, created such a smoke that no unmilitary person could
make head or tail of anything, the 49th Middlesex took advantage of a
hollow, and executed a flank movement that would have done credit to the
42nd Highlanders, and even drew forth an approving nod and smile from
the reviewing officer, who with his cocked-hatted staff witnessed the
movement from an eminence which was swept by a devastating cross-fire
from every part of the field.

When the artillery were ordered to another eminence to check the
movement and dislodge them from the hollow, the gallant 49th stood their
ground in the face of a fire that would have swept that hollow as with
the besom of destruction.  They also replied with a continuous discharge
that would, in five minutes, have immolated every man and horse on the
eminence.

When, afterwards, a body of cavalry was sent to teach the gallant 49th a
lesson, and came thundering down on them like a wolf on the fold, or an
avalanche on a Swiss hamlet, they formed square with mathematical
precision, received them with a withering fire that ought to have
emptied every saddle, and, with the bayonet's point, turned them
trooping off to the right and left, discomfited.

When, finally, inflated with the pride of victory, they began to re-form
line too soon, and were caught in the act by the returning cavalry, they
flung themselves into rallying squares, which, bristling with bayonets
like porcupines of steel, keeping up such an incessant roar of musketry
that the spot on which they stood became, as it were, a heart or core of
furious firing, in the midst of a field that was already hotly engaged
all round.  We do not vouch for the correctness of this account of the
battle.  We received it from Pax, and give it for what it is worth.

Oh! it was, as Phil Maylands said, "a glorious day entirely for the 49th
Middlesex, that same Queen's Birthday," for there was all the pomp and
circumstance of war, all the smoke and excitation, all the glitter of
bright sunshine on accoutrements, the flash of sword and bayonet, and
the smoke and fire of battle, without the bloodshed and the loss of
life!

No doubt there were drawbacks.  Where is the human family, however
well-regulated, that claims exemption from such?  There were some of the
warriors on that bloodless battle-field who had no more idea of the art
of war than the leg of a telescope has of astronomy.  There were many
who did not know which were friends and which were foes.  Many more
there were who did not care!  Some of the Volunteer officers (though not
many), depending too much on their sergeants to keep them right, drove
these sergeants nearly mad.  Others there were, who, depending too much
on their own genius, drove their colonels frantic; but by far the
greater number, both of officers and men, knew their work and did it
well.

Yes, it was indeed a glorious day entirely, that same Queen's Birthday,
for all arms of the service, especially for the 49th Middlesex; and when
that gallant body of men marched from the field of glory, with drums
beating and fifes shrieking, little Pax could scarcely contain himself
for joy, and wished with all his heart that he were drum-major of the
corps, that he might find vent for his feelings in the bursting of the
big drum.

"Now," said Phil, when they had seen the last of the Volunteers off the
field, "what shall you and I do?"

"Ah! true, that is the question," returned Pax; "what are we to do?  Our
holidays are before us.  The day is far spent; the evening is at hand.
We can't bivouac here, that is plain.  What say you, Phil, to walking
over to Miss Stivergill's?  I have a general invite from that lady to
spend any holidays I have to dispose of at Rosebud Cottage.  It is not
more than two miles from where we stand."

"D'ye think she'd extend her invite to me," asked Phil dubiously.

"Think!" exclaimed Pax, "I am _sure_ of it.  Why, that respectable old
lady owns a heart that might have been enshrined in a casket of beauty.
She's a trump--a regular brick."

"Come, Pax, be respectful."

"Ain't I respectful, you Irish noodle?  My language mayn't be choice,
indeed, but you can't find fault with the sentiment.  Come along, before
it gets darker.  Any friend of mine will be welcome; besides, I half
expect to find your sister there, and we shall be sure to see Miss
Lillycrop and my sweet little cousin Tottie, who has been promoted to
the condition of ladies'-maid and companion."

"Ah, poor Tottie!" said Phil, "her father's illness has told heavily on
her."

"That's true," returned Pax, as every vestige of fun vanished from his
expressive face and was replaced by sympathy, "but I've good news for
her to-night.  Since her last visit her father has improved, and the
doctor says he may yet recover.  The fresh air of the new house has done
him good."

Pax referred here to a new residence in a more airy neighbourhood, to
which Bones had been removed through the kindness and liberality of Miss
Stivergill, whose respect for the male sex had, curiously enough,
increased from the date of the burglary.  With characteristic energy she
had removed Bones, with his wife and a few household goods, to a better
dwelling near the river, but this turned out to be damp, and Bones
became worse in it.  She therefore instituted another prompt removal to
a more decidedly salubrious quarter.  Here Bones improved a little in
health.  But the poor man's injury was of a serious nature.  Ribs had
been broken, and the lungs pierced.  A constitution debilitated by
previous dissipation could not easily withstand the shock.  His life
trembled in the balance.

The change, however, in the man's spirit was marvellous.  It had not
been the result of sudden calamity or of prolonged suffering.  Before
his accident, while in full vigour and in the midst of his sins, the
drops which melted him had begun to fall like dew.  The night when his
eyes were opened to see Jesus was but the culminating of God's work of
mercy.  From that night he spoke little, but the little he said was to
express thankfulness.  He cared not to reason.  He would not answer
questions that were sometimes foolishly put to him, but he listened to
the Word of God, read by his poor yet rejoicing wife, with eager,
thirsting looks.  When told that he was in danger he merely smiled.

"Georgie," he whispered--for he had reverted to the old original name of
his wife, which, with his proper name of Blackadder, he had changed on
coming to London--"Georgie, I wish I might live for your sake and His,
but it'll be better to go.  We're on the same road at last, Georgie, and
shall meet again."

Aspel marked the change and marvelled.  He could not understand it at
all.  But he came to understand it ere long.  He had followed Bones in
his changes of abode, because he had formed a strange liking for the
man, but he refused to associate in any way with his former friends.
They occasionally visited the sick man, but if Aspel chanced to be with
him at the time he invariably went out by the back-door as they entered
by the front.  He refused even to see Phil Maylands, but met Pax, and
seemed not to mind him.  At all events he took no notice of him.
Whether his conduct was owing to pride, shame, or recklessness, none
could tell.

The changes of residence we have referred to had the effect of throwing
off the scent a certain gentleman who had been tracking out Abel Bones
with the perseverance, though not the success, of a bloodhound.

The man in grey, after losing, or rather coming to the end, of his clew
at the Post-Office furnace, recovered it by some magical powers known
best to himself and his compeers, and tracked his victim to Archangel
Court, but here he lost the scent again, and seemed to be finally
baffled.  It was well for Bones that it so fell out, because in his weak
state it would probably have gone hard with him had he believed that the
police were still on his tracks.  As it was, he progressed slowly but
favourably, and with this good news Pax and his friend hurried to
Rosebud Cottage.

What an unmitigated blessing a holiday is to those who work hard!  Ah!
ye lazy ones of earth, if ye gain something by unbounded leisure ye lose
much.  Stay--we will not preach on that text.  It needs not!

To return: Phil and Pax found Tottie and May at The Rosebud as they had
anticipated--the latter being free for a time on sick-leave--and the
four went in for a holiday, as Pax put it, neck and crop.

It may occur to some that there was somewhat of incongruity in the
companionship of Tottie and May, but the difference between the poor
man's daughter who had been raised to comparative affluence, and the
gentleman's daughter who had been brought down to comparative poverty,
was not so great as one might suppose.  It must be remembered that
Tottie had started life with a God-fearing mother, and that of itself
secured her from much contamination in the midst of abounding evil,
while it surrounded her with a rich influence for good.  Then, latterly,
she had been mentally, morally, and physically trained by Miss
Lillycrop, who was a perfect pattern of propriety delicacy, good sense,
and good taste.  She first read to her pupil, and then made the pupil
read to her.  Miss Lillycrop's range of reading was wide and choice.
Thus Tottie, who was naturally refined and intelligent, in time became
more so by education.  She had grown wonderfully too, and had acquired a
certain sedateness of demeanour, which was all the more captivating that
it was an utterly false index to her character, for Tottie's spirit was
as wildly exuberant as that of the wildest denizen of Archangel Court.

In like manner Pax had been greatly improved by his association with
Phil Maylands.  The vigorous strength of Phil's mind had unconsciously
exercised a softening influence on his little admirer.  We have said
that they studied and read together.  Hence Pax was learned beyond his
years and station.  The fitness therefore of the four to associate
pleasantly has, we think, been clearly made out.

Pax, at all events, had not a shadow of a doubt on that point,
especially when the four lay down under the shadow of a spreading oak to
examine the butterflies and moths they had captured in the fields.

"What babies we are," said Phil, "to go after butterflies in this
fashion!"

"Speak for yourself," retorted Pax; "I consider myself an entomologist
gathering specimens.  Call 'em specimens, Phil; that makes a world of
difference.--Oh, Tot! what a splendid one you have got there!  It
reminds me so of the time when I used to carry you about the fields on
my back, and call you Merry.  Don't you remember?"

"No," said Tottie, "I don't."

"And _won't_ you let me call you Merry?" pleaded Pax.

"No, I won't.  I don't believe you ever carried me on your back, or that
my name was Merry."

"What an unbeliever!" exclaimed Pax.

"You can't deny that you are merry to-day, Tot," said May.

Tot did not deny it, but, so to speak, admitted it by starting up and
giving sudden chase to a remarkably bright butterfly that passed at the
moment.

"And don't you remember," resumed Pax, when she returned and sat down
again by his side, "the day when we caught the enormous spider, which I
kept in a glass box, where it spun a net and caught the flies I pushed
into the box for it to feed on?  No?  Nor the black beetle we found
fighting with another beetle, which, I tried to impress on you, was its
grandmother, and you laughed heartily as if you really understood what I
said, though you didn't.  You remember that, surely?  No?  Well, well--
these joys were thrown away on you, for you remember nothing."

"O yes, I do remember something," cried Tottie.  "I remember when you
fell into the horse-pond, and came out dripping, and covered from head
to foot with mud and weeds!"

She followed up this remark with a merry laugh, which was suddenly
checked by a shrill and terrible cry from the neighbouring field.

In order to account for this cry, we must state that Miss Lillycrop,
desirous of acquiring an appetite for dinner by means of a short walk,
left Rosebud Cottage and made for the dell, in which she expected to
meet May Maylands and her companions.  Taking a short cut, she crossed a
field.  Short cuts are frequently dangerous.  It proved so in the
present instance.  The field she had invaded was the private preserve of
an old bull with a sour temper.

Beholding a female, he lowered his horrid head, cocked his tail, and
made at her.  This it was that drew from poor Miss Lillycrop a yell such
as she had not uttered since the days of infancy.

Phil Maylands was swift to act at all times of emergency.  He vaulted
the fence of the field, and rushed at Miss Lillycrop as if he himself
had been a bull of Bashan, and meant to try his hand at tossing her.
Not an idea had Phil as to what he meant to do.  All he knew was that he
had to rush to the rescue!  Between Phil and the bull the poor lady
seemed to stand a bad chance.

Not a whit less active or prompt was Peter Pax, but Peter had apparently
more of method in his madness than Phil, for he wrenched up a stout
stake in his passage over the fence.

"Lie down! lie down!  O lie down!" shouted Phil in agony, for he saw
that the brute was quickly overtaking its victim.

Poor Miss Lillycrop was beyond all power of self-control.  She could
only fly.  Fortunately a hole in the field came to her rescue.  She put
her foot into it and fell flat down.  The bull passed right over her,
and came face to face with Phil, as it pulled up, partly in surprise, no
doubt, at the sudden disappearance of Miss Lillycrop and at the sudden
appearance of a new foe.  Before it recovered from its surprise little
Pax brought the paling down on its nose with such a whack that it
absolutely sneezed--or something like it--then, roaring, rushed at Pax.

As if he had been a trained matador, Pax leaped aside, and brought the
paling down again on the bull's head with a smash that knocked it all to
splinters.

"Don't dodge it," shouted Phil, "draw it away from her!"

Pax understood at once.  Tempting the bull to charge him again, he ran
off to the other side of the field like a greyhound, followed by the
foaming enemy.

Meanwhile Phil essayed to lift Miss Lillycrop, who had swooned, on his
shoulders.  Fortunately she was light.  Still, it was no easy matter to
get her limp form into his arms.  With a desperate effort he got her on
his knee; with an inelegant hitch he sent her across his shoulder, where
she hung like a limp bolster, as he made for the fence.  May and Tottie
stood there rooted to the earth in horror.  To walk on uneven ground
with such a burden was bad enough, but Phil had to run.  How he did it
he never could tell, but he reached the fence at last, and shot Miss
Lillycrop over into the arms of her friends, and all three were sent
headlong down into a thick bush.

Phil turned at once to run to the aid of Pax, but there was no occasion
to do so.  That youth had reached and leaped the fence like an acrobat,
and was now standing on the other side of it making faces at the bull,
calling it names, and insulting it with speeches of the most refined
insolence, by way of relieving his feelings and expressing his
satisfaction.



CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN.

THE GREATEST BATTLE OF ALL.

Time advanced apace, and wrought many of those innumerable changes in
the fortunes of the human race for which Time is famous.

Among other things it brought Sir James Clubley to the bird-shop of
Messrs. Blurt one Christmas eve.

"My dear sir," said Sir James to Mr Enoch in the back shop, through the
half-closed door of which the owl could be seen gazing solemnly at the
pelican of the wilderness, "I have called to ask whether you happen to
have heard anything of young Aspel of late?"

"Nothing whatever," replied Mr Blurt, with a sad shake of his head.
"Since Bones died--the man, you know, with whom he lived--he has removed
to some new abode, and no one ever hears or sees anything of him, except
Mrs Bones.  He visits her occasionally (as I believe you are aware),
but refuses to give her his address.  She says, however, that he has
given up drink--that the dying words of her husband had affected him
very deeply.  God grant it may be so, for I love the youth."

"I join your prayer, Mr Blurt," said Sir James, who was slightly,
though perhaps unconsciously, pompous in his manner.  "My acquaintance
with him has been slight--in fact only two letters have passed between
us--but I entertained a strong regard for his father, who in schoolboy
days saved my life.  In after years he acquired that passion for spirits
which his son seems to have inherited, and, giving up all his old
friends, went to live on a remote farm in the west of Ireland."

Sir James spoke slowly and low, as if reflectively, with his eyes fixed
on the ground.

"In one of the letters to which I have referred," he continued, looking
up, "young Aspel admitted that he had fallen, and expressed regret in a
few words, which were evidently sincere, but he firmly, though quite
politely, declined assistance, and wound up with brief yet hearty thanks
for what he called my kind intentions, and especially for my expressions
of regard for his late father, who, he said, had been worthy of my
highest esteem."

"He's a strange character;--but how did you manage to get a letter
conveyed to him?" asked Mr Blurt.

"Through Mrs Bones.  You are aware, I think, that a considerable time
ago I set a detective to find out his whereabouts--"

"How strange!  So did I," said Mr Blurt.

"Indeed!" exclaimed Sir James.  "Well, this man happened by a strange
coincidence to be engaged in unravelling a mystery about a lost little
dog, which after many failures led him to the discovery of Abel Bones as
being a burglar who was wanted.  Poor Bones happened at the time of his
visit to be called before a higher tribunal.  He was dying.  Aspel was
at his bedside, and the detective easily recognised him as the youth of
whom he had been so long in search.  I sent my letter by the detective
to Mrs Bones, who gave it to Aspel.  His reply came, of course, through
the ordinary channel--the post."

"And what do you now propose doing?" asked Mr Blurt.

"I think of going to see Philip Maylands, who, I am given to understand
by Miss Lillycrop, was once an intimate friend of Aspel.  Do you happen
to know his address?"

"Yes, he lives with his mother now, but it's of no use your going to his
home to-night.  You are aware that this is Christmas eve, and all the
officials of the Post-Office will be unusually busy.  They often work
night and day at this season."

"Then I will go direct to the General Post-Office.  Perhaps I shall be
able to exchange a few words with him there," said Sir James, rising.

At that moment there burst upon the ears of the visitor a peculiar
squall, which seemed to call forth a bland and beaming smile on the glad
countenance of Mr Blurt.  Sir James looked at him inquiringly.

"My babe, Sir James," said Mr Blurt, with ill-concealed pride; "since
last I had the pleasure of seeing you I have been married.  Ah!  Sir
James, `it is not good for man to be alone.'  That is a truth with which
I was but feebly impressed until I came to understand the blessedness of
the wedded state.  Words cannot--"

He was cut short by a sudden crash of something overhead, and a bump,
followed by a squall of unwonted vehemence.  The squall was simultaneous
with the ringing of a handbell, and was followed by the cry of a soft
entreating voice roused to excitation.

"Oh!  Nockie dear"--thus the former Miss Gentle named her spouse,--"come
here, quick--oh! _do_ be quick!  Baby's fallen and Fred's ringing."

The truth of this was corroborated by another furious ring by the
invalid, which mingled with the recurring squalls, and was increased by
the noisy and pertinacious clatter of the cracked bell that announced
the opening of the shop-door.

"Zounds!  Mrs Murridge, mind the shop!--Good-bye, Sir James.  Excuse--.
Coming, dear!"

Mr Blurt, glaring as he clutched his scant side locks, dashed up-stairs
with the agility of a schoolboy.

Sir James Clubley, who was a bachelor, left the place with a quiet
smile, and proceeded, at what we may style a reflective pace, towards
the City.

But Sir James might have saved himself the trouble.  It was, as we have
said, Christmas eve, and he might as well have demanded audience of a
soldier in the heat of battle as of a Post-Office official on that
trying night of the year.

In modern times the tendency of the human race (the British part of it
at least) to indulge in social intercourse by letter and otherwise at
the Christmas season has been on the increase, and, since the
introduction of cheap postage, it has created a pressure on the
Post-Office which has taxed its powers very considerably.  The advent of
halfpenny post-cards, and especially the invention of Christmas-card and
packet correspondence, with the various facilities which have of late
years been afforded to the public by the Department, have created such a
mass of inter-communication throughout the kingdom, that Christmas has
now to be regularly prepared for as a great field-day, or rather a grand
campaign extending over several days.  Well-planned arrangements have to
be made beforehand.  Contingencies and possibilities have to be weighed
and considered.  All the forces of the Department have to be called out,
or rather called in.  Provisions--actual food, of exceptional kind and
quantity--have to be provided, and every man, boy, nerve, muscle, eye,
hand, brain, and spirit, has to be taxed to the very uttermost to
prevent defeat.

On the particular year of which we write, symptoms of the coming
struggle began to be felt before Christmas eve.  On the morning of the
23rd, the enemy--if we may so style the letters--began to come in like a
flood, and the whole of that day the duty was most pressing, although
the reserve forces had been called into action.  On the morning of the
24th the strain was so severe that few men could be allowed to leave the
Office, though some of them had been at work for eighteen hours.  During
the whole of the 24th the flood was at its height.  Every available man
in the other branches whose services could be utilised was pressed into
the service of the Circulation Department at St. Martin's-le-Grand.

The great mouth under the portico was fed with a right royal feast that
day--worthy of the Christmas season!  The subsidiary mouths elsewhere
were fed with similar liberality.  Through these, letters, cards,
packets, parcels, poured, rushed, leaped, roared into the great
sorting-hall.  Floods is a feeble word; a Highland spate is but a
wishy-washy figure wherewith to represent the deluge.  A bee-hive, an
ant-hill, were weak comparisons.  Nearly two thousand men energised--
body, soul, and spirit--in that hall that Christmas-tide, and an
aggregate of fifteen thousand eight hundred and seventy-nine hours' work
was accomplished by them.  They faced, stamped, sorted, carried,
bundled, tied, bagged, and sealed without a moment's intermission for
two days and two nights continuously.  It was a great, a tremendous
battle!  The easy-going public outside knew and cared little or nothing
about the conflict which themselves had caused.  Letters were heaped on
the tables and strewed on the floors.  Letters were carried in baskets,
in bags, in sacks, and poured out like water.  The men and boys
absolutely swam in letters.  Eager activity--but no blind haste--was
characteristic of the gallant two thousand.  They felt that the honour
of Her Majesty's mails depended on their devotion, and that was, no
doubt, dearer to them than life!  So the first day wore on, and the
warriors stood their ground and kept the enemy at bay.

As the evening of the 24th drew on apace, and the ordinary pressure of
the evening mail began to be added to the extraordinary pressure of the
day, the real tug of war began!  The demand for extra service throughout
the country began to exercise a reflex influence on the great centre.
Mails came from the country in some instances with the letters unsorted,
thus increasing the difficulties of the situation.  The struggle was all
the more severe that preparations for the night despatch were begun with
a jaded force, some of the men having already been twenty-six and
twenty-eight hours at work.  Moreover, frost and fog prevailed at the
time, and that not only delayed trains and the arrival of mails, but
penetrated the building so that the labour was performed in a depressing
atmosphere.  To meet the emergency, at least in part, the despatch of
the usual eight o'clock mail was delayed for that night fifty minutes.
As in actual war an hour's delay may be fraught with tremendous issues
for good or ill, so this brief postal delay permitted the despatch of an
enormous amount of correspondence that would have otherwise been left
over to the following day.

Usually the despatch of the evening mail leaves the vast sorting-hall in
serene repose, with clean and empty tables; but on the night of this
great battle--which has to be re-fought every Christmas--the
embarrassment did not cease with the despatch of the evening mail.
Correspondence continued to flow on in as great a volume as before.

Squads of the warriors, however, withdrew at intervals from the fight,
to refresh themselves in the various kitchens of the basement.

As we have said elsewhere, the members of the Post-Office provide their
own food, and there are caterers on the premises who enable them to do
so without leaving the Office while on duty.  But on this occasion extra
and substantial food--meat, bread, tea, coffee, and cocoa--were provided
by the Department at its own cost, besides which the men were liberally
and deservedly remunerated for the whole severe and extra duty.

It chanced that Phil Maylands and Peter Pax retired from the battle
about the same time; and met in the sorters' kitchen.

"Well, old fellow," said Phil, who was calm and steady but looking
fagged, to Pax, who was dishevelled about the head and dress and
somewhat roused by the exciting as well as fatiguing nature of the
work,--"Well, old fellow; tough work, isn't it?"

"Tough?  It's glorious!" said Pax, seating himself enthusiastically at
the table; "I'm proud of my country--proud of the GPO--proud...  I say,
is that beef that I see before me?  Hand me a dagger--no, a knife will
do.  You cut it, Phil, and help me first, 'cause I'm little."

While Phil was cutting the meat Pax rested his head on the table, and
was asleep almost instantly.

"Hallo, Pax! rouse yourself!" cried Phil, giving his comrade a hearty
slap on the shoulder; "up, lad, and eat--the battle still rages; no rest
allowed till victory is ours."

His little friend set to work at once, and the food and coffee soon
banished drowsiness.  A number of men were similarly engaged around him.
But they did not feast long.  Like giants refreshed, they returned to
the scene of combat, while others took their places.

And what a scene it was!  Despite all that had been done, the hall might
be described as waist-deep in letters!  The fever had not yet abated.
It seemed as if the whole world had concentrated its literary produce
into one mighty avalanche on St. Martin's-le-Grand!

The midnight mails worked off some of this, but a large portion of it
still remained to be disposed of on Christmas-day, together with what
the mails brought in on that morning, but the officers worked so well
that between nine and ten on Christmas morning all were allowed to go
home, with the exception of twenty-six, who volunteered to remain.

Thus the battle was fought and won; the tables were cleared; the fever
was subdued; and the pulse of the Post-Office was reduced to its normal
condition.

Think on these things, reader, when next you read the little card that
wishes you "a merry Christmas!"

Some of the facts and results connected with this great battle are worth
recording.  The number of _extra_ bags and sacks received at the chief
office altogether on that occasion was 1401.  The number of extra bags
despatched was 2269; all of them were crammed full to their mouths, and
the aggregate weight of these extra mails was 197 tons.

To convey these from the chief office 176 extra vans were used, and 75
extra carts.  As nearly as could be estimated, the number of extra
letters and packets was not less than four millions.  There was a vast
increase, also, in the registered correspondence--to the extent of
thirty-one thousand in excess of the ordinary numbers.

During these three days some of the men did nearly thirty hours' extra
duty, _besides_ performing their ordinary work.  The continuous
attendance at the office of some of them varied from forty to
forty-eight hours, and the total increase to the revenue on that
auspicious but trying occasion was estimated to be about twenty thousand
pounds sterling!

Phil Maylands and Peter Pax were among those who had volunteered to
remain after the press of work was over; and it was not till the
afternoon of Christmas-day that they finally, and simultaneously,
plunged into their beds and oblivion.



CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT.

THE STORMING OF ROCKY COTTAGE AND OTHER MATTERS.

Years flew by.  The daily routine at St. Martin's-le-Grand went on; the
mails departed and came in with unvarying regularity; in the working of
the vast machine good men and boys rose to the surface, and bad ones
went down.  Among the former were Phil Maylands and Peter Pax.

The latter, in course of time, rose to the rank of Inspector, in which
condition he gradually developed a pretty pair of brown whiskers and a
wonderful capacity for the performance of duty.  He also rose to the
altitude of five feet six inches, at which point he stuck fast, and
continued the process of increase laterally.  Pax, however, could not
become reconciled to city life.  He did his work cheerfully and with all
his might, because it was his nature so to do, but he buoyed up his
spirits--so he was wont to say--by fixing his eye on the
Postmaster-Generalship and a suburban villa on the Thames.

His friend Phil, on the contrary, was quite pleased with city life, and
devoted himself with such untiring energy to his work, and to his own
education, that he came ere long to be noted as the youth who knew
everything.  Faults he had, undoubtedly, and his firm, severe way of
expressing his opinions raised him a few enemies in the Post-Office, but
he attained at last to the condition of being so useful and so
trustworthy as to make men feel that he was almost indispensable.  They
felt as if they could not get on without him.

When man or boy comes to this point, success is inevitable.  Phil soon
became a favourite with the heads of departments.  The Chief of the
Post-Office himself at last came to hear of him, and, finding that he
was more than capable of passing the requisite examinations, he raised
him from the ranks and made him a clerk in the Savings-Bank Department.

Having attained to this position, with a good salary for a single man,
and a prospect of a steady rise, Phil set about the accomplishment of
the darling wish of his heart.  He obtained leave of absence, went over
to the west of Ireland, and took Rocky Cottage by storm.

"Mother dear," he said, almost before he had sat down, "I'm promoted.
I'm rich--comparatively.  I've taken a house--a small house--at
Nottinghill, and your room in it is ready for you; so pack up at once,
for we leave this to-morrow afternoon."

"You jest, Phil."

"I'm in earnest, mother."

"But it is impossible," said the good lady, looking anxiously round; "I
cannot pack up on so short notice.  And the furniture--"

"It's all arranged, mother," said Phil, stroking the curls of a
strapping boy who no longer went by the name of Baby, but was familiarly
known as Jim.  "Being aware of your desire to get rid of the furniture,
I have arranged with a man in Howlin' Cove to take it at a valuation.
He comes out to value it this evening, so you've nothing to do but pack
up your trunks.  With the aid of Madge and Jim we'll manage that in no
time."

"Sure we'll do it in less than no time!" cried Jim, who was a true son
of Erin.

"You see, mother," continued Phil, "my leave extends only to four days.
I have therefore ordered a coach--a sort of Noah's Ark--the biggest
thing I could hire at the Cove--to take you and all your belongings to
the railway tomorrow evening.  We'll travel all night, and so get to
London on Thursday.  May expects you.  May and I have settled it all, so
you needn't look thunderstruck.  If I hadn't known for certain that
you'd be glad to come and live with us I would not have arranged it at
all.  If I had not known equally well that your fluttering bird of a
heart would have been totally upset at the prospect, I would have
consulted you beforehand.  As it is, the die is cast.  Your fate is
fixed.  Nothing can reverse the decrees that have gone forth, so it's as
well to make your mind easy and go to work."

Mrs Maylands wisely submitted.  Three days afterwards she found herself
in London, in a very small but charming cottage in an out-of-the-way
corner of Nottinghill.

It was a perfect _bijou_ of a cottage; very small--only two stories--
with ceilings that a tall man could touch, and a trellis-work porch at
the front door, and a little garden all to itself, and an ivy wall that
shut out the curious public, but did not interfere with the sky, a patch
of which gleamed through between two great palatial residences hard by,
like a benignant eye.

"This is our new home, mother, and we have got it at such a low rent
from Sir James Clubley, our landlord, that your income, coupled with
May's salary and mine, will enable us easily to make the two ends meet,
if we manage economically."

As he spoke, Phil seized the poker, and, with an utter disregard of the
high price of coal, caused the fire to roar joyously up the chimney.

It was a brilliant winter day.  White gems sparkled on the branches of
the trees, and Jim was already commencing that course of romping which
had, up to that date, strewn his path through life with wreck and ruin.
Madge was investigating the capabilities of cupboards and larders, under
the care of a small maid-of-all-work.

"May won't be home till after dark," said Phil.  "She could not get away
from duty to meet us.  I shall telegraph to her that we have arrived,
and that I shall meet her under the portico of the Post-Office and fetch
her home this evening."

"It is an amazing thing that telegraph!  To think that one can send
messages and make appointments so quickly!" remarked Mrs Maylands.

"Why, mother," said Phil, with a laugh, "that is nothing to what can
be--and is--done with it every day.  I have a friend in the City who
does a great part of his business with India by telegraph.  The charge
is four shillings and sixpence a word, and if a word has more than ten
letters it is charged as two words.  A registered address also costs a
guinea, so, you see, telegraphic correspondence with India is expensive.
Business men have therefore fallen on the plan of writing out lists of
words, each of which means a longish sentence.  This plan is so
thoroughly carried out that books like thick dictionaries are now
printed and regularly used.--What would you think, now, of `_Obstinate
Kangaroo_' for a message?"

"I would think it nonsense, Phil."

"Nevertheless, mother, it covers sense.  A Quebec timber-merchant
telegraphed these identical words the other day to a friend of mine, and
when the friend turned up the words `obstinate kangaroo' in his
corresponding code, he found the translation to be, `Demand is improving
for Ohio or Michigan white oak (planks), 16 inches and upwards.'"

"You _don't_ say so!" exclaimed Mrs Maylands, raising both hands and
eyebrows.

"Yes I do, mother, and in my City friend's code the word `_Blazing_'
means `_Quality is approved_,' while `_Blissful_' signifies `What is the
smallest quantity you require?'"

"Do you mean, Phil," asked the widow, with a perplexed look, "that if I
were a man of business, and wanted to ask a customer in India _what was
the smallest quantity of a thing he required_, I should have to
telegraph only the word `_Blissful_'?"

"Only that, mother.  A blissful state of brevity to have come to, isn't
it?  And some of the telegraph clerks fall into queer mistakes, too,
owing to their ignorance.  One of the rules is that the words sent must
be _bona fide_ words--not a mere unmeaning arrangement of letters.  My
City friend told me that on three different occasions telegrams of his
were refused, because the words were not known, yet each of them was
taken from the Bible!  One of the telegrams was, `_Blastus unholy_.'"

"Oh, Phil, how _can_ you!" exclaimed Mrs Maylands, with a shocked look.

"Well, mother, what's wrong in that?"

"You know very well, Phil, that `Blast us' is not in the Bible at all,
and that it is a very awful species of slang swearing."

"So the telegraph clerk thought," returned Phil, "but when my City
friend pointed out that Blastus was `the king's chamberlain' they were
obliged to let the telegram go.  `_Blastus_' stands for `_superior
quality_,' and `_unholy_' for `_Offer is open for three days from time
of despatch of telegram_.'  Using the same code, if a merchant wants to
ask a Calcutta friend the question--`_How is the coming crop as regards
extent and appearance_?' he merely telegraphs the word `_Hamlet_.'  If
he wishes to say `_Bills of lading go forward by this mail, Invoices
will follow_,' he has only to telegraph `_Heretic_.'  For the most part,
the compilers of these codes seem to have used the words arbitrarily,
for the word `_Ellwood_' has no visible connection with the words `_Blue
Velvet_,' which it represents; neither is there connection between
`_Doves_' and `_French Brandy_,' nor between `_Collapse_' and `_Scotch
Coals_,' though there does seem to have been a gleam of significance
when they fixed on `_Downward_' to represent `_Irish Whisky_.'"

"That's true, Phil, there was a touch of sense there, if not sarcasm,"
said the widow heartily, for she was an abhorrer of strong drink!

"Then, mother, think of the saving of time accomplished by the
telegraph.  In days not long past, if a merchant in India wished to
transact business with another in New York he had to write a letter
which took months to make the voyage out, and his correspondent had to
write a reply which took about the same time to return.  Now, not long
ago the head of an Indian house wanted a ship-load of something (I
forget what) from New York.  He telegraphed a few unconnected words to
my City friend in London.  If there had been no obstruction of any kind
the message could have been flashed from Bombay to London in a few
seconds; as it was, it made the journey in three hours.  My friend, who
received it in the forenoon, telegraphed to New York, transacted the
business, received a reply from New York, and telegraphed back to Bombay
that the order was given and in process of execution before five p.m. on
the same day.  Thus a commercial transaction between India and America,
_via_ England, involving, perhaps, thousands of pounds, was completed at
the cost of a few pounds between breakfast and dinner.  In other words,
Bombay aroused New York to action by means of a flash of electricity
within twenty-four hours."

"Phil," remarked Mrs Maylands, with a sigh, "don't you think that man
has now made almost all the discoveries that it is possible to make?"

"Why, no, mother, I think he is only on the threshold of discovery yet.
The thought has sometimes come into my mind with tremendous power, that
as God is infinite, and His knowledge infinite, there is, as it were, a
necessity that we shall go on learning something new for ever!--But that
is too deep a subject to enter on just now," said Phil, rising, "for I
must go and send off my telegram to May--she will be anxious to hear
about you, poor girl.  You must not be troubled when you see how the
roses have faded from her cheeks.  She is in good enough health, but I
fear the telegraph service is too heavy for her, and the City air is not
so bracing as that of the west of Ireland."

Mrs Maylands was quite prepared for the change referred to, for she
knew, what Phil did not know, that it was neither the telegraph nor the
City that had robbed May of the bloom of youth and health.



CHAPTER TWENTY NINE.

DESCRIBES AN INTERVIEW AND A RENCONTRE.

One frosty winter afternoon Sir James Clubley sat in his chambers,
having finished dinner, and toasted his toes while he sipped his wine
and glanced languidly over the _Times_.

Sir James was a lazy, good-natured man, in what is sometimes styled easy
circumstances.  Being lazy, and having nothing to do, he did nothing--
nothing, that is, in the way of work.  He found the world enjoyable, and
enjoyed it.  He never ran to excess--in truth he never ran at all,
either literally or figuratively, but always ate, drank, slept, read,
and amused himself in moderation.  In politics, being nothing in
particular, he was wont to say he was a Liberal-Conservative, if
anything, as that happy medium, in which truth is said, though not
proved, to lie, enabled him to agree with anybody.  Everybody liked him,
except perhaps a few fiery zealots who seemed uncertain whether to
regard him with indignation, pity, or contempt.  It mattered not to
which feeling the zealots leaned, Sir James smiled on them all alike.

"That foolish fellow is going to be late," he muttered, glancing over
his paper at the clock on the chimney-piece.

The foolish fellow referred to was George Aspel.  Sir James had at last
discovered and had an interview with him.  He had offered to aid him in
any way that lay in his power, but Aspel had firmly though gratefully
declined aid in any form.

Sir James liked the youth, and had begged him, by letter, to call on
him, for the purpose of chatting over a particular piece of business,
had appointed an hour, and now awaited his arrival.

The muttered remark had just passed Sir James's lips when there came a
tap at the door, and Aspel stood before him.

But how changed from what he was when we last saw him, reader!  His
aspect might have forcibly recalled the words, "was lost and is found."

His tall, broad frame stood erect again as of old, but the proud bearing
of the head was gone.  There was the same fearless look in his bright
blue eye, but the slightly self-satisfied curl of the lip was not there.
He looked as strong and well as when, on the Irish cliffs, he had
longed for the free, wild life of the sea-kings, but he did not look so
youthful; yet the touch of sadness that now rested at times on his
countenance gave him a far more regal air,--though he knew it not,--than
he ever possessed before.  He was dressed in a simple suit of dark grey.

"Glad to see you, Aspel; thought you were going to fail me.  Sit down.
Now, come, I hope you have considered my proposal favourably.--The piece
of business I asked you to come about is nothing more than to offer you
again that situation, and to press it on you.  It would just suit a man
of your powers.--What!  No?"

The Baronet frowned, for George Aspel had smiled slightly and shaken his
head as he sat down.

"Forgive me, Sir James, if I seem to regard your kind proposals with
indifference.  Indeed, I am sincerely grateful, especially for the
motive that actuates you--I mean regard for my dear father's memory--"

"How do you know, sir," interrupted Sir James testily, "that this is my
only motive?"

"I did not say it was your only motive, Sir James.  I cannot doubt, from
your many expressions of kindness, that personal regard for myself
influences you; but I may not accept the situation you offer me--bright
with future prospects though it be--because I feel strongly that God has
called me to another sphere of action.  I have now been for a
considerable time, and hope to be as long as I live, a missionary to the
poor."

"What!  A city missionary?  One of those fellows who go about in seedy
black garments with long lugubrious faces?" exclaimed Sir James in
amazement.

"Some of them do indeed wear seedy black garments," replied Aspel,
"under some strange hallucination, I suppose, that it is their duty to
appear like clergymen, and I admit that they would look infinitely more
respectable in sober and economical grey tweeds; but you must have seen
bad specimens of the class of men if you think their faces long and
lugubrious.  I know many of them whose faces are round and jovial, and
whose spirits correspond to their faces.  No doubt they are sometimes
sad.  Your own face would lengthen a little, Sir James, if you went
where they go, and saw what they sometimes see."

"I dare say you are right.  Well, but have you seriously joined this
body of men?"

"Not officially.  I--I--hesitate to offer myself, because--that is to
say, I am a sort of free-lance just now."

"But, my young friend," returned Sir James slowly, "I understand that
city missionaries preach, and usually have a considerable training in
theology; now, it is not very long ago since you were a--excuse me--I--I
shrink from hurting your feelings, but--"

"A drunkard, Sir James," said Aspel, looking down and blushing crimson.
"State the naked truth.  I admit it, with humiliation and sorrow; but,
to the everlasting praise of God, I can say that Jesus Christ has saved
me from drink.  Surely, that being the case, I am in some degree fitted
to speak of the Great Remedy--the Good Physician--to the thousands who
are perishing in this city from the effects of drink, even though I be
not deeply versed in theology.  To save men and women from what I have
suffered, by exhorting and inducing them to come to the Saviour is all
my aim--it is now my chief ambition."

Sir James looked inquiringly at the fire and shook his head.  He was
evidently not convinced.

"There is truth in what you say, Aspel, but by taking this course you
sacrifice your prospects entirely--at least in this life."

"On the contrary, Sir James, I expect, by taking this course, to gain
all that in this life is worth living for."

"Ah!  I see, you have become religiously mad," said Sir James, with a
perplexed look; "well, Aspel, you must take your own way, for I am aware
that it is useless to reason with madmen; yet I cannot help expressing
my regret that a young fellow of your powers should settle down into a
moping, melancholy, would-be reformer of drunkards."

To this Aspel replied with a laugh.

"Why, Sir James," he said, "do I look very moping or melancholy?  If so,
my looks must belie my spirit, for I feel very much the reverse, and
from past experience--which is now considerable--I expect to have a
great deal of rejoicing in my work, for it does not all consist in
painful strivings with unrepentant men and women.  Occasionally men in
our position know something of that inexpressible joy which results from
a grateful glance of the eye or a strong squeeze of the hand from some
one whom we have helped to pluck from the very edge of hell.  It is
true, I do not expect to make much money in my profession, but my Master
promises me sufficient, and a man needs no more.  But even if much money
were essential, there is no doubt that I should get it, for the silver
and gold of this world are in the hands of my Father."

"Where do you work?" asked Sir James abruptly.

"Chiefly in the neighbourhood of Archangel Court.  It was there I fell
and sinned; it was there my Saviour rescued me: it is there I feel bound
to labour."

"Very well, I won't press this matter further," said the Baronet,
rising; "but remember, if you ever get into a better frame of mind, I
shall be happy to see you."

Profound and various were the thoughts of the reformed drunkard that
afternoon as he left his friend's abode and walked slowly towards the
City.  There was a strange feeling of sadness in his heart which he
could not account for.  It was not caused by the sacrifice of worldly
good he had just made, for that had cost him no effort.  The desire to
rescue the perishing had been infused so strongly into his soul that he
had become quite regardless of mere temporal advancement.  Neither had
he been unfaithful, as far as he could remember, in the recent
conversation--at least not in words.  The hopes and joys which he had
truly referred to ought to have been as strong as ever within him,
nevertheless his spirit was much depressed.  He began to think of the
position from which he had fallen, and of the great amount of good he
might have done for Christ in a higher sphere of society--but this
thought he repelled as a recurrence of pride.

As he came to St. Martin's-le-Grand he stopped, and, forgetting the
bustling crowd of people, buses, cabs, and carts by which he was
surrounded, allowed his mind to wander into the past.  It was on the
broad steps of the Post-Office that he had been first led astray by the
man who wished to compass his ruin, but who was eventually made the
willing instrument in bringing about his salvation.  He thought of the
scowling look and clenched fist of poor Bones as he had stood there,
long ago, under the grand portico.  He thought of the same man on his
sick-bed, with clasped hands and glittering eyes, thanking God that he
had been brought to the gates of death by an accident, that his eyes and
heart had been opened to see and accept Jesus, and that he had still
power left to urge his friend (George Aspel) to come to Jesus, the
sinner's Refuge.  He thought also of the burglar's death, and of the
fading away of his poor wife, who followed him to the grave within the
year.  He thought of the orphan Tottie, who had been adopted and
educated by Miss Stivergill, and was by that time as pretty a specimen
of budding womanhood as any one could desire to see, with the strong
will and courage of her father, and the self-sacrificing, trusting,
gentleness of her mother.  But above and beyond and underlying all these
thoughts, his mind kept playing incessantly round a fair form which he
knew was somewhere engaged at that moment in the building at his side,
manipulating a three-keyed instrument with delicate fingers which he
longed to grasp.

Ah! it is all very well for a man to resolve to tear an idol from his
heart; it is quite another thing to do it.  George Aspel had long ago
given up all hope of winning May Maylands.  He not only felt that one
who had fallen so low as he, and shown such a character for instability,
had no right to expect any girl to trust her happiness to him; but he
also felt convinced that May had no real love for him, and that it would
be unmanly to push his suit, even although he was now delivered from the
power of his great enemy.  He determined, therefore, to banish her as
much as possible from his mind, and, in furtherance of his purpose, had
conscientiously kept out of her way and out of the way of all his former
friends.

Heaving a little sigh as he dismissed her, for the ten-thousandth time,
from his mind, he was turning his back on the Post-Office--that precious
casket which contained so rich but unattainable a jewel--when he
remembered that he had a letter in his pocket to post.

Turning back, he sprang up the steps.  The great mouth was not yet wide
open.  The evening feeding-hour had not arrived, and the lips were only
in their normal condition--slightly parted.  Having contributed his
morsel to the insatiable giant, Aspel turned away, and found himself
face to face with Phil Maylands.

It was not by any means their first meeting since the recovery of Aspel,
but, as we have said, the latter had kept out of the way of old friends,
and Phil was only partially excepted from the rule.

"The very man I wanted to see!" cried Phil, with gleaming eyes, as he
seized his friend's hand.  "I've got mother over to London at last.
She's longing to see you.  Come out with me this evening--do.  But I'm
in sudden perplexity: I've just been sent for to do some extra duty.  It
won't take me half an hour.--You're not engaged, are you?"

"Well, no--not particularly."

"Then you'll do me a favour, I'm sure you will.  You'll mount guard here
for half an hour, won't you?  I had appointed to meet May here this
evening to take her home, and when she comes she'll not know why I have
failed her unless you--"

"My dear Phil, I would stay with all my heart," said Aspel hastily,
"but--but--the fact is--I've not seen May for a long time, and--"

"Why, what on earth has _that_ to do with it?" asked Phil, in some
surprise.

"You are right," returned Aspel, with a deprecating smile, "that has
nothing to do with it.  My wits are wool-gathering, Phil.  Go: I will
mount guard."

Phil was gone in a moment, and Aspel leaned his head on his arm against
one of the pillars of the portico.  He had scarcely breathed a prayer
for guidance when May approached.  She stopped abruptly, flushed
slightly, and hesitated a moment, then, advancing with the hearty air of
an old playmate, she frankly held out her hand.

This was enough for Aspel.  He had been depressed before; he was in the
depths of despair now.  If May had only shown confusion, or shyness, or
anything but free-and-easy goodwill, hope might have revived, but he was
evidently nothing more to her than the old playmate.  Hope therefore
died, and with its death there came over Aspel the calm subdued air of a
crushed but resigned man.  He observed her somewhat worn face and his
heart melted.  He resolved to act a brother's part to her.

"I'm so glad to meet you at last, May!" he said, returning the kindly
grasp of the hand with interest, but quite in a brotherly way.

"You might have seen me long ago.  Why did you not come?  We would all
have been so glad to see you."

May blushed decidedly as she made this reply, but the shades of evening
were falling.  Moreover, the pillar near to which they stood threw a
deep shadow over them, and Aspel did not observe it.  He therefore
continued--in a quiet, brotherly way--

"Ah!  May, it is cruel of you to ask that.  You know that I have been
unfit--"

"Nay, I did not mean _that_," interrupted May, with eager anxiety; "I
meant that since--since--lately, you know--why did you not come?"

"True, May, I might have come lately--praise be to God!--but, but--why
should I not speak out?  It's all over now.  You know the love I once
bore you, May, which you told me I must not speak of, and which I have
tried to cure with all the energy of my heart, for I do not want to lose
you as a sister--an old playmate at least--though I may not have you
as--But, as I said, it's all over now.  I promise never again to intrude
this subject on you.  Let me rather tell you of the glorious work in
which I am at present engaged."

He stopped, for, in spite of his efforts to be brotherly, there was a
sense of sinking at his heart which slightly embittered his tone.

"Is true love, then, so easily cured?"

May looked up in his face as she asked the question.  There was
something in the look and in the tone which caused George Aspel's heart
to beat like a sledge-hammer.  He stooped down, and, looking into her
eyes,--still in a brotherly way, said--

"Is it possible, May, that you could trifle with my feelings?"

"No, it is not possible," she answered promptly.

"Oh!  May," continued Aspel, in a low, earnest tone; "if I could only
dare to think,--to believe,--to hope, that--"

"Forgive me, May, I'm so sorry," cried her brother Phil, as he sprang up
the steps; "I did my best to hurry through with it.  I'm afraid I've
kept you and George waiting very long."

"Not at all," replied May, with unquestionable truth.

"If you could have only kept us waiting five minutes longer!" thought
Aspel, but he only said--"Come along, Phil, I'll go home with you
to-night."

The evening was fine--frosty and clear.

"Shall we walk to Nottinghill?" asked Phil.  "It's a longish tramp for
you, May, but that's the very thing you want."

May agreed that it was a desirable thing in every point of view, and
George Aspel did not object.

As they walked along, the latter began to wonder whether a new
experiment had been made lately in the way of paving the streets with
india-rubber.  As for May, she returned such ridiculous answers to the
simplest questions, that Phil became almost anxious about her, and
finally settled it in his own mind that her labours in the telegraph
department of the General Post-Office must be brought to a close as soon
as possible.

"You see, mother," he said that night, after Aspel had left the cottage
and May had gone to her room, "it will never do to let her kill herself
over the telegraph instrument.  She's too delicately formed for such
work.  We must find something better suited to her."

"Yes, Phil, we must find something better suited to her.--Good-night,"
replied Mrs Maylands.

There was a twinkle in the widow's eye as she said this that sorely
puzzled Phil, and kept him in confused meditation that night, until the
confusion became worse confounded and he fell into an untroubled
slumber.



CHAPTER THIRTY.

THE LAST.

Sitting alone in the breakfast parlour of The Rosebud, one morning in
June, Miss Stivergill read the following paragraph in her
newspaper:--"GALLANT RESCUE.--Yesterday forenoon a lady and her
daughter, accompanied by a gentleman, went to the landing-wharf at
Blackfriars with the intention of going on board a steamer.  There were
some disorderly men on the wharf, and a good deal of crowding at the
time.  As the steamer approached, one of the half-drunk men staggered
violently against the daughter above referred to, and thrust her into
the river, which was running rapidly at the time, the tide being
three-quarters ebb.  The gentleman, who happened to have turned towards
the mother at the moment, heard a scream and plunge.  He looked quickly
back and missed the young lady.  Being a tall powerful man, he dashed
the crowd aside, hurled the drunk man--no doubt inadvertently--into the
river, sprang over his head, as he was falling, with a magnificent
bound, and reached the water so near to the young lady that a few
powerful strokes enabled him to grasp and support her.  Observing that
the unfortunate cause of the whole affair was lulling helplessly past
him with the tide, he made a vigorous stroke or two with his disengaged
arm, and succeeded in grasping him by the nape of the neck, and holding
him at arm's-length, despite his struggles, until a boat rescued them
all.  We believe that the gentleman who effected this double rescue is
named Aspel, and that he is a city missionary.  We have also been
informed that the young lady is engaged to her gallant deliverer, and
that the wedding has been fixed to come off this week."

Laying down the paper, Miss Stivergill lifted up her eyes and hands,
pursed her mouth, and gave vent to a most unladylike whistle!  She had
barely terminated this musical performance, and recovered the serenity
of her aspect, when Miss Lillycrop burst in upon her with unwonted haste
and excitement.

"My darling Maria!" she exclaimed, breathlessly, flinging her bonnet on
a chair and seizing both the hands of her friend, "I am _so_ glad you're
at home.  It's _such_ an age since I saw you!  I came out by the early
train on purpose to tell you.  I hardly know where to begin.  Oh!  I'm
_so_ glad!"

"You're not going to be married?" interrupted Miss Stivergill, whose
stern calmness deepened as her friend's excitement increased.

"Married? oh no!  Ridiculous! but I think I'm going deranged."

"That is impossible," returned Miss Stivergill, "You have been deranged
ever since I knew you.  If there is any change in your condition it can
only be an access of the malady.  Besides, there is no particular cause
for joy in that.  Have you no more interesting news to give me?"

"More interesting news!" echoed Miss Lillycrop, sitting down on her
bonnet, "of course I have.  Now, just listen: Peter Pax--of the firm of
Blurt, Pax, Jiggs, and Company, Antiquarians, Bird-Stuffers, Mechanists,
Stamp-Collectors, and I don't know what else besides, to the Queen--is
going to be married to--whom do you think?"

"The Queen of Sheba," replied Miss Stivergill, folding her hands on her
lap with a placid smile.

"To--Tottie Bones!" said Miss Lillycrop, with an excited movement that
ground some of her bonnet to straw-powder.

Miss Stivergill did not raise her eyes or whistle at this.  She merely
put her head a little on one side and smiled.

"I knew it, my dear--at least I felt sure it would come to this, though
it is sooner than I expected.  It is not written anywhere, I believe,
that a boy may not marry a baby, nevertheless--"

"But she's not a baby," broke in Miss Lillycrop.

"Tottie is seventeen now, and Pax is twenty-four.  But this is not the
half of what I have to tell you.  Ever since Pax was taken into
partnership by Mr Enoch Blurt the business has prospered, as you are
aware, and our active little friend has added all kinds of branches to
it--such as the preparation and sale of entomological, and
ichthyological, and other -ological specimens, and the mechanical parts
of toy-engines; and that lad Jiggs has turned out such a splendid
expounder of all these things, that the shop has become a sort of
terrestrial heaven for boys.  And dear old Fred Blurt has begun to
recover under the influence of success, so that he is now able to get
out frequently in a wheel-chair.  But the strangest news of all is that
Mister Enoch Blurt got a new baby--a girl--and recovered his diamonds on
the self-same day!"

"Indeed!" said Miss Stivergill, beginning to be influenced by these
surprising revelations.

"Yes, and it's a curious evidence of the energetic and successful way in
which things are managed by our admirable Post-Office--"

"What! the union of a new baby with recovered diamonds?"

"No, no, Maria, how stupid you are!  I refer, of course, to the
diamonds.  Have you not seen reference made to them in the papers?"

"No.  I've seen or heard nothing about it."

"Indeed!  I'm surprised.  Well, that hearty old letter-carrier, Solomon
Flint, sent that ridiculously stout creature whom he calls Dollops to me
with the last Report of the Postmaster-General, with the corner of page
eleven turned down, for he knew I was interested in anything that might
affect the Blurts.  But here it is.  I brought it to read to you.
Listen: `On the occasion of the wreck of the _Trident_ in Howlin' Cove,
on the west of Ireland, many years ago, strenuous efforts were made by
divers to recover the Cape of Good Hope mails, and, it will be
recollected, they were partially successful, but a portion which
contained diamonds could not be found.  Diving operations were, however,
resumed quite recently, and with most satisfactory results.  One of the
registered-letter-bags was found.  It had been so completely imbedded in
sand, and covered by a heavy portion of the wreck, that the contents
were not altogether destroyed, notwithstanding the long period of their
immersion.  On being opened in the Chief Office in London, the bag was
found to contain several large packets of diamonds, the addresses on
which had been partially obliterated, besides about seven pounds weight
of loose diamonds, which, having escaped from their covers, were mixed
with the pulp in the bottom of the bag.  Every possible endeavour was
used by the officers of the Department to discover the rightful owners
of those packets which were nearly intact, and with such success that
they were all, with very little delay, duly delivered.  The remaining
diamonds were valued by an experienced broker, and sold--the amount
realised being about 19,000 pounds.  After very great trouble, and much
correspondence, the whole of the persons for whom the loose diamonds
were intended were, it is believed, ascertained, and this sum proved
sufficient to satisfy the several claimants to such an extent that not a
single complaint was heard.'"

"How strange!  Why did you not tell me of this before, Lilly?"

"Because Mr Blurt resolved to keep it secret until he was quite sure
there was no mistake about the matter.  Now that he has received the
value of his diamonds he has told all his friends.  Moreover, he has
resolved to take a house in the suburbs, so that Fred may have fresh
country air, fresh milk, and fresh eggs.  Peter Pax, too, talks of doing
the same thing, being bent, so he says, on devoting himself to the
entomological department of his business, in order that he may renew his
youth by hunting butterflies and beetles with Tottie."

"It never rains but it pours," said Miss Stivergill.  "Surprises don't
come singly, it appears.--Have you read _that_?"  She handed her friend
the newspaper which recounted the "gallant rescue."

Miss Lillycrop's countenance was a study which cannot be described.  The
same may be said of her bonnet.  When she came to the name of Aspel her
eyeballs became circular, and her eyebrows apparently attempted to reach
the roots of her hair.

"Maria dear!" she cried, with a little shriek, "this only reminds me
that I have still more news to tell.  You remember Sir James Clubley?
Well, he is dead, and he has left the whole of his property to George
Aspel!  It seems that Sir James went one night, secretly, as it were, to
some low locality where Aspel was preaching to poor people, and was so
affected by what he heard and saw that he came forward at the close,
signed the pledge along with a number of rough and dirty men, and then
and there became a total abstainer.  This, I am told, occurred a
considerable time ago, and he has been a helper of the Temperance cause
ever since.  Sir James had no near relatives.  To the few distant ones
he possessed he left legacies, and in his will stated that he left the
rest of his fortune--which, although not large, is considerable--to
George Aspel, in the firm belief that by so doing he was leaving it to
further the cause of Christianity and Temperance."

"Come, now, don't stop there," observed Miss Stivergill calmly, "go on
to tell me that Phil Maylands has also had a fortune left him, or become
Postmaster-General and got married, or is going to be."

"Well, I can't exactly tell you that," returned Miss Lillycrop, "but I
can tell you that he has had a rise in the Post-Office Savings Bank,
with an increase of salary, and that May declines to marry Aspel unless
he agrees to live with her mother in the cottage at Nottinghill.  Of
course Aspel has consented--all the more that it is conveniently
situated near to a station whence he can easily reach the field of his
missionary labours."

"Does he intend to continue these now that he is rich?" asked Miss
Stivergill.

"How can you ask such a question?" replied her friend, with a slightly
offended look.  "Aspel is not a man to be easily moved from his purpose.
He says he will labour in the good cause, and devote health and means
to it as long as God permits."

"Good!" exclaimed Miss Stivergill with a satisfied nod.--"Now, Lilly,"
she added, with the decision of tone and manner peculiar to her, "I mean
to make some arrangements.  The farmer next to me has a very pretty
villa, as you are aware, on the brow of the hill that overlooks the
whole country in the direction of London.  It is at present to let.  Mr
Blurt must take it.  Beside it stands a cottage just large enough for a
new-married couple.  I had already rented that cottage for a poor
friend.  He, however, knows nothing about the matter.  I will therefore
have him put somewhere else, and sub-let the cottage to Mr and Mrs
Pax.  Lastly, you shall give up your insane notion of living alone, come
here, with all your belongings, and take up your abode with me for
ever."

"That's a long time, dear Maria," said Miss Lillycrop, with a little
smile.

"Not _too_ long, by any means, Lilly.  Now, clear that rubbish off the
chair--it's well got rid of, I never liked the shape--go, put yourself
to rights, use one of my bonnets, and come out for a walk.  To-morrow
you shall go into town and arrange with Pax and Blurt about the villa
and the cottage to the best of your ability.  It's of no use attempting
to resist me, Lilly--tell them that--for in this affair I have made up
my mind that my will shall be law."

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Reader, what more need we add--except that Miss Stivergill's will did
eventually become law, because it happened to correspond with the wishes
of all concerned.  It is due, also, to Solomon Flint to record that
after his long life of faithful service in the Post-Office he retired on
a small but comfortable pension, and joined the "Rosebud Colony," as Pax
styled it, taking his grandmother along with him.  That remarkable piece
of antiquity, when last seen by a credible witness, was basking in the
sunshine under a rustic porch covered with honeysuckle, more wrinkled,
more dried-up, more tough, more amiable--especially to her cat--and more
stooped in the previous century than ever.  Mr Bright, the energetic
sorter, who visits Solomon whenever his postal duties will allow,
expresses his belief that the old lady will live to see them all out,
and Mr Bright's opinion carries weight with it; besides which, Phil
Maylands and May Aspel with her husband are more than half inclined to
agree with him.  Time will show.

Pegaway Hall still exists, but its glory has departed, for although Mrs
Square still keeps her one watchful eye upon its closed door, its walls
and rafters no longer resound with the eloquence, wit, and wisdom of Boy
Telegraph Messengers, although these important servants of the Queen
still continue--with their friends the letter-carriers--to tramp the
kingdom "post haste," in ceaseless, benignant activity, distributing
right and left with impartial justice the varied contents of Her
Majesty's Mails.





*** End of this LibraryBlog Digital Book "Post Haste" ***

Copyright 2023 LibraryBlog. All rights reserved.