there. A solid bed of sewage of about two feet deep seemed to fill the
hollow, and a thin sheet of filthy water covered this bed--with sickly
breaks here and there. Ordure palpable and abominable was plentiful,
and the swollen carcasses of small animals exhaled their biting wafts.
Poor little Teddy! I said, "Come home with me, will you? Mind, you
mustn't tell anyone where I live;" and the amiable little dot set off at
my side. He could not walk very well, for he had one shoe minus a sole,
and his toes stuck through the other. When we reached my room I sent out
for a pair of boots and two pairs of socks; then I pitched Teddy's away,
and presently to his terror, and my own amusement, I found myself
engaged in washing his feet. Nice little feet they were when they came
clean, and their owner pattered about with perfect satisfaction on my
carpet. I pulled out some cakes, and Teddy accepted a few, turning away
his head as he took them. He had the exact look of a dog that is being
reproved, and I had some trouble in persuading him to begin. When he had
finished one sponge-cake he grinned and enigmatically observed, "Teddy's
belly." I said, "That's baby talk. You talked all right last night.
Finish your cakes and you'll have some more for tea. Trot about as you
like till it's ready." He went gaily about, touching some articles, and
even sniffing at others; he dived into my bedroom, and I heard him cry
"Ooh!" Then there was a scraping sound, and Teddy appeared lugging a
small looking-glass and smiling broadly. "Ooh! This is what there is
when a lady gives you a beer." I understood that he referred to the
bleared glass behind the bar of the Chequers, and I appreciated Teddy's
powers of comparison; but I explained to him that mirrors cannot be
safely hauled about by little boys, and he kindly assented to this
proposition.

We had tea, and Teddy so far improved on his bashfulness that he made
grabs at several things which would have disagreed with him if I had let