put it to the test.

"Do I understand you to assert any claim to the child?" I asked.

"Claim?" she repeated. "I know no more of the child than you do.
I heard for the first time that such a creature was in existence,
when her murdered father sent for me in his dying moments.
At his entreaty I promised to take care of her, while her vile
mother was out of the house and in the hands of the law.
My promise has been performed. If I am expected (having brought
her to the prison) to take her away again, understand this: I am
under no obligation (even if I could afford it) to burden myself
with that child; I shall hand her over to the workhouse
authorities."

I forgot myself once more--I lost my temper.

"Leave the room," I said. "Your unworthy hands will not touch
the poor baby again. She is provided for."

"I don't believe you!" the wretch burst out. "Who has taken
the child?"

A quiet voice answered: "_I_ have taken her."

We both looked round and saw the Minister standing in the open
doorway, with the child in his arms. The ordeal that he had gone
through in the condemned cell was visible in his face; he looked
miserably haggard and broken. I was eager to know if his merciful
interest in the Prisoner had purified her guilty soul--but at