some? I shall be very proud if you will allow me to.'

"'Yes,' he says quite hearty. 'If you will, you might lend me a
shilling, as I have no money. I shall not forget it.' He said, as
he took the coin: 'I shall return the amount, though I never can the
kindness. I shall keep the coin.' He took the shilling, sir--he
wouldn't take any more--and then he said good-bye. At the door he
turned and walked back to me, and put his arms round me like a real
boy does, and gave me a hug, and says he:

"'Thank you a thousand times, Mrs. Martindale, for your goodness to
me, for your sympathy, and for the way you have spoken of my father
and mother. You have seen me cry, Mrs. Martindale,' he said; 'I
don't often cry: the last time was when I came back to the lonely
house after my poor dear was laid to rest. But you nor any other
shall ever see a tear of mine again.' And with that he straightened
out his big back and held up his fine proud head, and walked out. I
saw him from the window striding down the avenue. My! but he is a
proud boy, sir--an honour to your family, sir, say I respectfully.
And there, the proud child has gone away hungry, and he won't, I
know, ever use that shilling to buy food!"

Father was not going to have that, you know, so he said to her:

"He does not belong to my family, I would have you to know. True, he
is allied to us through the female side; but we do not count him or
his in my family." He turned away and began to read a book. It was
a decided snub to her.

But mother had a word to say before Mrs. Martindale was done with.