第6章

"WouldBerthablameher?"Leonard\'sLow，tenderanswercame:

"BerthawasfartoonobleTothinkordreamofblame。"

"Andwashesurehelovedher?"

"Yes，withtheonelovegivenOnceinalifetimeonly，Withonesoulandoneheaven!"

XII。

Thencameaplaintivemurmur，-

"DorahadoncebeentoldThatheandBertha——""Dearest，BerthaisfartoocoldTolove；andI，myDora，IfonceIfanciedso，Itwasabriefdelusion，Andover，——longago。"

XIII。

BetweenthePastandPresent，Onthatbleakmoment\'sheight，Shestood。AssomelosttravellerByaquickflashoflightSeeingagulfbeforehim，Withdizzy，sickdespair，Reelstoclutchbackward，buttofindAdeeperchasmthere。

XIV。

Thetwilightgrewstilldarker，Thefragrantflowersmoresweet，Thestarsshoneoutinheaven，Thelampsgleam\'ddownthestreet；

Andhourspass\'dindreamingOvertheirnew-foundfate，EretheycouldthinkofwonderingWhyBerthawassolate。

XV。

Shecame，andcalmlylisten\'d；

InvaintheystrovetotraceIfHerbert\'smemoryshadow\'dIngriefuponherface。

Noblame，nowondershow\'dthere，Nofeelingcouldbetold；

Hervoicewasnotlesssteady，Hermannernotmorecold。

XVI。

TheycouldnotheartheanguishThatbrokeinwordsofpainThroughthatcalmsummermidnight，-

"MyHerbert——mineagain!"

Yes，theyhaveoncebeenparted，ButthisdayshallrestoreThelonglostone:sheclaimshim:

"MyHerbert——mineoncemore!"

XVII。

NowChristmasEvereturning，SawBerthastandbesideThealtar，greetingDora，Againasmilingbride；

AndnowthegloomyeveningSeesBerthapaleandworn，Leavingthehouseforever，Towanderoutforlorn。

XVIII。

Forlorn——nay，notso。AnguishShalldoitsworkatlength；

Hersoul，pass\'dthroughthefire，Shallgainstillpurerstrength。

SomewheretherewaitsforBerthaAnearnestnoblepart；

And，meanwhile，Godiswithher，-

God，andherowntrueheart!

Icouldwarmlyandsincerelypraisethelittlepoem，whenJarberhaddonereadingit；butIcouldnotsaythatittendedinanydegreetowardsclearingupthemysteryoftheemptyHouse。

WhetheritwastheabsenceoftheirritatinginfluenceofTrottle，orwhetheritwassimplyfatigue，Icannotsay，butJarberdidnotstrikeme，thatevening，asbeinginhisusualspirits。Andthoughhedeclaredthathewasnotintheleastdauntedbyhiswantofsuccessthusfar，andthathewasresolutelydeterminedtomakemorediscoveries，hespokeinalanguidabsentmanner，andshortlyafterwardstookhisleaveatratheranearlyhour。

WhenTrottlecameback，andwhenIindignantlytaxedhimwithPhilandering，henotonlydeniedtheimputation，butassertedthathehadbeenemployedonmyservice，and，inconsiderationofthat，boldlyaskedforleaveofabsencefortwodays，andforamorningtohimselfafterwards，tocompletethebusiness，inwhichhesolemnlydeclaredthatIwasinterested。Inremembranceofhislongandfaithfulservicetome，Ididviolencetomyself，andgrantedhisrequest。Andhe，onhisside，engagedtoexplainhimselftomysatisfaction，inaweek\'stime，onMondayeveningthetwentieth。

Adayortwobefore，IsenttoJarber\'slodgingstoaskhimtodropintotea。Hislandladysentbackanapologyforhimthatmademyhairstandonend。Hisfeetwereinhotwater；hisheadwasinaflannelpetticoat；agreenshadewasoverhiseyes；therheumatismwasinhislegs；andamustard-poulticewasonhischest。Hewasalsoalittlefeverish，andratherdistractedinhismindaboutManchesterMarriages，aDwarf，andThreeEvenings，orEveningParties——hislandladywasnotsurewhich——inanemptyHouse，withtheWaterRateunpaid。

Underthesedistressingcircumstances，IwasnecessarilyleftalonewithTrottle。Hispromisedexplanationbegan，likeJarber\'sdiscoveries，withthereadingofawrittenpaper。TheonlydifferencewasthatTrottleintroducedhismanuscriptunderthenameofaReport。

TROTTLE\'SREPORT

Thecuriouseventsrelatedinthesepageswould，manyofthem，mostlikelyneverhavehappened，ifapersonnamedTrottlehadnotpresumed，contrarytohisusualcustom，tothinkforhimself。

Thesubjectonwhichthepersoninquestionhadventured，forthefirsttimeinhislife，toformanopinionpurelyandentirelyhisown，wasonewhichhadalreadyexcitedtheinterestofhisrespectedmistressinaveryextraordinarydegree。Or，toputitinplainertermsstill，thesubjectwasnootherthanthemysteryoftheemptyHouse。

Feelingnosortofobjectiontosetasuccessofhisown，ifpossible，sidebysidewithafailureofMr。Jarber\'s，Trottlemadeuphismind，oneMondayevening，totrywhathecoulddo，onhisownaccount，towardsclearingupthemysteryoftheemptyHouse。

Carefullydismissingfromhismindallnonsensicalnotionsofformertenantsandtheirhistories，andkeepingtheonepointinviewsteadilybeforehim，hestartedtoreachitintheshortestway，bywalkingstraightuptotheHouse，andbringinghimselffacetofacewiththefirstpersoninitwhoopenedthedoortohim。

Itwasgettingtowardsdark，onMondayevening，thethirteenthofthemonth，whenTrottlefirstsetfootonthestepsoftheHouse。

Whenheknockedatthedoor，heknewnothingofthematterwhichhewasabouttoinvestigate，exceptthatthelandlordwasanelderlywidowerofgoodfortune，andthathisnamewasForley。Asmallbeginningenoughforamantostartfrom，certainly!

Ondroppingtheknocker，hisfirstproceedingwastolookdowncautiouslyoutofthecornerofhisrighteye，foranyresultswhichmightshowthemselvesatthekitchen-window。Thereappearedatitimmediatelythefigureofawoman，wholookedupinquisitivelyatthestrangeronthesteps，leftthewindowinahurry，andcamebacktoitwithanopenletterinherhand，whichshehelduptothefadinglight。Afterlookingovertheletterhastilyforamomentorso，thewomandisappearedoncemore。

Trottlenextheardfootstepsshufflingandscrapingalongthebarehallofthehouse。Onasuddentheyceased，andthesoundoftwovoices——ashrillpersuadingvoiceandagruffresistingvoice——

confusedlyreachedhisears。Afterawhile，thevoicesleftoffspeaking——achainwasundone，aboltdrawnback——thedooropened——

andTrottlestoodfacetofacewithtwopersons，awomaninadvance，andamanbehindher，leaningbackflatagainstthewall。

"Wishyougoodevening，sir，"saysthewoman，insuchasuddenway，andinsuchacrackedvoice，thatitwasquitestartlingtohearher。"Chillyweather，ain\'tit，sir?Pleasetowalkin。YoucomefromgoodMr。Forley，don\'tyou，sir?"

"Don\'tyou，sir?"chimesinthemanhoarsely，makingasortofgruffechoofhimself，andchucklingafterit，asifhethoughthehadmadeajoke。

IfTrottlehadsaid，"No，"thedoorwouldhavebeenprobablyclosedinhisface。Therefore，hetookcircumstancesashefoundthem，andboldlyranalltherisk，whateveritmightbe，ofsaying，"Yes。"

"Quiterightsir，"saysthewoman。"GoodMr。Forley\'slettertoldushisparticularfriendwouldbeheretorepresenthim，atdusk，onMondaythethirteenth——or，ifnotonMondaythethirteenth，thenonMondaythetwentieth，atthesametime，withoutfail。AndhereyouareonMondaythethirteenth，ain\'tyou，sir?Mr。Forley\'sparticularfriend，anddressedallinblack——quiteright，sir!

Pleasetostepintothedining-room——it\'salwayskepscouredandcleanagainstMr。Forleycomeshere——andI\'llfetchacandleinhalfaminute。Itgetssodarkintheevenings，now，youhardlyknowwhereyouare，doyou，sir?AndhowisgoodMr。Forleyinhishealth?Wetrustheisbetter，Benjamin，don\'twe?Wearesosorrynottoseehimasusual，Benjamin，ain\'twe?Inhalfaminute，sir，ifyoudon\'tmindwaiting，I\'llbebackwiththecandle。Comealong，Benjamin。"

"Comealong，Benjamin，"chimesintheecho，andchucklesagainasifhethoughthehadmadeanotherjoke。

Leftaloneintheemptyfront-parlour，Trottlewonderedwhatwascomingnext，asheheardtheshuffling，scrapingfootstepsgoslowlydownthekitchen-stairs。Thefront-doorhadbeencarefullychainedupandboltedbehindhimonhisentrance；andtherewasnottheleastchanceofhisbeingabletoopenittoeffecthisescape，withoutbetrayinghimselfbymakinganoise。

NotbeingoftheJarbersort，luckilyforhimself，hetookhissituationquietly，ashefoundit，andturnedhistime，whilealone，toaccount，bysummingupinhisownmindthefewparticularswhichhehaddiscoveredthusfar。Hehadfoundout，first，thatMr。

Forleywasinthehabitofvisitingthehouseregularly。Second，thatMr。Forleybeingpreventedbyillnessfromseeingthepeopleputinchargeasusual，hadappointedafriendtorepresenthim；andhadwrittentosayso。Third，thatthefriendhadachoiceoftwoMondays，ataparticulartimeintheevening，fordoinghiserrand；

andthatTrottlehadaccidentallyhitonthistime，andonthefirstoftheMondays，forbeginninghisowninvestigations。Fourth，thatthesimilaritybetweenTrottle\'sblackdress，asservantoutoflivery，andthedressofthemessenger(whoeverhemightbe)，hadhelpedtheerrorbywhichTrottlewasprofiting。Sofar，sogood。

Butwhatwasthemessenger\'serrand?andwhatchancewastherethathemightnotcomeupandknockatthedoorhimself，fromminutetominute，onthatveryevening?

WhileTrottlewasturningoverthislastconsiderationinhismind，heheardtheshufflingfootstepscomeupthestairsagain，withaflashofcandle-lightgoingbeforethem。Hewaitedforthewoman\'scominginwithsomelittleanxiety；forthetwilighthadbeentoodimonhisgettingintothehousetoallowhimtoseeeitherherfaceortheman\'sfaceatallclearly。

Thewomancameinfirst，withthemanshecalledBenjaminatherheels，andsetthecandleonthemantel-piece。Trottletakesleavetodescribeherasanoffensively-cheerfuloldwoman，awfullyleanandwiry，andsharpallover，ateyes，nose，andchin——devilishlybrisk，smiling，andrestless，withadirtyfalsefrontandadirtyblackcap，andshortfidgettyarms，andlonghookedfinger-nails——anunnaturallylustyoldwoman，whowalkedwithaspringinherwickedoldfeet，andspokewithasmirkonherwickedoldface——thesortofoldwoman(asTrottlethinks)whooughttohavelivedinthedarkages，andbeenduckedinahorse-pond，insteadofflourishinginthenineteenthcentury，andtakingchargeofaChristianhouse。

"You\'llpleasetoexcusemyson，Benjamin，won\'tyou，sir?"saysthiswitchwithoutabroomstick，pointingtothemanbehindher，proppedagainstthebarewallofthedining-room，exactlyashehadbeenproppedagainstthebarewallofthepassage。"He\'sgothisinsidedreadfulbadagain，hasmysonBenjamin。Andhewon\'tgotobed，andhewillfollowmeaboutthehouse，up-stairsanddownstairs，andinmylady\'schamber，asthesongsays，youknow。

It\'shisindisgestion，poordear，thatsourshistemperandmakeshimsoagravating——andindisgestionisawearingthingtothebestofus，ain\'tit，sir?"

"Ain\'tit，sir?"chimesinagravatingBenjamin，winkingatthecandle-lightlikeanowlatthesunshine。

Trottleexaminedthemancuriously，whilehishorridoldmotherwasspeakingofhim。Hefound"MysonBenjamin"tobelittleandlean，andbuttoned-upslovenlyinafrowsyoldgreat-coatthatfelldowntohisraggedcarpet-slippers。Hiseyeswereverywatery，hischeeksverypale，andhislipsveryred。Hisbreathingwassouncommonlyloud，thatitsoundedalmostlikeasnore。Hisheadrolledhelplesslyinthemonstrousbigcollarofhisgreat-coat；andhislimp，lazyhandspotteredaboutthewalloneithersideofhim，asiftheyweregropingforaimaginarybottle。InplainEnglish，thecomplaintof"MysonBenjamin"wasdrunkenness，ofthestupid，pig-headed，sottishkind。Drawingthisconclusioneasilyenough，afteramoment\'sobservationoftheman，Trottlefoundhimself，nevertheless，keepinghiseyesfixedmuchlongerthanwasnecessaryontheuglydrunkenfacerollingaboutinthemonstrousbigcoatcollar，andlookingatitwithacuriositythathecouldhardlyaccountforatfirst。Wastheresomethingfamiliartohimintheman\'sfeatures?Heturnedawayfromthemforaninstant，andthenturnedbacktohimagain。Afterthatsecondlook，thenotionforceditselfintohismind，thathehadcertainlyseenafacesomewhere，ofwhichthatsot\'sfaceappearedlikeakindofslovenlycopy。

"Where?"thinkshetohimself，"wheredidIlastseethemanwhomthisagravatingBenjamin，here，soverystronglyremindsmeof?"

Itwasnotime，justthen——withthecheerfuloldwoman\'seyesearchinghimallover，andthecheerfuloldwoman\'stonguetalkingathim，nineteentothedozen——forTrottletoberansackinghismemoryforsmallmattersthathadgotintowrongcornersofit。HeputbyinhismindthatverycuriouscircumstancerespectingBenjamin\'sface，tobetakenupagainwhenafitopportunityoffereditself；andkepthiswitsabouthiminprimeorderforpresentnecessities。

"Youwouldn\'tliketogodownintothekitchen，wouldyou?"saysthewitchwithoutthebroomstick，asfamiliarasifshehadbeenTrottle\'smother，insteadofBenjamin\'s。"There\'sabitoffireinthegrate，andthesinkinthebackkitchendon\'tsmelltomattermuchto-day，andit\'suncommonchillyupherewhenaperson\'sfleshdon\'thardlycoveraperson\'sbones。Butyoudon\'tlookcold，sir，doyou?Andthen，why，Lordblessmysoul，ourlittlebitofbusinessissovery，verylittle，it\'shardlyworthwhiletogodownstairsaboutit，afterall。Quiteagameatbusiness，ain\'tit，sir?Give-and-takethat\'swhatIcallit——give-and-take!"

Withthat，herwickedoldeyessettledhungrilyontheregionroundaboutTrottle\'swaistcoat-pocket，andshebegantochucklelikeherson，holdingoutoneofherskinnyhands，andtappingcheerfullyinthepalmwiththeknucklesoftheother。AgravatingBenjamin，seeingwhatshewasabout，rousedupalittle，chuckledandtappedinimitationofher，gotanideaofhisownintohismuddledheadallofasudden，andbolteditoutcharitablyforthebenefitofTrottle。

"Isay!"saysBenjamin，settlinghimselfagainstthewallandnoddinghisheadviciouslyathischeerfuloldmother。"Isay!

Lookout。She\'llskinyou!"

Assistedbythesesignsandwarnings，Trottlefoundnodifficultyinunderstandingthatthebusinessreferredtowasthegivingandtakingofmoney，andthathewasexpectedtobethegiver。Itwasatthisstageoftheproceedingsthathefirstfeltdecidedlyuncomfortable，andmorethanhalfinclinedtowishhewasonthestreet-sideofthehouse-dooragain。

Hewasstillcudgellinghisbrainsforanexcusetosavehispocket，whenthesilencewassuddenlyinterruptedbyasoundintheupperpartofthehouse。

Itwasnotatallloud——itwasaquiet，still，scrapingsound——sofaintthatitcouldhardlyhavereachedthequickestears，exceptinanemptyhouse。

"Doyouhearthat，Benjamin?"saystheoldwoman。"He\'satitagain，eveninthedark，ain\'the?P\'rapsyou\'dliketoseehim，sir!"saysshe，turningonTrottle，andpokinghergrinningfaceclosetohim。"Onlynameit；onlysayifyou\'dliketoseehimbeforewedoourlittlebitofbusiness——andI\'llshowgoodForley\'sfriendup-stairs，justasifhewasgoodMr。Forleyhimself。MY

legsareallright，whateverBenjamin\'smaybe。Igetyoungerandyounger，andstrongerandstronger，andjollierandjollier，everyday——that\'swhatIdo!Don\'tmindthestairsonmyaccount，sir，ifyou\'dliketoseehim。"

"Him?"Trottlewonderedwhether"him"meantaman，oraboy，oradomesticanimalofthemalespecies。Whateveritmeant，herewasachanceofputtingoffthatuncomfortablegive-and-take-business，and，betterstill，achanceperhapsoffindingoutoneofthesecretsofthemysteriousHouse。Trottle\'sspiritsbegantoriseagainandhesaid"Yes，"directly，withtheconfidenceofamanwhoknewallaboutit。

Benjamin\'smothertookthecandleatonce，andlightedTrottlebrisklytothestairs；andBenjaminhimselftriedtofollowasusual。Butgettingupseveralflightsofstairs，evenhelpedbythebannisters，wasmore，withhisparticularcomplaint，thanheseemedtofeelhimselfinclinedtoventureon。Hesatdownobstinatelyontheloweststep，withhisheadagainstthewall，andthetailsofhisbiggreat-coatspreadingoutmagnificentlyonthestairsbehindhimandabovehim，likeadirtyimitationofacourtlady\'strain。

"Don\'tsitthere，dear，"sayshisaffectionatemother，stoppingtosnuffthecandleonthefirstlanding。

"Ishallsithere，"saysBenjamin，agravatingtothelast，"tillthemilkcomesinthemorning。"

Thecheerfuloldwomanwentonnimblyupthestairstothefirstfloor，andTrottlefollowed，withhiseyesandearswideopen。Hehadseennothingoutofthecommoninthefront-parlour，orupthestaircase，sofar。TheHousewasdirtyanddrearyandclose-

smelling——buttherewasnothingaboutittoexcitetheleastcuriosity，exceptthefaintscrapingsound，whichwasnowbeginningtogetalittleclearer——thoughstillnotatallloud——asTrottlefollowedhisleaderupthestairstothesecondfloor。

Nothingonthesecond-floorlanding，butcobwebsaboveandbitsofbrokenplasterbelow，crackedofffromtheceiling。Benjamin\'smotherwasnotabitoutofbreath，andlookedallreadytogotothetopofthemonumentifnecessary。Thefaintscrapingsoundhadgotalittleclearerstill；butTrottlewasnonearertoguessingwhatitmightbe，thanwhenhefirsthearditintheparlourdownstairs。

Onthethird，andlast，floor，thereweretwodoors；one，whichwasshut，leadingintothefrontgarret；andone，whichwasajar，leadingintothebackgarret。Therewasaloftintheceilingabovethelanding；butthecobwebsalloveritvouchedsufficientlyforitsnothavingbeenopenedforsomelittletime。Thescrapingnoise，plainerthaneverhere，soundedontheothersideofthebackgarretdoor；and，toTrottle\'sgreatrelief，thatwaspreciselythedoorwhichthecheerfuloldwomannowpushedopen。

Trottlefollowedherin；and，foronceinhislife，atanyrate，wasstruckdumbwithamazement，atthesightwhichtheinsideoftheroomrevealedtohim。

Thegarretwasabsolutelyemptyofeverythingintheshapeoffurniture。Itmusthavebeenusedatonetimeorother，bysomebodyengagedinaprofessionoratradewhichrequiredforthepracticeofitagreatdealoflight；fortheonewindowintheroom，whichlookedoutonawideopenspaceatthebackofthehouse，wasthreeorfourtimesaslarge，everyway，asagarret-windowusuallyis。

Closeunderthiswindow，kneelingonthebareboardswithhisfacetothedoor，thereappeared，ofallthecreaturesintheworldtoseealoneatsuchaplaceandatsuchatime，ameremiteofachild——alittle，lonely，wizen，strangely-cladboy，whocouldnotatthemost，havebeenmorethanfiveyearsold。Hehadagreasyoldblueshawlcrossedoverhisbreast，androlledup，tokeeptheendsfromtheground，intoagreatbiglumponhisback。Astripofsomethingwhichlookedliketheremainsofawoman\'sflannelpetticoat，showeditselfundertheshawl，and，belowthatagain，apairofrustyblackstockings，worldstoolargeforhim，coveredhislegsandhisshoelessfeet。Apairofoldclumsymuffetees，whichhadworkedthemselvesuponhislittlefrailredarmstotheelbows，andabigcottonnightcapthathaddroppeddowntohisveryeyebrows，finishedoffthestrangedresswhichthepoorlittlemanseemednothalfbigenoughtofillout，andnotnearstrongenoughtowalkaboutin。

Buttherewassomethingtoseeevenmoreextraordinarythantheclothesthechildwasswaddledupin，andthatwasthegamewhichhewasplayingat，allbyhimself；andwhich，moreover，explainedinthemostunexpectedmannerthefaintscrapingnoisethathadfounditswaydown-stairs，throughthehalf-openeddoor，inthesilenceoftheemptyhouse。

Ithasbeenmentionedthatthechildwasonhiskneesinthegarret，whenTrottlefirstsawhim。Hewasnotsayinghisprayers，andnotcrouchingdowninterroratbeingaloneinthedark。Hewas，oddandunaccountableasitmayappear，doingnothingmoreorlessthanplayingatacharwoman\'sorhousemaid\'sbusinessofscouringthefloor。Bothhislittlehandshadtightholdofamangyoldblacking-brush，withhardlyanybristlesleftinit，whichhewasrubbingbackwardsandforwardsontheboards，asgravelyandsteadilyasifhehadbeenatscouring-workforyears，andhadgotalargefamilytokeepbyit。Thecoming-inofTrottleandtheoldwomandidnotstartleordisturbhimintheleast。Hejustlookedupforaminuteatthecandle，withapairofverybright，sharpeyes，andthenwentonwithhisworkagain，asifnothinghadhappened。Ononesideofhimwasabatteredpintsaucepanwithoutahandle，whichwashismake-believepail；andontheotheramorselofslate-colouredcottonrag，whichstoodforhisflanneltowipeupwith。Afterscrubbingbravelyforaminuteortwo，hetookthebitofrag，andmoppedup，andthensqueezedmake-believewateroutintohismake-believepail，asgraveasanyjudgethateversatonaBench。Bythetimehethoughthehadgotthefloorprettydry，heraisedhimselfuprightonhisknees，andblewoutagoodlongbreath，andsethislittleredarmsakimbo，andnoddedatTrottle。

"There!"saysthechild，knittinghislittledownyeyebrowsintoafrown。"Dratthedirt!I\'vecleanedup。Where\'smybeer?"

Benjamin\'smotherchuckledtillTrottlethoughtshewouldhavechokedherself。

"Lordha\'mercyonus!"saysshe，"justheartheimp。Youwouldneverthinkhewasonlyfiveyearsold，wouldyou，sir?PleasetotellgoodMr。Forleyyousawhimgoingonasnicelyasever，playingatbeingmescouringtheparlourfloor，andcallingformybeerafterwards。That\'shisregulargame，morning，noon，andnight——he\'snevertiredofit。Onlylookhowsnugwe\'vebeenanddressedhim。

That\'smyshawlakeepinhispreciouslittlebodywarm，andBenjamin\'snightcapakeepinhispreciouslittleheadwarm，andBenjamin\'sstockings，drawedoverhistrowsers，akeepinhispreciouslittlelegswarm。He\'ssnugandhappyifeveraimpwasyet。\'Where\'smybeer!\'——sayitagain，littledear，sayitagain!"

IfTrottlehadseentheboy，withalightandafireintheroom，clothedlikeotherchildren，andplayingnaturallywithatop，oraboxofsoldiers，orabouncingbigIndia-rubberball，hemighthavebeenascheerfulunderthecircumstancesasBenjamin\'smotherherself。Butseeingthechildreduced(ashecouldnothelpsuspecting)forwantofpropertoysandproperchild\'scompany，totakeupwiththemockingofanoldwomanatherscouring-work，forsomethingtostandintheplaceofagame，Trottle，thoughnotafamilyman，neverthelessfeltthesightbeforehimtobe，initsway，oneofthesaddestandthemostpitiablethathehadeverwitnessed。

"Why，myman，"sayshe，"you\'retheboldestlittlechapinallEngland。Youdon\'tseemabitafraidofbeinguphereallbyyourselfinthedark。"

"Thebigwinder，"saysthechild，pointinguptoit，"seesinthedark；andIseewiththebigwinder。"Hestopsabit，andgetsuponhislegs，andlookshardatBenjamin\'smother。"I\'magood\'un，"

sayshe，"ain\'tI?Isavecandle。"

Trottlewonderedwhatelsetheforlornlittlecreaturehadbeenbroughtuptodowithout，besidescandle-light；andriskedputtingaquestionastowhetherheevergotarunintheopenairtocheerhimupabit。O，yes，hehadarunnowandthen，outofdoors(tosaynothingofhisrunsaboutthehouse)，thelivelylittlecricket——

arunaccordingtogoodMr。Forley\'sinstructions，whichwerefollowedoutcarefully，asgoodMr。Forley\'sfriendwouldbegladtohear，totheveryletter。

AsTrottlecouldonlyhavemadeonereplytothis，namely，thatgoodMr。Forley\'sinstructionswere，inhisopinion，theinstructionsofaninfernalscamp；andashefeltthatsuchananswerwouldnaturallyprovethedeath-blowtoallfurtherdiscoveriesonhispart，hegulpeddownhisfeelingsbeforetheygottoomanyforhim，andheldhistongue，andlookedroundtowardsthewindowagaintoseewhattheforlornlittleboywasgoingtoamusehimselfwithnext。

Thechildhadgathereduphisblacking-brushandbitofrag，andhadputthemintotheoldtinsaucepan；andwasnowworkinghisway，aswellashisclotheswouldlethim，withhismake-believepailhuggedupinhisarms，towardsadoorofcommunicationwhichledfromthebacktothefrontgarret。

"Isay，"sayshe，lookingroundsharplyoverhisshoulder，"whatareyoutwostoppingherefor?I\'mgoingtobednow——andsoItellyou!"

Withthat，heopenedthedoor，andwalkedintothefrontroom。

SeeingTrottletakeasteportwotofollowhim，Benjamin\'smotheropenedherwickedoldeyesinastateofgreatastonishment。

"Mercyonus!"saysshe，"haven\'tyouseenenoughofhimyet?"

"No，"saysTrottle。"Ishouldliketoseehimgotobed。"

Benjamin\'smotherburstintosuchafitofchucklingthatthelooseextinguisherinthecandlestickclatteredagainwiththeshakingofherhand。TothinkofgoodMr。Forley\'sfriendtakingtentimesmoretroubleabouttheimpthangoodMr。Forleyhimself!Suchajokeasthat，Benjamin\'smotherhadnotoftenmetwithinthecourseofherlife，andshebeggedtobeexcusedifshetookthelibertyofhavingalaughatit。

Leavinghertolaughasmuchasshepleased，andcomingtoaprettypositiveconclusion，afterwhathehadjustheard，thatMr。Forley\'sinterestinthechildwasnotofthefondestpossiblekind，Trottlewalkedintothefrontroom，andBenjamin\'smother，enjoyingherselfimmensely，followedwiththecandle。

Thereweretwopiecesoffurnitureinthefrontgarret。One，anoldstoolofthesortthatisusedtostandacaskofbeeron；andtheotheragreatbigrickettystraddlingoldtrucklebedstead。Inthemiddleofthisbedstead，surroundedbyadimbrownwasteofsacking，wasakindoflittleislandofpoorbedding——anoldbolster，withnearlyallthefeathersoutofit，doubledinthreeforapillow；amereshredofpatchworkcounter-pane，andablanket；andunderthat，andpeepingoutalittleoneithersidebeyondthelooseclothes，twofadedchaircushionsofhorsehair，laidalongtogetherforasortofmakeshiftmattress。WhenTrottlegotintotheroom，thelonelylittleboyhadscrambleduponthebedsteadwiththehelpofthebeer-stool，andwaskneelingontheouterrimofsackingwiththeshredofcounterpaneinhishands，justmakingreadytotuckitinforhimselfunderthechaircushions。

"I\'lltuckyouup，myman，"saysTrottle。"Jumpintobed，andletmetry。"

"Imeantotuckmyselfup，"saysthepoorforlornchild，"andI

don\'tmeantojump。Imeantocrawl，Ido——andsoItellyou!"

Withthat，hesettowork，tuckingintheclothestightalldownthesidesofthecushions，butleavingthemopenatthefoot。Then，gettinguponhisknees，andlookinghardatTrottleasmuchastosay，"Whatdoyoumeanbyofferingtohelpsuchahandylittlechapasme?"hebegantountiethebigshawlforhimself，anddidit，too，inlessthanhalfaminute。Then，doublingtheshawluplooseoverthefootofthebed，hesays，"Isay，lookhere，"andducksundertheclothes，headfirst，worminghiswayupandupsoftly，undertheblanketandcounterpane，tillTrottlesawthetopofthelargenightcapslowlypeepoutonthebolster。Thisover-sizedhead-gearofthechild\'shadsoshoveditselfdowninthecourseofhisjourneytothepillow，undertheclothes，thatwhenhegothisfacefairlyoutonthebolster，hewasallnightcapdowntohismouth。Hesoonfreedhimself，however，fromthisslightencumbrancebyturningtheendsofthecapupgravelytotheiroldplaceoverhiseyebrows——lookedatTrottle——said，"Snug，ain\'tit?Good-bye!"——

poppedhisfaceundertheclothesagain——andleftnothingtobeseenofhimbuttheemptypeakofthebignightcapstandingupsturdilyonendinthemiddleofthebolster。

"Whatayounglimbitis，ain\'tit?"saysBenjamin\'smother，givingTrottleacheerfuldigwithherelbow。"Comeon!youwon\'tseenomoreofhimto-night!"

"AndsoItellyou!"singsoutashrill，littlevoiceunderthebedclothes，chiminginwithaplayfulfinishtotheoldwoman\'slastwords。

IfTrottlehadnotbeen，bythistime，positivelyresolvedtofollowthewickedsecretwhichaccidenthadmixedhimupwith，throughallitsturningsandwindings，rightontotheend，hewouldhaveprobablysnatchedtheboyupthenandthere，andcarriedhimofffromhisgarretprison，bed-clothesandall。Asitwas，heputastrongcheckonhimself，kepthiseyeonfuturepossibilities，andallowedBenjamin\'smothertoleadhimdown-stairsagain。

"Mindthemtopbannisters，"saysshe，asTrottlelaidhishandonthem。"Theyareasrottenasmedlarseveryoneof\'em。"

"Whenpeoplecometoseethepremises，"saysTrottle，tryingtofeelhiswayalittlefartherintothemysteryoftheHouse，"youdon\'tbringmanyofthemuphere，doyou?"