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environed with dangers！〃
Indeed； he could descry no security from the pitfalls that were
yawning for Polly； but in proposing to her； after dinner； to sit upon a low
stool。 〃I will； if you will；〃 said Polly。 So； as peace of mind should go
before all； he begged the waiter to wheel aside the table； bring a pack of
cards； a couple of footstools； and a screen； and close in Polly and himself
before the fire； as it were in a snug room within the room。 Then； finest
sight of all； was Barbox Brothers on his footstool； with a pint decanter on
the rug； contemplating Polly as she built successfully； and growing blue in
the face with holding his breath； lest he should blow the house down。
〃How you stare； don't you？〃 said Polly in a houseless pause。
Detected in the ignoble fact； he felt obliged to admit； apologetically：
〃I am afraid I was looking rather hard at you； Polly。〃
〃Why do you stare？〃 asked Polly。
〃I cannot；〃 he murmured to himself； 〃recall why。I don't know； Polly。〃
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〃You must be a simpleton to do things and not know why； mustn't
you？〃 said Polly。
In spite of which reproof； he looked at the child again intently； as she
bent her head over her card structure； her rich curls shading her face。 〃It
is impossible；〃 he thought； 〃that I can ever have seen this pretty baby
before。 Can I have dreamed of her？ In some sorrowful dream？〃
He could make nothing of it。 So he went into the building trade as a
journeyman under Polly； and they built three stories high； four stories high；
even five。
〃I say！ Who do you think is coming？〃 asked Polly； rubbing her eyes
after tea。
He guessed： 〃The waiter？〃
〃No；〃 said Polly； 〃the dustman。 I am getting sleepy。〃
A new embarrassment for Barbox Brothers！
〃I don't think I am going to be fetched to…night；〃 said Polly。 〃What do
you think？〃
He thought not； either。 After another quarter of an hour； the dustman
not merely impending； but actually arriving； recourse was had to the
Constantinopolitan chamber…maid： who cheerily undertook that the child
should sleep in a comfortable and wholesome room； which she herself
would share。
〃And I know you will be careful； won't you；〃 said Barbox Brothers； as
a new fear dawned upon him； 〃that she don't fall out of bed？〃
Polly found this so highly entertaining that she was under the necessity
of clutching him round the neck with both arms as he sat on his footstool
picking up the cards； and rocking him to and fro； with her dimpled chin on
his shoulder。
〃Oh； what a coward you are； ain't you？〃 said Polly。 〃Do you fall out
of bed？〃
〃Nnot generally； Polly。〃
〃No more do I。〃
With that； Polly gave him a reassuring hug or two to keep him going；
and then giving that confiding mite of a hand of hers to be swallowed up
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in the hand of the Constantinopolitan chamber…maid； trotted off； chattering；
without a vestige of anxiety。
He looked after her； had the screen removed and the table and chairs
replaced； and still looked after her。 He paced the room for half an hour。
〃A most engaging little creature； but it's not that。 A most winning little
voice； but it's not that。 That has much to do with it； but there is
something more。 How can it be that I seem to know this child？ What
was it she imperfectly recalled to me when I felt her touch in the street；
and； looking down at her； saw her looking up at me？〃
〃Mr。 Jackson！〃
With a start he turned towards the sound of the subdued voice； and saw
his answer standing at the door。
〃Oh； Mr。 Jackson； do not be severe with me！ Speak a word of
encouragement to me； I beseech you。〃
〃You are Polly's mother。〃
〃Yes。〃
Yes。 Polly herself might come to this； one day。 As you see what the
rose was in its faded leaves； as you see what the summer growth of the
woods was in their wintry branches； so Polly might be traced； one day； in a
careworn woman like this； with her hair turned grey。 Before him were the
ashes of a dead fire that had once burned bright。 This was the woman he
had loved。 This was the woman he had lost。 Such had been the
constancy of his imagination to her； so had Time spared her under its
withholding； that now； seeing how roughly the inexorable hand had struck
her； his soul was filled with pity and amazement。
He led her to a chair； and stood leaning on a corner of the chimney…
piece； with his head resting on his hand； and his face half averted。
〃Did you see me in the street； and show me to your child？〃 he asked。
〃Yes。〃
〃Is the little creature； then； a party to deceit？〃
〃I hope there is no deceit。 I said to her； 'We have lost our way； and I
must try to find mine by myself。 Go to that gentleman； and tell him you
are lost。 You shall be fetched by…and…by。' Perhaps you have not thought
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how very young she is？〃
〃She is very self…reliant。〃
〃Perhaps because she is so young。〃
He asked； after a short pause； 〃Why did you do this？〃
〃Oh； Mr。 Jackson； do you ask me？ In the hope that you might see
something in my innocent child to soften your heart towards me。 Not
only towards me； but towards my husband。〃
He suddenly turned about； and walked to the opposite end of the room。
He came back again with a slower step； and resumed his former attitude；
saying：
〃I thought you had emigrated to America？〃
〃We did。 But life went ill with us there； and we came back。〃
〃Do you live in this town？〃
〃Yes。 I am a daily teacher of music here。 My husband is a book…
keeper。〃
〃Are youforgive my askingpoor？〃
〃We earn enough for our wants。 That is not our distress。 My
husband is very； very ill of a lingering disorder。 He will never recover〃
〃You check yourself。 If it is for want of the encouraging word you
spoke of； take it from me。 I cannot forget the old time； Beatrice。〃
〃God bless you！〃 she replied with a burst of tears； and gave him her
trembling hand。