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see it under the foot of the hill； but I can very often hear it； and I always
know it is there。 It seems to join me； in a way； to I don't know how many
places and things that I shall never see。〃
With an abashed kind of idea that it might have already joined himself
to something he had never seen； he said constrainedly： 〃Just so。〃
〃And so you see； sir；〃 pursued Phoebe； 〃I am not the invalid you
thought me； and I am very well off indeed。〃
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〃You have a happy disposition；〃 said Barbox Brothers： perhaps with
a slight excusatory touch for his own disposition。
〃Ah！ But you should know my father；〃 she replied。 〃His is the
happy disposition！Don't mind； sir！〃 For his reserve took the alarm at a
step upon the stairs； and he distrusted that he would be set down for a
troublesome intruder。 〃This is my father coming。〃
The door opened； and the father paused there。
〃Why； Lamps！〃 exclaimed Barbox Brothers； starting from his chair。
〃How do you do； Lamps？〃
To which Lamps responded： 〃The gentleman for Nowhere！ How
do you DO； sir？〃
And they shook hands； to the greatest admiration and surprise of
Lamp's daughter。
〃I have looked you up half…a…dozen times since that night；〃 said
Barbox Brothers； 〃but have never found you。〃
〃So I've heerd on； sir； so I've heerd on；〃 returned Lamps。 〃It's your
being noticed so often down at the Junction； without taking any train； that
has begun to get you the name among us of the gentleman for Nowhere。
No offence in my having called you by it when took by surprise； I hope；
sir？〃
〃None at all。 It's as good a name for me as any other you could call
me by。 But may I ask you a question in the corner here？〃
Lamps suffered himself to be led aside from his daughter's couch by
one of the buttons of his velveteen jacket。
〃Is this the bedside where you sing your songs？〃
Lamps nodded。
The gentleman for Nowhere clapped him on the shoulder； and they
faced about again。
〃Upon my word； my dear；〃 said Lamps then to his daughter； looking
from her to her visitor； 〃it is such an amaze to me； to find you brought
acquainted with this gentleman； that I must （if this gentleman will excuse
me） take a rounder。〃
Mr。 Lamps demonstrated in action what this meant； by pulling out his
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oily handkerchief rolled up in the form of a ball； and giving himself an
elaborate smear； from behind the right ear； up the cheek； across the
forehead； and down the other cheek to behind his left ear。 After this
operation he shone exceedingly。
〃It's according to my custom when particular warmed up by any
agitation； sir；〃 he offered by way of apology。 〃And really； I am throwed
into that state of amaze by finding you brought acquainted with Phoebe；
that Ithat I think I will； if you'll excuse me； take another rounder。〃
Which he did； seeming to be greatly restored by it。
They were now both standing by the side of her couch； and she was
working at her lace…pillow。 〃Your daughter tells me；〃 said Barbox
Brothers； still in a half…reluctant shamefaced way； 〃that she never sits up。〃
〃No； sir； nor never has done。 You see； her mother （who died when
she was a year and two months old） was subject to very bad fits； and as
she had never mentioned to me that she WAS subject to fits； they couldn't
be guarded against。 Consequently； she dropped the baby when took； and
this happened。〃
〃It was very wrong of her；〃 said Barbox Brothers with a knitted brow；
〃to marry you； making a secret of her infirmity。'
〃Well； sir！〃 pleaded Lamps in behalf of the long…deceased。 〃You see；
Phoebe and me； we have talked that over too。 And Lord bless us！ Such
a number on us has our infirmities； what with fits； and what with misfits；
of one sort and another； that if we confessed to 'em all before we got
married； most of us might never get married。〃
〃Might not that be for the better？〃
〃Not in this case； sir；〃 said Phoebe； giving her hand to her father。
〃No； not in this case； sir；〃 said her father； patting it between his own。
〃You correct me；〃 returned Barbox Brothers with a blush； 〃and I must
look so like a Brute； that at all events it would be superfluous in me to
confess to THAT infirmity。 I wish you would tell me a little more about
yourselves。 I hardly knew how to ask it of you； for I am conscious that I
have a bad stiff manner； a dull discouraging way with me； but I wish you
would。〃
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〃With all our hearts； sir；〃 returned Lamps gaily for both。 〃And first
of all； that you may know my name〃
〃Stay！〃 interposed the visitor with a slight flush。 〃What signifies
your name？ Lamps is name enough for me。 I like it。 It is bright and
expressive。 What do I want more？〃
〃Why； to be sure； sir；〃 returned Lamps。 〃I have in general no other
name down at the Junction； but I thought； on account of your being here as
a first…class single； in a private character； that you might〃
The visitor waved the thought away with his hand； and Lamps
acknowledged the mark of confidence by taking another rounder。
〃You are hard…worked； I take for granted？〃 said Barbox Brothers；
when the subject of the rounder came out of it much dirtier than be went
into it。
Lamps was beginning； 〃Not particular so〃when his daughter took
him up。
〃Oh yes； sir； he is very hard…worked。 Fourteen； fifteen； eighteen
hours a day。 Sometimes twenty…four hours at a time。〃
〃And you；〃 said Barbox Brothers； 〃what with your school； Phoebe；
and what with your lace…making〃
〃But my school is a pleasure to me；〃 she interrupted； opening her
brown eyes wider； as if surprised to find him so obtuse。 〃I began it when
I was but a child； because it brought me and other children into company；
don't you see？ THAT was no