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I was but a child； because it brought me and other children into company；
don't you see？ THAT was not work。 I carry it on still； because it keeps
children about me。 THAT is not work。 I do it as love； not as work。
Then my lace…pillow；〃 her busy hands had stopped； as if her argument
required all her cheerful earnestness； but now went on again at the name；
〃it goes with my thoughts when I think； and it goes with my tunes when I
hum any； and THAT'S not work。 Why； you yourself thought it was music；
you know； sir。 And so it is to me。〃
〃Everything is！〃 cried Lamps radiantly。 〃Everything is music to her；
sir。〃
〃My father is； at any rate；〃 said Phoebe； exultingly pointing her thin
forefinger at him。 〃There is more music in my father than there is in a
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brass band。〃
〃I say！ My dear！ It's very fillyillially done； you know； but you are
flattering your father；〃 he protested； sparkling。
〃No； I am not； sir； I assure you。 No； I am not。 If you could hear my
father sing； you would know I am not。 But you never will hear him sing；
because he never sings to any one but me。 However tired he is； he
always sings to me when he comes home。 When I lay here long ago；
quite a poor little broken doll； he used to sing to me。 More than that； he
used to make songs； bringing in whatever little jokes we had between us。
More than that； he often does so to this day。 Oh！ I'll tell of you； father；
as the gentleman has asked about you。 He is a poet； sir。〃
〃I shouldn't wish the gentleman； my dear；〃 observed Lamps； for the
moment turning grave； 〃to carry away that opinion of your father； because
it might look as if I was given to asking the stars in a molloncolly manner
what they was up to。 Which I wouldn't at once waste the time； and take
the liberty； my dear。〃
〃My father；〃 resumed Phoebe； amending her text； 〃is always on the
bright side； and the good side。 You told me； just now； I had a happy
disposition。 How can I help it？〃
〃Well； but； my dear；〃 returned Lamps argumentatively； 〃how can I
help it？ Put it to yourself sir。 Look at her。 Always as you see her now。
Always workingand after all； sir； for but a very few shillings a week
always contented； always lively； always interested in others； of all sorts。
I said； this moment； she was always as you see her now。 So she is； with a
difference that comes to much the same。 For； when it is my Sunday off
and the morning bells have done ringing； I hear the prayers and thanks
read in the touchingest way； and I have the hymns sung to meso soft； sir；
that you couldn't hear 'em out of this roomin notes that seem to me； I am
sure； to come from Heaven and go back to it。〃
It might have been merely through the association of these words with
their sacredly quiet time； or it might have been through the larger
association of the words with the Redeemer's presence beside the
bedridden； but here her dexterous fingers came to a stop on the lace…pillow；
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and clasped themselves around his neck as he bent down。 There was great
natural sensibility in both father and daughter； the visitor could easily see；
but each made it； for the other's sake； retiring； not demonstrative； and
perfect cheerfulness； intuitive or acquired； was either the first or second
nature of both。 In a very few moments Lamps was taking another
rounder with his comical features beaming； while Phoebe's laughing eyes
（just a glistening speck or so upon their lashes） were again directed by
turns to him； and to her work； and to Barbox Brothers。
〃When my father； sir；〃 she said brightly； 〃tells you about my being
interested in other people； even though they know nothing about me
which； by the bye； I told you myselfyou ought to know how that comes
about。 That's my father's doing。〃
〃No； it isn't！〃 he protested。
〃Don't you believe him； sir； yes； it is。 He tells me of everything he
sees down at his work。 You would be surprised what a quantity he gets
together for me every day。 He looks into the carriages； and tells me how
the ladies are dressedso that I know all the fashions！ He looks into the
carriages； and tells me what pairs of lovers he sees； and what new…married
couples on their wedding trip so that I know all about that！ He collects
chance newspapers and booksso that I have plenty to read！ He tells me
about the sick people who are travelling to try to get betterso that I know
all about them！ In short； as I began by saying； he tells me everything he
sees and makes out down at his work； and you can't think what a quantity
he does see and make out。〃 〃As to collecting newspapers and books； my
dear；〃 said Lamps； 〃it's clear I can have no merit in that； because they're
not my perquisites。 You see； sir； it's this way： A Guard； he'll say to me；
'Hallo； here you are； Lamps。 I've saved this paper for your daughter。
How is she a…going on？' A Head…Porter； he'll say to me； 'Here！ Catch
hold； Lamps。 Here's a couple of wollumes for your daughter。 Is she
pretty much where she were？' And that's what makes it double welcome；
you see。 If she had a thousand pound in a box； they wouldn't trouble
themselves about her； but being what she isthat is； you understand；〃
Lamps added； somewhat hurriedly； 〃not having a thousand pound in a
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boxthey take thought for her。 And as concerning the young pairs；
married and unmarried； it's only natural I should bring home what little I
can about THEM； seeing that there's not a Couple of either sort in the
neighbourhood that don't come of their own accord to confide in Phoebe。〃
She raised her eyes triumphantly to Barbox Brothers as she said：
〃Indeed； sir； that is true。 If I could have got up and