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“Because he’s such a bad fellow, father,” said Meg. “An’t you, Richard? Such a headstrong, violent man! He’d have made no more of speaking his mind to that great Alderman, and putting him down I don’t know where, than he would of——”

“—Kissing Meg,” suggested Richard. Doing it too!

“No. Not a bit more,”said Meg. “But I wouldn’t let him, father. Where would have been the use!”

“Richard, my boy!” cried Trotty. “You was turned up Trumps originally; and Trumps you must be, till you die! But you were crying by the fire to-night, my pet, when I came home! Why did you cry by the fire?”

“I was thinking of the years we’ve passed together, father. Only that. And thinking that you might miss me, and be lonely.”

Trotty was backing off to that extraordinary chair again, when the child, who had been awakened by the noise, came running in half-dressed.

“Why, here she is!” cried Trotty, catching her up. “Here’s little Lilian! Ha ha ha! Here we are and here we go! O here we are and here we go again! And here we are and here we go! and Uncle Will too!” Stopping in his trot to greet him heartily. “O, Uncle Will, the vision that I’ve had to-night, through lodging you! O, Uncle Will, the obligations that you’ve laid me under, by your coming, my good friend!”