At last dinner-time came, and yet nothing was said, nor were there any indications that the boy was to go home.

The meal passed, and then Henry was directed to go on some errand about a mile away.
"But ain't I going home to-day, Mr.Sharp ?" said he, with a sudden, despairing resolution, looking up with tearful eyes, as he spoke.
"What's that ?" eagerly asked Mrs.Sharp, coming forward.

"What's that, ha ?" The frightened boy slunk back, and stood with his eyes upon the floor.
"Go where, did he say, Mr.Sharp ?" "Go to see his mammy, to be sure!" replied the hatter, in a half-sneering tone of surprise.
"His mammy, indeed! And pray what put that into his head, I should like to know ?" "Mr.Sharp told mother he would send me home to see her on New Year's day," the child ventured to says in explanation.
"Clear out! Off with you, Mr.Assurance!" exclaimed Sharp, in an angry voice, at this, half raising his hand to strike the lad.

"How dare you!" Henry started back trembling, at once conscious that all hope of seeing her he had so pined to meet for many long and weary days of suffering and privation, was at an end.

Slowly he left the house, shrinking in the cold blast, and went on his errand through the hard frozen snow.
"Did any one ever hear such impudence!" ejaculated Mrs.Sharp, in breathless surprise.