"But if it is thy will to take me from him," she continued, as soon as her emotion permitted her,--"if he must be left an orphan amid strangers, implant, I beseech thee, a mother's feelings in some other bosom, and raise up a friend, who shall be to him what I would have been.

Let him not bear the weight of my punishment.

Spare him!--pity me!" With this she arose, and, taking up the infant, was about to proceed down stairs, when she was alarmed by hearing the street-door opened, and the sound of heavy footsteps entering the house.
"Halloa, widow!" shouted a rough voice from below, "where the devil are you ?" Mrs.Sheppard returned no answer.
"I've got something to say to you," continued the speaker, rather less harshly; "something to your advantage; so come out o' your hiding-place, and let's have some supper, for I'm infernally hungry .-- D'ye hear ?" Still the widow remained silent.
"Well, if you won't come, I shall help myself, and that's unsociable," pursued the speaker, evidently, from the noise he made, suiting the action to the word.

"Devilish nice ham you've got here!--capital pie!--and, as I live, a flask of excellent canary.

You're in luck to-night, widow.