How old is your child?
How many have you had?
What character have you ?' "Your wife didn't answer a word; so I stepped up, and said, 'Sir,' says I, 'this lady has just lost her first child, and isn't used to look for places, being the daughter of a captain in the navy; so you'll excuse her want of manners in not getting up when you came in.' "The doctor at this sat down and began talking very kindly to her; he said he was afraid that her application would be unsuccessful, as Mrs.
Horner came very strongly recommended from the Duchess of Doncaster, whose relative Lady Tiptoff was; and presently my Lady appeared, looking very pretty, ma'am, in an elegant lace-cap and a sweet muslin _robe-de- sham_.
"A nurse came out of her Ladyship's room with her; and while my Lady was talking to us, walked up and down in the next room with something in her arms.
"First, my Lady spoke to Mrs.Horner, and then to Mrs.T.; but all the while she was talking, Mrs.Titmarsh, rather rudely, as I thought, ma'am, was looking into the next room: looking--looking at the baby there with all her might.

My Lady asked her her name, and if she had any character; and as she did not speak, I spoke up for her, and said she was the wife of one of the best men in the world; that her Ladyship knew the gentleman, too, and had brought him a haunch of venison.

Then Lady Tiptoff looked up quite astonished, and I told the whole story: how you had been head clerk, and that rascal, Brough, had brought you to ruin.
'Poor thing!' said my Lady: Mrs.Titmarsh did not speak, but still kept looking at the baby; and the great big grenadier of a Mrs.Horner looked angrily at her.
"'Poor thing!' says my Lady, taking Mrs.T.'s hand very kind, 'she seems very young.

How old are you, my dear ?' "'Five weeks and two days!' says your wife, sobbing.
"Mrs.Horner burst into a laugh; but there was a tear in my Lady's eyes, for she knew what the poor thing was a-thinking of.
"'Silence, woman!' says she angrily to the great grenadier woman; and at this moment the child in the next room began crying.
"As soon as your wife heard the noise, she sprung from her chair and made a stop forward, and put both her hands to her breast and said, 'The child--the child--give it me!' and then began to cry again.
"My Lady looked at her for a moment, and then ran into the next room and brought her the baby; and the baby clung to her as if he knew her: and a pretty sight it was to see that dear woman with the child at her bosom.
"When my Lady saw it, what do you think she did?
After looking on it for a bit, she put her arms round your wife's neck and kissed her.
"'My dear,' said she, 'I am sure you are as good as you are pretty, and you shall keep the child: and I thank God for sending you to me!' "These were her very words; and Dr.Bland, who was standing by, says, 'It's a second judgment of Solomon!' "'I suppose, my Lady, you don't want _me_ ?' says the big woman, with another curtsey.
"'Not in the least!' answers my Lady, haughtily, and the grenadier left the room: and then I told all your story at full length, and Mrs.
Blenkinsop kept me to tea, and I saw the beautiful room that Mrs.
Titmarsh is to have next to Lady Tiptoff's; and when my Lord came home, what does he do but insist upon coming back with me here in a hackney- coach, as he said he must apologise to you for keeping your wife away." I could not help, in my own mind, connecting this strange event which, in the midst of our sorrow, came to console us, and in our poverty to give us bread,--I could not help connecting it with the _diamond pin_, and fancying that the disappearance of that ornament had somehow brought a different and a better sort of luck into my family.

And though some gents who read this, may call me a poor-spirited fellow for allowing my wife to go out to service, who was bred a lady and ought to have servants herself: yet, for my part, I confess I did not feel one minute's scruple or mortification on the subject.