\"WouldBerthablameher?\"Leonard\'sLow，tenderanswercame:
\"BerthawasfartoonobleTothinkordreamofblame。\"
\"Andwashesurehelovedher?\"
\"Yes，withtheonelovegivenOnceinalifetimeonly，Withonesoulandoneheaven!\"
XII。
Thencameaplaintivemurmur，-
\"DorahadoncebeentoldThatheandBertha——\"\"Dearest，BerthaisfartoocoldTolove；andI，myDora，IfonceIfanciedso，Itwasabriefdelusion，Andover，——longago。\"
XIII。
BetweenthePastandPresent，Onthatbleakmoment\'sheight，Shestood。AssomelosttravellerByaquickflashoflightSeeingagulfbeforehim，Withdizzy，sickdespair，Reelstoclutchbackward，buttofindAdeeperchasmthere。
XIV。
Thetwilightgrewstilldarker，Thefragrantflowersmoresweet，Thestarsshoneoutinheaven，Thelampsgleam\'ddownthestreet；
Andhourspass\'dindreamingOvertheirnew-foundfate，EretheycouldthinkofwonderingWhyBerthawassolate。
XV。
Shecame，andcalmlylisten\'d；
InvaintheystrovetotraceIfHerbert\'smemoryshadow\'dIngriefuponherface。
Noblame，nowondershow\'dthere，Nofeelingcouldbetold；
Hervoicewasnotlesssteady，Hermannernotmorecold。
XVI。
TheycouldnotheartheanguishThatbrokeinwordsofpainThroughthatcalmsummermidnight，-
\"MyHerbert——mineagain!\"
Yes，theyhaveoncebeenparted，ButthisdayshallrestoreThelonglostone:sheclaimshim:
\"MyHerbert——mineoncemore!\"
XVII。
NowChristmasEvereturning，SawBerthastandbesideThealtar，greetingDora，Againasmilingbride；
AndnowthegloomyeveningSeesBerthapaleandworn，Leavingthehouseforever，Towanderoutforlorn。
XVIII。
Forlorn——nay，notso。AnguishShalldoitsworkatlength；
Hersoul，pass\'dthroughthefire，Shallgainstillpurerstrength。
SomewheretherewaitsforBerthaAnearnestnoblepart；
And，meanwhile，Godiswithher，-
God，andherowntrueheart!
Icouldwarmlyandsincerelypraisethelittlepoem，whenJarberhaddonereadingit；butIcouldnotsaythatittendedinanydegreetowardsclearingupthemysteryoftheemptyHouse。
WhetheritwastheabsenceoftheirritatinginfluenceofTrottle，orwhetheritwassimplyfatigue，Icannotsay，butJarberdidnotstrikeme，thatevening，asbeinginhisusualspirits。Andthoughhedeclaredthathewasnotintheleastdauntedbyhiswantofsuccessthusfar，andthathewasresolutelydeterminedtomakemorediscoveries，hespokeinalanguidabsentmanner，andshortlyafterwardstookhisleaveatratheranearlyhour。
WhenTrottlecameback，andwhenIindignantlytaxedhimwithPhilandering，henotonlydeniedtheimputation，butassertedthathehadbeenemployedonmyservice，and，inconsiderationofthat，boldlyaskedforleaveofabsencefortwodays，andforamorningtohimselfafterwards，tocompletethebusiness，inwhichhesolemnlydeclaredthatIwasinterested。Inremembranceofhislongandfaithfulservicetome，Ididviolencetomyself，andgrantedhisrequest。Andhe，onhisside，engagedtoexplainhimselftomysatisfaction，inaweek\'stime，onMondayeveningthetwentieth。
Adayortwobefore，IsenttoJarber\'slodgingstoaskhimtodropintotea。Hislandladysentbackanapologyforhimthatmademyhairstandonend。Hisfeetwereinhotwater；hisheadwasinaflannelpetticoat；agreenshadewasoverhiseyes；therheumatismwasinhislegs；andamustard-poulticewasonhischest。Hewasalsoalittlefeverish，andratherdistractedinhismindaboutManchesterMarriages，aDwarf，andThreeEvenings，orEveningParties——hislandladywasnotsurewhich——inanemptyHouse，withtheWaterRateunpaid。
Underthesedistressingcircumstances，IwasnecessarilyleftalonewithTrottle。Hispromisedexplanationbegan，likeJarber\'sdiscoveries，withthereadingofawrittenpaper。TheonlydifferencewasthatTrottleintroducedhismanuscriptunderthenameofaReport。
TROTTLE\'SREPORT
Thecuriouseventsrelatedinthesepageswould，manyofthem，mostlikelyneverhavehappened，ifapersonnamedTrottlehadnotpresumed，contrarytohisusualcustom，tothinkforhimself。
Thesubjectonwhichthepersoninquestionhadventured，forthefirsttimeinhislife，toformanopinionpurelyandentirelyhisown，wasonewhichhadalreadyexcitedtheinterestofhisrespectedmistressinaveryextraordinarydegree。Or，toputitinplainertermsstill，thesubjectwasnootherthanthemysteryoftheemptyHouse。
Feelingnosortofobjectiontosetasuccessofhisown，ifpossible，sidebysidewithafailureofMr。Jarber\'s，Trottlemadeuphismind，oneMondayevening，totrywhathecoulddo，onhisownaccount，towardsclearingupthemysteryoftheemptyHouse。
Carefullydismissingfromhismindallnonsensicalnotionsofformertenantsandtheirhistories，andkeepingtheonepointinviewsteadilybeforehim，hestartedtoreachitintheshortestway，bywalkingstraightuptotheHouse，andbringinghimselffacetofacewiththefirstpersoninitwhoopenedthedoortohim。
Itwasgettingtowardsdark，onMondayevening，thethirteenthofthemonth，whenTrottlefirstsetfootonthestepsoftheHouse。
Whenheknockedatthedoor，heknewnothingofthematterwhichhewasabouttoinvestigate，exceptthatthelandlordwasanelderlywidowerofgoodfortune，andthathisnamewasForley。Asmallbeginningenoughforamantostartfrom，certainly!
Ondroppingtheknocker，hisfirstproceedingwastolookdowncautiouslyoutofthecornerofhisrighteye，foranyresultswhichmightshowthemselvesatthekitchen-window。Thereappearedatitimmediatelythefigureofawoman，wholookedupinquisitivelyatthestrangeronthesteps，leftthewindowinahurry，andcamebacktoitwithanopenletterinherhand，whichshehelduptothefadinglight。Afterlookingovertheletterhastilyforamomentorso，thewomandisappearedoncemore。
Trottlenextheardfootstepsshufflingandscrapingalongthebarehallofthehouse。Onasuddentheyceased，andthesoundoftwovoices——ashrillpersuadingvoiceandagruffresistingvoice——
confusedlyreachedhisears。Afterawhile，thevoicesleftoffspeaking——achainwasundone，aboltdrawnback——thedooropened——
andTrottlestoodfacetofacewithtwopersons，awomaninadvance，andamanbehindher，leaningbackflatagainstthewall。
\"Wishyougoodevening，sir，\"saysthewoman，insuchasuddenway，andinsuchacrackedvoice，thatitwasquitestartlingtohearher。\"Chillyweather，ain\'tit，sir?Pleasetowalkin。YoucomefromgoodMr。Forley，don\'tyou，sir?\"
\"Don\'tyou，sir?\"chimesinthemanhoarsely，makingasortofgruffechoofhimself，andchucklingafterit，asifhethoughthehadmadeajoke。
IfTrottlehadsaid，\"No，\"thedoorwouldhavebeenprobablyclosedinhisface。Therefore，hetookcircumstancesashefoundthem，andboldlyranalltherisk，whateveritmightbe，ofsaying，\"Yes。\"
\"Quiterightsir，\"saysthewoman。\"GoodMr。Forley\'slettertoldushisparticularfriendwouldbeheretorepresenthim，atdusk，onMondaythethirteenth——or，ifnotonMondaythethirteenth，thenonMondaythetwentieth，atthesametime，withoutfail。AndhereyouareonMondaythethirteenth，ain\'tyou，sir?Mr。Forley\'sparticularfriend，anddressedallinblack——quiteright，sir!
Pleasetostepintothedining-room——it\'salwayskepscouredandcleanagainstMr。Forleycomeshere——andI\'llfetchacandleinhalfaminute。Itgetssodarkintheevenings，now，youhardlyknowwhereyouare，doyou，sir?AndhowisgoodMr。Forleyinhishealth?Wetrustheisbetter，Benjamin，don\'twe?Wearesosorrynottoseehimasusual，Benjamin，ain\'twe?Inhalfaminute，sir，ifyoudon\'tmindwaiting，I\'llbebackwiththecandle。Comealong，Benjamin。\"
\"Comealong，Benjamin，\"chimesintheecho，andchucklesagainasifhethoughthehadmadeanotherjoke。
Leftaloneintheemptyfront-parlour，Trottlewonderedwhatwascomingnext，asheheardtheshuffling，scrapingfootstepsgoslowlydownthekitchen-stairs。Thefront-doorhadbeencarefullychainedupandboltedbehindhimonhisentrance；andtherewasnottheleastchanceofhisbeingabletoopenittoeffecthisescape，withoutbetrayinghimselfbymakinganoise。
NotbeingoftheJarbersort，luckilyforhimself，hetookhissituationquietly，ashefoundit，andturnedhistime，whilealone，toaccount，bysummingupinhisownmindthefewparticularswhichhehaddiscoveredthusfar。Hehadfoundout，first，thatMr。
Forleywasinthehabitofvisitingthehouseregularly。Second，thatMr。Forleybeingpreventedbyillnessfromseeingthepeopleputinchargeasusual，hadappointedafriendtorepresenthim；andhadwrittentosayso。Third，thatthefriendhadachoiceoftwoMondays，ataparticulartimeintheevening，fordoinghiserrand；
andthatTrottlehadaccidentallyhitonthistime，andonthefirstoftheMondays，forbeginninghisowninvestigations。Fourth，thatthesimilaritybetweenTrottle\'sblackdress，asservantoutoflivery，andthedressofthemessenger(whoeverhemightbe)，hadhelpedtheerrorbywhichTrottlewasprofiting。Sofar，sogood。
Butwhatwasthemessenger\'serrand?andwhatchancewastherethathemightnotcomeupandknockatthedoorhimself，fromminutetominute，onthatveryevening?
WhileTrottlewasturningoverthislastconsiderationinhismind，heheardtheshufflingfootstepscomeupthestairsagain，withaflashofcandle-lightgoingbeforethem。Hewaitedforthewoman\'scominginwithsomelittleanxiety；forthetwilighthadbeentoodimonhisgettingintothehousetoallowhimtoseeeitherherfaceortheman\'sfaceatallclearly。
Thewomancameinfirst，withthemanshecalledBenjaminatherheels，andsetthecandleonthemantel-piece。Trottletakesleavetodescribeherasanoffensively-cheerfuloldwoman，awfullyleanandwiry，andsharpallover，ateyes，nose，andchin——devilishlybrisk，smiling，andrestless，withadirtyfalsefrontandadirtyblackcap，andshortfidgettyarms，andlonghookedfinger-nails——anunnaturallylustyoldwoman，whowalkedwithaspringinherwickedoldfeet，andspokewithasmirkonherwickedoldface——thesortofoldwoman(asTrottlethinks)whooughttohavelivedinthedarkages，andbeenduckedinahorse-pond，insteadofflourishinginthenineteenthcentury，andtakingchargeofaChristianhouse。
\"You\'llpleasetoexcusemyson，Benjamin，won\'tyou，sir?\"saysthiswitchwithoutabroomstick，pointingtothemanbehindher，proppedagainstthebarewallofthedining-room，exactlyashehadbeenproppedagainstthebarewallofthepassage。\"He\'sgothisinsidedreadfulbadagain，hasmysonBenjamin。Andhewon\'tgotobed，andhewillfollowmeaboutthehouse，up-stairsanddownstairs，andinmylady\'schamber，asthesongsays，youknow。
It\'shisindisgestion，poordear，thatsourshistemperandmakeshimsoagravating——andindisgestionisawearingthingtothebestofus，ain\'tit，sir?\"
\"Ain\'tit，sir?\"chimesinagravatingBenjamin，winkingatthecandle-lightlikeanowlatthesunshine。
Trottleexaminedthemancuriously，whilehishorridoldmotherwasspeakingofhim。Hefound\"MysonBenjamin\"tobelittleandlean，andbuttoned-upslovenlyinafrowsyoldgreat-coatthatfelldowntohisraggedcarpet-slippers。Hiseyeswereverywatery，hischeeksverypale，andhislipsveryred。Hisbreathingwassouncommonlyloud，thatitsoundedalmostlikeasnore。Hisheadrolledhelplesslyinthemonstrousbigcollarofhisgreat-coat；andhislimp，lazyhandspotteredaboutthewalloneithersideofhim，asiftheyweregropingforaimaginarybottle。InplainEnglish，thecomplaintof\"MysonBenjamin\"wasdrunkenness，ofthestupid，pig-headed，sottishkind。Drawingthisconclusioneasilyenough，afteramoment\'sobservationoftheman，Trottlefoundhimself，nevertheless，keepinghiseyesfixedmuchlongerthanwasnecessaryontheuglydrunkenfacerollingaboutinthemonstrousbigcoatcollar，andlookingatitwithacuriositythathecouldhardlyaccountforatfirst。Wastheresomethingfamiliartohimintheman\'sfeatures?Heturnedawayfromthemforaninstant，andthenturnedbacktohimagain。Afterthatsecondlook，thenotionforceditselfintohismind，thathehadcertainlyseenafacesomewhere，ofwhichthatsot\'sfaceappearedlikeakindofslovenlycopy。
\"Where?\"thinkshetohimself，\"wheredidIlastseethemanwhomthisagravatingBenjamin，here，soverystronglyremindsmeof?\"
Itwasnotime，justthen——withthecheerfuloldwoman\'seyesearchinghimallover，andthecheerfuloldwoman\'stonguetalkingathim，nineteentothedozen——forTrottletoberansackinghismemoryforsmallmattersthathadgotintowrongcornersofit。HeputbyinhismindthatverycuriouscircumstancerespectingBenjamin\'sface，tobetakenupagainwhenafitopportunityoffereditself；andkepthiswitsabouthiminprimeorderforpresentnecessities。
\"Youwouldn\'tliketogodownintothekitchen，wouldyou?\"saysthewitchwithoutthebroomstick，asfamiliarasifshehadbeenTrottle\'smother，insteadofBenjamin\'s。\"There\'sabitoffireinthegrate，andthesinkinthebackkitchendon\'tsmelltomattermuchto-day，andit\'suncommonchillyupherewhenaperson\'sfleshdon\'thardlycoveraperson\'sbones。Butyoudon\'tlookcold，sir，doyou?Andthen，why，Lordblessmysoul，ourlittlebitofbusinessissovery，verylittle，it\'shardlyworthwhiletogodownstairsaboutit，afterall。Quiteagameatbusiness，ain\'tit，sir?Give-and-takethat\'swhatIcallit——give-and-take!\"
Withthat，herwickedoldeyessettledhungrilyontheregionroundaboutTrottle\'swaistcoat-pocket，andshebegantochucklelikeherson，holdingoutoneofherskinnyhands，andtappingcheerfullyinthepalmwiththeknucklesoftheother。AgravatingBenjamin，seeingwhatshewasabout，rousedupalittle，chuckledandtappedinimitationofher，gotanideaofhisownintohismuddledheadallofasudden，andbolteditoutcharitablyforthebenefitofTrottle。
\"Isay!\"saysBenjamin，settlinghimselfagainstthewallandnoddinghisheadviciouslyathischeerfuloldmother。\"Isay!
Lookout。She\'llskinyou!\"
Assistedbythesesignsandwarnings，Trottlefoundnodifficultyinunderstandingthatthebusinessreferredtowasthegivingandtakingofmoney，andthathewasexpectedtobethegiver。Itwasatthisstageoftheproceedingsthathefirstfeltdecidedlyuncomfortable，andmorethanhalfinclinedtowishhewasonthestreet-sideofthehouse-dooragain。
Hewasstillcudgellinghisbrainsforanexcusetosavehispocket，whenthesilencewassuddenlyinterruptedbyasoundintheupperpartofthehouse。
Itwasnotatallloud——itwasaquiet，still，scrapingsound——sofaintthatitcouldhardlyhavereachedthequickestears，exceptinanemptyhouse。
\"Doyouhearthat，Benjamin?\"saystheoldwoman。\"He\'satitagain，eveninthedark，ain\'the?P\'rapsyou\'dliketoseehim，sir!\"saysshe，turningonTrottle，andpokinghergrinningfaceclosetohim。\"Onlynameit；onlysayifyou\'dliketoseehimbeforewedoourlittlebitofbusiness——andI\'llshowgoodForley\'sfriendup-stairs，justasifhewasgoodMr。Forleyhimself。MY
legsareallright，whateverBenjamin\'smaybe。Igetyoungerandyounger，andstrongerandstronger，andjollierandjollier，everyday——that\'swhatIdo!Don\'tmindthestairsonmyaccount，sir，ifyou\'dliketoseehim。\"
\"Him?\"Trottlewonderedwhether\"him\"meantaman，oraboy，oradomesticanimalofthemalespecies。Whateveritmeant，herewasachanceofputtingoffthatuncomfortablegive-and-take-business，and，betterstill，achanceperhapsoffindingoutoneofthesecretsofthemysteriousHouse。Trottle\'sspiritsbegantoriseagainandhesaid\"Yes，\"directly，withtheconfidenceofamanwhoknewallaboutit。
Benjamin\'smothertookthecandleatonce，andlightedTrottlebrisklytothestairs；andBenjaminhimselftriedtofollowasusual。Butgettingupseveralflightsofstairs，evenhelpedbythebannisters，wasmore，withhisparticularcomplaint，thanheseemedtofeelhimselfinclinedtoventureon。Hesatdownobstinatelyontheloweststep，withhisheadagainstthewall，andthetailsofhisbiggreat-coatspreadingoutmagnificentlyonthestairsbehindhimandabovehim，likeadirtyimitationofacourtlady\'strain。
\"Don\'tsitthere，dear，\"sayshisaffectionatemother，stoppingtosnuffthecandleonthefirstlanding。
\"Ishallsithere，\"saysBenjamin，agravatingtothelast，\"tillthemilkcomesinthemorning。\"
Thecheerfuloldwomanwentonnimblyupthestairstothefirstfloor，andTrottlefollowed，withhiseyesandearswideopen。Hehadseennothingoutofthecommoninthefront-parlour，orupthestaircase，sofar。TheHousewasdirtyanddrearyandclose-
smelling——buttherewasnothingaboutittoexcitetheleastcuriosity，exceptthefaintscrapingsound，whichwasnowbeginningtogetalittleclearer——thoughstillnotatallloud——asTrottlefollowedhisleaderupthestairstothesecondfloor。
Nothingonthesecond-floorlanding，butcobwebsaboveandbitsofbrokenplasterbelow，crackedofffromtheceiling。Benjamin\'smotherwasnotabitoutofbreath，andlookedallreadytogotothetopofthemonumentifnecessary。Thefaintscrapingsoundhadgotalittleclearerstill；butTrottlewasnonearertoguessingwhatitmightbe，thanwhenhefirsthearditintheparlourdownstairs。
Onthethird，andlast，floor，thereweretwodoors；one，whichwasshut，leadingintothefrontgarret；andone，whichwasajar，leadingintothebackgarret。Therewasaloftintheceilingabovethelanding；butthecobwebsalloveritvouchedsufficientlyforitsnothavingbeenopenedforsomelittletime。Thescrapingnoise，plainerthaneverhere，soundedontheothersideofthebackgarretdoor；and，toTrottle\'sgreatrelief，thatwaspreciselythedoorwhichthecheerfuloldwomannowpushedopen。
Trottlefollowedherin；and，foronceinhislife，atanyrate，wasstruckdumbwithamazement，atthesightwhichtheinsideoftheroomrevealedtohim。
Thegarretwasabsolutelyemptyofeverythingintheshapeoffurniture。Itmusthavebeenusedatonetimeorother，bysomebodyengagedinaprofessionoratradewhichrequiredforthepracticeofitagreatdealoflight；fortheonewindowintheroom，whichlookedoutonawideopenspaceatthebackofthehouse，wasthreeorfourtimesaslarge，everyway，asagarret-windowusuallyis。
Closeunderthiswindow，kneelingonthebareboardswithhisfacetothedoor，thereappeared，ofallthecreaturesintheworldtoseealoneatsuchaplaceandatsuchatime，ameremiteofachild——alittle，lonely，wizen，strangely-cladboy，whocouldnotatthemost，havebeenmorethanfiveyearsold。Hehadagreasyoldblueshawlcrossedoverhisbreast，androlledup，tokeeptheendsfromtheground，intoagreatbiglumponhisback。Astripofsomethingwhichlookedliketheremainsofawoman\'sflannelpetticoat，showeditselfundertheshawl，and，belowthatagain，apairofrustyblackstockings，worldstoolargeforhim，coveredhislegsandhisshoelessfeet。Apairofoldclumsymuffetees，whichhadworkedthemselvesuponhislittlefrailredarmstotheelbows，andabigcottonnightcapthathaddroppeddowntohisveryeyebrows，finishedoffthestrangedresswhichthepoorlittlemanseemednothalfbigenoughtofillout，andnotnearstrongenoughtowalkaboutin。
Buttherewassomethingtoseeevenmoreextraordinarythantheclothesthechildwasswaddledupin，andthatwasthegamewhichhewasplayingat，allbyhimself；andwhich，moreover，explainedinthemostunexpectedmannerthefaintscrapingnoisethathadfounditswaydown-stairs，throughthehalf-openeddoor，inthesilenceoftheemptyhouse。
Ithasbeenmentionedthatthechildwasonhiskneesinthegarret，whenTrottlefirstsawhim。Hewasnotsayinghisprayers，andnotcrouchingdowninterroratbeingaloneinthedark。Hewas，oddandunaccountableasitmayappear，doingnothingmoreorlessthanplayingatacharwoman\'sorhousemaid\'sbusinessofscouringthefloor。Bothhislittlehandshadtightholdofamangyoldblacking-brush，withhardlyanybristlesleftinit，whichhewasrubbingbackwardsandforwardsontheboards，asgravelyandsteadilyasifhehadbeenatscouring-workforyears，andhadgotalargefamilytokeepbyit。Thecoming-inofTrottleandtheoldwomandidnotstartleordisturbhimintheleast。Hejustlookedupforaminuteatthecandle，withapairofverybright，sharpeyes，andthenwentonwithhisworkagain，asifnothinghadhappened。Ononesideofhimwasabatteredpintsaucepanwithoutahandle，whichwashismake-believepail；andontheotheramorselofslate-colouredcottonrag，whichstoodforhisflanneltowipeupwith。Afterscrubbingbravelyforaminuteortwo，hetookthebitofrag，andmoppedup，andthensqueezedmake-believewateroutintohismake-believepail，asgraveasanyjudgethateversatonaBench。Bythetimehethoughthehadgotthefloorprettydry，heraisedhimselfuprightonhisknees，andblewoutagoodlongbreath，andsethislittleredarmsakimbo，andnoddedatTrottle。
\"There!\"saysthechild，knittinghislittledownyeyebrowsintoafrown。\"Dratthedirt!I\'vecleanedup。Where\'smybeer?\"
Benjamin\'smotherchuckledtillTrottlethoughtshewouldhavechokedherself。
\"Lordha\'mercyonus!\"saysshe，\"justheartheimp。Youwouldneverthinkhewasonlyfiveyearsold，wouldyou，sir?PleasetotellgoodMr。Forleyyousawhimgoingonasnicelyasever，playingatbeingmescouringtheparlourfloor，andcallingformybeerafterwards。That\'shisregulargame，morning，noon，andnight——he\'snevertiredofit。Onlylookhowsnugwe\'vebeenanddressedhim。
That\'smyshawlakeepinhispreciouslittlebodywarm，andBenjamin\'snightcapakeepinhispreciouslittleheadwarm，andBenjamin\'sstockings，drawedoverhistrowsers，akeepinhispreciouslittlelegswarm。He\'ssnugandhappyifeveraimpwasyet。\'Where\'smybeer!\'——sayitagain，littledear，sayitagain!\"
IfTrottlehadseentheboy，withalightandafireintheroom，clothedlikeotherchildren，andplayingnaturallywithatop，oraboxofsoldiers，orabouncingbigIndia-rubberball，hemighthavebeenascheerfulunderthecircumstancesasBenjamin\'smotherherself。Butseeingthechildreduced(ashecouldnothelpsuspecting)forwantofpropertoysandproperchild\'scompany，totakeupwiththemockingofanoldwomanatherscouring-work，forsomethingtostandintheplaceofagame，Trottle，thoughnotafamilyman，neverthelessfeltthesightbeforehimtobe，initsway，oneofthesaddestandthemostpitiablethathehadeverwitnessed。
\"Why，myman，\"sayshe，\"you\'retheboldestlittlechapinallEngland。Youdon\'tseemabitafraidofbeinguphereallbyyourselfinthedark。\"
\"Thebigwinder，\"saysthechild，pointinguptoit，\"seesinthedark；andIseewiththebigwinder。\"Hestopsabit，andgetsuponhislegs，andlookshardatBenjamin\'smother。\"I\'magood\'un，\"
sayshe，\"ain\'tI?Isavecandle。\"
Trottlewonderedwhatelsetheforlornlittlecreaturehadbeenbroughtuptodowithout，besidescandle-light；andriskedputtingaquestionastowhetherheevergotarunintheopenairtocheerhimupabit。O，yes，hehadarunnowandthen，outofdoors(tosaynothingofhisrunsaboutthehouse)，thelivelylittlecricket——
arunaccordingtogoodMr。Forley\'sinstructions，whichwerefollowedoutcarefully，asgoodMr。Forley\'sfriendwouldbegladtohear，totheveryletter。
AsTrottlecouldonlyhavemadeonereplytothis，namely，thatgoodMr。Forley\'sinstructionswere，inhisopinion，theinstructionsofaninfernalscamp；andashefeltthatsuchananswerwouldnaturallyprovethedeath-blowtoallfurtherdiscoveriesonhispart，hegulpeddownhisfeelingsbeforetheygottoomanyforhim，andheldhistongue，andlookedroundtowardsthewindowagaintoseewhattheforlornlittleboywasgoingtoamusehimselfwithnext。
Thechildhadgathereduphisblacking-brushandbitofrag，andhadputthemintotheoldtinsaucepan；andwasnowworkinghisway，aswellashisclotheswouldlethim，withhismake-believepailhuggedupinhisarms，towardsadoorofcommunicationwhichledfromthebacktothefrontgarret。
\"Isay，\"sayshe，lookingroundsharplyoverhisshoulder，\"whatareyoutwostoppingherefor?I\'mgoingtobednow——andsoItellyou!\"
Withthat，heopenedthedoor，andwalkedintothefrontroom。
SeeingTrottletakeasteportwotofollowhim，Benjamin\'smotheropenedherwickedoldeyesinastateofgreatastonishment。
\"Mercyonus!\"saysshe，\"haven\'tyouseenenoughofhimyet?\"
\"No，\"saysTrottle。\"Ishouldliketoseehimgotobed。\"
Benjamin\'smotherburstintosuchafitofchucklingthatthelooseextinguisherinthecandlestickclatteredagainwiththeshakingofherhand。TothinkofgoodMr。Forley\'sfriendtakingtentimesmoretroubleabouttheimpthangoodMr。Forleyhimself!Suchajokeasthat，Benjamin\'smotherhadnotoftenmetwithinthecourseofherlife，andshebeggedtobeexcusedifshetookthelibertyofhavingalaughatit。
Leavinghertolaughasmuchasshepleased，andcomingtoaprettypositiveconclusion，afterwhathehadjustheard，thatMr。Forley\'sinterestinthechildwasnotofthefondestpossiblekind，Trottlewalkedintothefrontroom，andBenjamin\'smother，enjoyingherselfimmensely，followedwiththecandle。
Thereweretwopiecesoffurnitureinthefrontgarret。One，anoldstoolofthesortthatisusedtostandacaskofbeeron；andtheotheragreatbigrickettystraddlingoldtrucklebedstead。Inthemiddleofthisbedstead，surroundedbyadimbrownwasteofsacking，wasakindoflittleislandofpoorbedding——anoldbolster，withnearlyallthefeathersoutofit，doubledinthreeforapillow；amereshredofpatchworkcounter-pane，andablanket；andunderthat，andpeepingoutalittleoneithersidebeyondthelooseclothes，twofadedchaircushionsofhorsehair，laidalongtogetherforasortofmakeshiftmattress。WhenTrottlegotintotheroom，thelonelylittleboyhadscrambleduponthebedsteadwiththehelpofthebeer-stool，andwaskneelingontheouterrimofsackingwiththeshredofcounterpaneinhishands，justmakingreadytotuckitinforhimselfunderthechaircushions。
\"I\'lltuckyouup，myman，\"saysTrottle。\"Jumpintobed，andletmetry。\"
\"Imeantotuckmyselfup，\"saysthepoorforlornchild，\"andI
don\'tmeantojump。Imeantocrawl，Ido——andsoItellyou!\"
Withthat，hesettowork，tuckingintheclothestightalldownthesidesofthecushions，butleavingthemopenatthefoot。Then，gettinguponhisknees，andlookinghardatTrottleasmuchastosay，\"Whatdoyoumeanbyofferingtohelpsuchahandylittlechapasme?\"hebegantountiethebigshawlforhimself，anddidit，too，inlessthanhalfaminute。Then，doublingtheshawluplooseoverthefootofthebed，hesays，\"Isay，lookhere，\"andducksundertheclothes，headfirst，worminghiswayupandupsoftly，undertheblanketandcounterpane，tillTrottlesawthetopofthelargenightcapslowlypeepoutonthebolster。Thisover-sizedhead-gearofthechild\'shadsoshoveditselfdowninthecourseofhisjourneytothepillow，undertheclothes，thatwhenhegothisfacefairlyoutonthebolster，hewasallnightcapdowntohismouth。Hesoonfreedhimself，however，fromthisslightencumbrancebyturningtheendsofthecapupgravelytotheiroldplaceoverhiseyebrows——lookedatTrottle——said，\"Snug，ain\'tit?Good-bye!\"——
poppedhisfaceundertheclothesagain——andleftnothingtobeseenofhimbuttheemptypeakofthebignightcapstandingupsturdilyonendinthemiddleofthebolster。
\"Whatayounglimbitis，ain\'tit?\"saysBenjamin\'smother，givingTrottleacheerfuldigwithherelbow。\"Comeon!youwon\'tseenomoreofhimto-night!\"
\"AndsoItellyou!\"singsoutashrill，littlevoiceunderthebedclothes，chiminginwithaplayfulfinishtotheoldwoman\'slastwords。
IfTrottlehadnotbeen，bythistime，positivelyresolvedtofollowthewickedsecretwhichaccidenthadmixedhimupwith，throughallitsturningsandwindings，rightontotheend，hewouldhaveprobablysnatchedtheboyupthenandthere，andcarriedhimofffromhisgarretprison，bed-clothesandall。Asitwas，heputastrongcheckonhimself，kepthiseyeonfuturepossibilities，andallowedBenjamin\'smothertoleadhimdown-stairsagain。
\"Mindthemtopbannisters，\"saysshe，asTrottlelaidhishandonthem。\"Theyareasrottenasmedlarseveryoneof\'em。\"
\"Whenpeoplecometoseethepremises，\"saysTrottle，tryingtofeelhiswayalittlefartherintothemysteryoftheHouse，\"youdon\'tbringmanyofthemuphere，doyou?\"