if it had been favourable to the boy.'

It is not improbable that if Mr. Bumble had been possessed of

this information at an earlier period of the interview, he might

have imparted a very different colouring to his little history.

It was too late to do it now, however; so he shook his head

gravely, and, pocketing the five guineas, withdrew.

Mr. Brownlow paced the room to and fro for some minutes;

evidently so much disturbed by the beadle's tale, that even Mr.