.

it was apparently the merest chance in the world that brought the old gentleman, who lived in—russell square, to his hall-door the next morning, to answer, in his own person, a very small and insignificant-sounding ring. when he opened the door he saw standing outside a very tiny boy, and by the boy's side a most disreputable-looking dog.

"well," said the old gentleman, for he hated beggars, "what do you want? some mischief, i warrant."

"please, sir," piped pepper's small treble, "tom 'ud come hisself, but 'e 'ave hurt 'is foot h'awful bad, so 'e 'ave sent me and trusty wid the tenpence, please, sir.'

"what tenpence?" asked the old man, who had really forgotten the circumstance of yesterday.[pg 215]

"please, sir," continued pepper, holding out sixpence and four dirty pennies, "'tis the change from the shilling as yer lent to tom."

at these words the old gentleman got very red in the face, and stared with all his might at pepper. "bless me!" he said suddenly; then he took hold of pepper's ragged coat-sleeve and drew him into the hall. "wife," he called out, "i say, wife, come here. bless me! i never heard of anything so strange. i have actually found an honest crossing-sweeper at last."

but that is the story—for the old gentleman was as kind as he was eccentric—and he failed not quickly to inquire into all particulars with regard to tom, pepper, and trusty; and then as promptly to help and raise the three. yes, that is the story.

but in the lives of two prosperous men—for tom and pepper are men now—there is never forgotten that dark night, when the little crossing-sweeper risked everything rather than tell a lie or break a trust. and trusty was true to his name to the last.