A little stumble here, but only for a moment. Soon they were seated comfortably, the Judge in his chair, Kitty on a certain stool which had been hers ever since she was big enough to visit the "Dudds" in his office, which was long before she could speak his name plain. Kitty told her sad little story to a running commentary of "H'm!" "ha!" or "tut, tut!" which conveyed a sympathy that needed no words. Then the Judge took up the thread, and they went through many matters carefully and thoroughly. Kitty was clear-headed; he knew that; she had to know just where she stood. Yes, yes! There was something left, only a little, but a little was very different from nothing. Now the question was how they were to add to that little. John and Sarepta--yes! yes! good souls! good souls! they had consulted him. Very right, very proper. A nice little nest-egg, and John Tucker could carry on the business perfectly. The question was about Kitty herself. She--ah--had not heard from any of her relatives? True! she had but one, and--they need not go into that at present. Now, the Judge had a proposition to make: a--a business proposition. Here was he, a lone man, sixty years old and not getting any younger. He was lonely, very lonely, in that big house. It was absurd that he should be lonely in one house and Kitty in another; "absurd, you see that. Too many lonely people in Cyrus, as it is. I want you to come and live with me, Kitty. There! now don't answer at once: think it over! I never had a daughter of my own, but you have always been like a daughter to me, my dear. I think we could be very comfortable together: very comfortable. Another thing! I need help here, in the office; a--a--in point of fact, secretary! now, if you could manage to give me two or three hours a day--not too much; not enough to fatigue you, or interfere with your getting plenty of fresh air and exercise--and amusement, too, my dear, amusement, too, of course!--why, it would be a great help and comfort to me, and the salary--" he named a substantial sum--"would help to get--gloves, you know; fal-lals, my dear--toggery of various descriptions. Yes! well, my dear, how does it strike you?" It struck Kitty as the kindest thought that ever was in the wide world. Why was every one so good to her? Why, Madam Flynt had asked her to come and live with her! but-- "_That_," Judge Peters struck in with some heat: "that is unnecessary! Clarissa--Madam Flynt--has a companion already. Cornelia Croly is an excellent person; they have lived together for twenty years; she cannot think of discharging Cornelia Croly! Monstrous!" "Oh, no! no, indeed, Judge! She only thought--she seemed to think--they both needed some one a little younger--but I--oh no, indeed! I only promised to think it over."