“He must be a real good fellow, John Holl, dust contractor,” John put in, never remembering that he had done the same thing. “He is, father. I told you you’d like him. Well, the worst of it was, the poor baby grew up a cripple, just like me, mother. But they didn’t love it or care for it any the less, but nursed it and watched over it with even greater tenderness than they had for their own healthy children. Well, mother, years afterwards it was found out who the boy was, and he went away to his new relations. They were rich people, mother, and felt that they owed very much to those who had taken care of the poor boy for so many years. So, mother, without saying anything about it, they bought a business with a house and furniture, and carts and horses, and all; and John Holl, dust contractor, came to the house, and found the cripple boy sitting where he had sat so many years at their fireside, to say ‘Welcome home, dear mother and dear father,’” and he held out his hands to them both. Sarah understood it now, and in a moment was crying on her knees by the chair, with her arms round his neck. John Holl sat a picture of utter bewilderment. He did not, even now, understand it, and was stupefied at his wife’s sudden emotion. “Do you not understand, Mr. Holl?” Prescott said, coming to his assistance. “Do you not see you are John Holl, dust contractor: the house, and the carts and horses, are yours. James’s grandfather has bought them for you.” “For me?” John Holl repeated, still incredulous. “Yes, for you, father,” James said. “Don’t you see mother believes it?” John Holl took the cripple’s hand now. His voice trembled. “It’s too much, lad, it’s altogether too much. We couldn’t take it, my boy. We only did our duty, James—Sairey and me.” “You need have no hesitation, John,” Prescott said, putting his hand upon the man’s shoulder, “Captain Bradshaw is very rich. This is really nothing to him. He feels under a great obligation to you; and besides, he likes to give pleasure to James. You can’t help it now. It’s all paid for, and you are John Holl, dust contractor. We watched you go out, and sent the child whom you left at home to fetch the others from school. Your eldest girl is packing up the things, a cart was to be at the door half an hour afterwards, and your things and the children will all be here by five o’clock. James is going to stay with you till seven, and then a cab will call for him. So your wife must set to and make you at home. There is a girl in the kitchen, and a fire, and everything ready. So mother will only have to get tea as usual. Now I will leave you.” And Prescott went out and left them to their happiness.