'You'll 'ave to measure 'er finger,' he said; 'let's do it now.' We were conversing in his room. He called Blade-o'-Grass, and she entered. 'We're a-goin' to measure your finger for the weddin'-ring. Hold on, Mr. Meadow, don't you say a word! Give us your 'and, Blade-o'-Grass.' The blood mounted to her face as she held out her hand. Jimmy Virtue took a wedding-ring from his pocket, looked at it curiously, and placed it on her finger. 'See, Mr. Meadow,' he said, 'it just fits. This is my present, Blade-o'-Grass.' She thanked him tearfully, and kissed the ring, and held it to her lips. 'It's 'er mother's,' whispered Jimmy Virtue to me. The sun rose bright and clear on Christmas-day. How well I remember the morning! It is three years since that time, and every incident is as clear to my mind as if it had occurred but yesterday. Punctually at half-past eight o'clock Blade-o'-Grass was at my lodgings; she was nervous and very pale, and had evidently had but little sleep during the night. I had never seen her so neatly dressed, and I expressed my pleasure at her appearance. 'Mrs. Silver and Miss Rachel brought the things to me yesterday, sir,' she said. 'They are too good to me, sir--too good.' 'It gives them pleasure.' 'I don't deserve it, sir.' 'You can deserve it. If you could do something for them in return for their kindness, you would?' 'That I would, sir, and grateful to be able to.' 'Come, we are going to walk to their house now. It is a bright Christmas morning, is it not?' 'Yes, sir, I never remember sich a Christmas as this.' 'May it prove the commencement of a happy life for you, my dear!' She turned from me and sobbed quietly. When she recovered we walked together to Buttercup-square. Then Blade-o'-Grass told me how one Christmas night, very soon after her baby was born, she had stood for more than an hour at the door of Mrs. Silver's house, in the midst of a heavy fall of snow, with her dear in her arms, waiting for Mr. Merrywhistle. 'If it 'adn't been for 'im, sir, we should 'ave been found dead in the snow, baby and me!' 'He is a good man, my dear. He is coming with us this morning. Do not cry. This is a bright day for all of us. Rachel, also, is coming.' 'O, sir!' she said, with quivering lips. 'What 'ave I done that you should all be so good to me?' 'It will be in your power to repay us all, my dear.' 'Will you tell me 'ow, sir?' 'By and by, my dear. The time will come.' We found Rachel with her hat and shawl on, ready to accompany us. She gave Blade-o'-Grass a little present--a silk neckguard which she had worked, with a jet cross hanging to it. Mr. Merrywhistle came in almost at our heels, rubbing his hands, and saying what a fine morning it was. By a quarter to ten o'clock we four were at the prison gates, where Jimmy Virtue was waiting for us; he had smartened himself up for the occasion, but his face looked worn and aged. Time was telling fast upon him.