An unobserved or forgotten witness appeared in the person of Castle’s little daughter Susan, who had crept out from her dark corner to peep at the babes in the blanket. “That is the one you wrapped up first, Sir,” she said, pointing to the living infant. “How do you know, my dear?” “She knows well enough,” said the neighbour; “she had nothing to do but to watch. She——” “How do you know, my dear?” persisted the surgeon. “Because this corner of the blanket fell under the grate, and got all black; and when you brought the other baby you wrapped it up in the black part. Look!” “’Tis all true,” said Castle’s wife, “and her child was born first.” The surgeon set her right, and considered the matter decided; but it was far from being so. She scolded her little daughter for her testimony till the child slunk out of the room; she pushed the infant roughly from her, and cursed it for its cries. Her neighbour insultingly told her it was certainly sent to make up to her for one of the lads that was going to be hanged, and that it was only a pity she had not had twins. Words, dreadful to hear from a mother’s lips, followed. The contention grew louder and more violent, till the surgeon, fearing for their lives and senses, and being unable any longer to bear a scene so unnatural and horrible, left the room, bearing with him the innocent cause of dispute. Little Susan was on the stairs, still sobbing and afraid to go in; so she was also taken home by the surgeon, when he had sent in a neighbour to tend his two patients. “Here, my dear,” said he to his wife, on entering his own door, “put this child to bed somewhere, and try if you can contrive to keep the infant alive till we can send it to the workhouse in the morning.” “What has agitated you so much? Whose children are these?” ”The children of Providence only, my dear; for the hearts of parents are turned against their own offspring in these days.—What have I seen! I have seen the contention of mothers for a dead child. I have been with mothers who would thank any Solomon that should order the living child to be cut in two. Solomon himself could not read mothers’ hearts in these days.” “We will not be hard upon them,” said his wife. “It is want that has done this;—want like that which made a mother of Solomon’s nation devour her own child. We will not blame them. Would we could help them!”