"Then," said Mr. Britain, handing him back the conveyance, "just clap in the words, 'and Thimble,' will you be so good; and I'll have the two mottoes painted up in the parlour, instead of my wife's portrait." [Illustration] "And let me," said a voice behind them; it was the stranger's--Michael Warden's; "let me claim the benefit of those inscriptions. Mr. Heathfield and Dr. Jeddler, I might have deeply wronged you both. That I did not, is no virtue of my own. I will not say that I am six years wiser than I was, or better. But I have known, at any rate, that term of selfreproach. I can urge no reason why you should deal gently with me. I abused the hospitality of this house; and learnt my own demerits, with a shame I never have forgotten, yet with some profit too I would fain hope, from one," he glanced at Marion, "to whom I made my humble supplication for forgiveness, when I knew her merit and my deep unworthiness. In a few days I shall quit this place for ever. I entreat your pardon. Do as you would be done by! Forget, and forgive!" TIME--from whom I had the latter portion of this story, and with whom I have the pleasure of a personal acquaintance of some five and thirty years' duration--informed me, leaning easily upon his scythe, that Michael Warden never went away again, and never sold his house, but opened it afresh, maintained a golden mean of hospitality, and had a wife, the pride and honor of that country-side, whose name was Marion. But as I have observed that Time confuses facts occasionally, I hardly know what weight to give to his authority. THE END. LONDON: BRADBURY AND EVANS, PRINTERS, WHITEFRIARS. NEW WORK BY BOZ. _Now publishing in Monthly Parts, price 1s. each_, DEALINGS WITH THE FIRM OF DOMBEY AND SON, Wholesale, retail, and for Exportation. BY CHARLES DICKENS. WITH ILLUSTRATIONS BY HABLOT K. BROWNE. Now ready, in One handsome Volume, 8vo, elegantly bound in cloth, price 11_s._ OLIVER TWIST. BY CHARLES DICKENS. WITH ILLUSTRATIONS BY GEORGE CRUIKSHANK, AND THE _Latest Corrections and Alterations of the Author_. Mr Dickens's Works. MARTIN CHUZZLEWIT. With Forty Illustrations by "PHIZ." In one volume, price 21_s._ cloth boards. AMERICAN NOTES. FOR GENERAL CIRCULATION. _Fourth Edition._ In two volumes, post 8vo, price 21_s._ cloth. BARNABY RUDGE; A TALE OF THE RIOTS OF 'EIGHTY. With Seventy Eight Illustrations by G. CATTERMOLE and H. K. BROWNE. In one volume, price 13_s._ cloth. THE OLD CURIOSITY SHOP. With Seventy Five Illustrations by G. CATTERMOLE and H. K. BROWNE. In one volume, price 13_s._ cloth. SKETCHES BY "BOZ." _A New Edition_, with Forty Illustrations by GEORGE CRUIKSHANK. In one volume, 8vo, price 21_s._ cloth. THE PICKWICK PAPERS. With Forty Three Illustrations by "PHIZ." In one volume, 8vo, price 21_s._ cloth. NICHOLAS NICKLEBY. With Forty Illustrations by "PHIZ." In one volume, 8vo, price 21_s._ cloth.