tered it, and was driven along in the direction of the City. It so chanced that an old acquaintance of Gruff's happened to be in the same omnibus. They soon entered into conversation, and Gregory told him where he lodged, gave him his address, and an invitation to call upon him; and was busied running on in his usual off-handed way, grumbling at the want of kindness and good feeling in the world, and regretting the unworthiness of some of the objects on which he had that day bestowed his charity, when his attention was suddenly attracted by the loud sobs of a young woman, who sat beside him with a child on her knee.

There was not a kinder-hearted man in the world than Gregory Gruff; and to see a young woman in tears, without offering her comfort, was against the nature of our friend Gregory. He spoke very kindly to her, inquired if she wanted money, or if he could in any way serve her; took out his purse, and offered her whatever she required; patted her gently on the back, and bade her not take it so to heart; insisted upon holding the child while she recovered herself; and took the little fellow on his knee, much to the amusement of all the passengers. The omnibus halted at the corner of Bouverie-street; and while the conductor was helping a gentleman to alight, the young woman sprang out, turned the corner of the street, and ran out of sight in an instant. The conductor held open the door for a minute, as if he expected her to return; then, closing it with a loud bang said—“ All's right! she's bolted, and left an old gentleman the kid to keep, and her fare to pay."

The rumbling of the wheels, the squalling of the child, and the laughter of the passengers, drowned for a few seconds the deep swearing of Gregory.

Gruff soon succeeded in stopping the omnibus, and jumped out with the child in his arms, followed by his friend. He gave the conductor a smart blow on the chest for his insolence, refused to pay his fare unless he found the young woman; and would have succeeded in collecting a large crowd together if the man had not again called out, "All right!"—and putting himself in a position very unlike anything yet found amongst the ancient statues, with one leg lifted up and thrust forward, his thumb touching the tip of his nose, and his four fingers expanded, he exclaimed, as the omnibus went thundering up Ludgatehill, "Give the kid plenty of gruel, and a little cordial when he's cross; and don't bring him up to drink gin, nor to be such a precious old black guard as yourself!"

"Pray remember the poor sweeper!" said the man who swept the crossing, and followed Gruff with his hat in his hand.

"Go to the devil!" exclaimed Gregory, rushing across the road with the child in his arms.

"Do you want anybody to carry the babby, sir?" continued the man, laughing as he commenced using his broom before turning to the next passenger.

Gruff had taken apartments in Finsbury-square, and home he hastened with the child; now trying to still its cries, then uttering a round English oath, a minglement of "hush! hush!"-then a volley of curses, the perspiration all the while streaming from his forehead. When he reached home,-horror of horrors! who should be seated in his apartment but Mrs. Gruff, and Mary.

"Gracious goodness!" exclaimed Mary, lifting up her hands and eyes in astonishment; "master has soon got a babby in London!"

“Oh, the villain! oh, my heart! Mary, my smelling-bottle! The nasty hussey! I'll tear her eyes out!-I knew he kept somebody! Oh! oh! oh!" and Mrs. Gruff went off as usual; her bonnet falling back, her cloak flying open, and the child bawling lustily.

"Mary, Mary! do take the child, and leave me to attend to your mistress, or I shall go mad!" said Gregory, as he stood still in the centre of the room, alternately "hush, hushing!" and damning in the same breath. Mary took the baby, and Gregory the smelling-bottle; and while he tried to bring round Mrs. Gruff, Mary endeavoured to quiet the child, blessed its pretty eyes, and said it was the very image of her master. Whereat Mrs. Gruff "oh! oh'd!" louder than ever, and Gregory swore by way of chorus.

"I never thought you could have served me so!" exclaimed Mrs. Gruff; "and to keep it secret all this time from your lawful wife, -oh! oh! oh!"

"Damnation! it only happened within this half hour," answered Gregory; never saw her before to-night in all my life."

"Never saw a sweeter child of its age!" echoed Mary; "it's got master's nose and mouth to a T! 'Hey diddle, diddle!' Look, how good it is now, ma'am ! But where's its mammy?"

"Don't let the horrible woman enter the room,' said Mrs. Gruff; "I know I should do something dreadful if she did. Oh! to think I should have to endure this to my face!"

"Upon my honour, Margaret, I never saw the child before tonight," answered Gregory, thrusting the smelling-bottle into her

mouth in mistake; "I wish the devil had had me when I met either its mother, or the omnibus !"

"Don't say so, after all the poor creature's endured for you!” replied Mary, sticking up for her sex. "It's very cruel, and very wicked; and I'm sure Missus will look over it, as it's your first offence! Do but peep at its innocent face, ma'am! Isn't it the very moral of master! Hey diddle, diddle, gumpity gump!"

"Oh! oh! will you break my heart!" said Mrs. Gruff; "and yet Mary --if I am to be a mother to it-and-oh! my heart-if he'll promise me, on his bended knees (it will break! oh! oh!)-never to see her again, never to bring her into my presence,—but order her to leave the house this very night,-why, I'll, I'll be-oh! oh! the sweet lamb! How can I but love it? when it's so like him-him, whom I—. Let me kiss, kiss its little -! Oh! oh! Mary."

Gruff stamped, swore, frowned, perspired, and went up and down the room like a madman, while his wife smothered the child with kisses, and kept exclaiming, "Oh! how like him it is!"

It was all in vain that Gregory pleaded, raged, reasoned, and attested his innocence. Mrs. Gruff understood good generalship too well to give up so advantageous a position as chance had at last assigned her; so determined to make her husband believe that she thought the child was his.

"I know I deceived you, Mr. Gruff," continued his affectionate spouse, when she had somewhat recovered herself; and rocking the child as she spoke; "but it was only pure love that caused me to do so, for I saw what a gratification it would be to you to have a son of your own. But I've been justly punished, although if I had but known that the many times you went to Buttervote was to visit this bad woman, before you had her removed to London, I would have burnt the house down over her head,—aye, if you'd been within it! Yes, Gregory, much as I love you, I would have done it; although I know I should have leaped into the flames the next minute to have saved you."

"That I'm sure you would, ma'am," echoed Mary; same as the Hindoo widows do, that we read about in the penny tracts; and sometimes you know, ma'am, that there are many wives there to one husband, but I don't believe master will ever do so again."

“I declare, madam, you'll drive me stark, staring mad!" replied Gregory, stamping his foot on the floor as he spoke.—“I tell you, again, that I never knew any woman, either at Buttervote or elsewhere!