PREFACE .  When the author of " Michael Armstrong " first determined on attempting to draw the attention of her countrymen to the fearful evils inherent in the Factory System , as carried out in our manufacturing towns , she intended to divide her work into two portions , which should present the same subject under two different phases .  It was her intention in the first of these to drag into the light of day , and place before the eyes of Englishmen , the hideous mass of injustice and suffering to which thousands of infant labourers are subjected , who toil in our monster spinning-mills .  In the second , she proposed that the hero of her tale , having lived through his toil-worn boyhood , should have been seen embarked in those perfectly constitutional struggles for the amelioration of the sufferings of his class , in which many of the more enlightened operatives have been for some years engaged .  The first division of the subject has been some time in the reader 'shands .  The true but most painful picture has been drawn faithfully and conscientiously .  Of course voices have been raised to deny loudly the truth of all the author 'sstatements , and to assert the whole to be a mere tissue of invention and falsehood .  The same charges have been made against her upon another occasion , and she has lived to see the truth of her statements , so impugned , universally admitted .  She awaits with perfect confidence the time when similar justice shall be rendered to these pages .  But with respect to that division of the subject which it was intended to bring forward in the latter part of her work , the author 'sviews have undergone very considerable change .  Knowing the immense amount of evil to be remedied , and the urgent necessity , for many reasons , that this remedy should not be delayed , it is grievous to see ] misguided and unfortunate men pursuing a course which must necessarily neutralize the efforts of their true friends .  When those in whose behalf she hoped to move the sympathy of their country are found busy in scenes of outrage and lawless violence , and uniting themselves with individuals whose doctrines are subversive of every species of social order , the author feels that it would be alike acting in violation of her own principles , and doing injury to the cause she wishes to serve , were she to persist in an attempt to hold up as objects of public sympathy , men who have stained their righteous cause with deeds of violence and blood .  The author is well aware that many , as well operatives as their superiors , who were engaged in a virtuous struggle against the lawless power which oppresses them , deplore the madness of these ill-advised men as much as herself .  But the cause has been too much sullied , and the sufferers too closely associated in the public eye with those who have been guilty of all she most deprecates , to permit her continuing the work as she intended .  Under these circumstances she has determined that the existence of her hero as an operative shall close with his childhood .  No misconstruction of principles , no misconception of motives can exist with regard to an attempt to ameliorate the lot of infant labourers .  That her pages may assist in promoting this object is her humble and most ardent hope .  " The Life and Adventures of Michael Armstrong " are , therefore , concluded in the twelfth number .  CHAPTER I .  DESCRIPTION OF DOWLING LODGE AND ITS APPURTENANCES — OF ITS MASTER — OF ITS MISTRESS — AND ALL THE MASTERS AND MISSES DOWLING — A LARGE DINNER-PARTY — A HOT DRAWING-ROOM , AND THE WAY TO ESCAPE FROM IT .  No traveller can ride or drive within sight of Dowling Lodge , without being tempted to inquire , " Whose house is that ?  "  It forms , indeed , a very striking object on the right of the London road , as the hill rises gradually , and overlooks the town of Ashleigh , one of the busiest in Lancashire , to the left ; for although the trees about the mansion are not yet of sufficient growth to make it picturesque , its lofty portico , well-proportioned wings , and commanding site , render it an ornament to the neighbourhood for miles round .  Those who are admitted to a nearer view of the house ( and , for the convenience of the public , every Wednesday is set apart for its being shown ) , will find still more to admire , than such as see it only from a distance .  It has its park and its pinery ; conservatories , which cause the mercury in the thermometer , when paraded through them , to run up to the cocoa-ripening heat of the tropics , and ice-houses that would bring it down again to the temperature of Bhering 'sStraits .  It has three drawing-rooms , two dining-rooms , a great library , all full of new books ; as many bedrooms , dressing-rooms , and boudoirs , as a great man 'shouse ought to have , and a study besides — Sir Matthew Dowling 'sown private study .  This delightful little apartment is small , not more than twelve feet square ; but nothing can be more agreeable and convenient .  It opens by one door from the great hall of entrance , and by another communicates ] through a long stone-passage with the offices of the mansion ; enabling the knight to receive , without interruption , not only his overlookers ( Sir Matthew being the proprietor of many cotton-mills ) , but his coachman , gardener , bailiff , and whomever else he might wish to transact business with .  Of the fitting up of this princely mansion , it is only necessary to say , that it is done in a spirit of emulative imitation , which renders it fully equal , in this respect , to the most finished private dwellings in Europe .  The furniture is uniformly rich throughout : the picture-frames in the best style of art ; Saxony carpets in the drawing-rooms , Turkey ditto in the dining-rooms , Brussels in the bedrooms , and indeed not a single inch of Kidderminster any where , except in the garrets .  I will not attempt to state the amount of Sir Matthew Dowling 'swealth ; Cocker himself would have found it a laborious task to make the calculation ; and it is sufficient for the gratification of all reasonable curiosity to say , that throughout the whole line of that Golconda country , which , being the busiest of the manufacturing districts , is probably the richest in the world , there was not any one who could vie in wealth with him .  In a word , he shone amidst his rich neighbours like a golden sun , surrounded by silver moons .  But Sir Matthew was a superior man in all ways .  He was six feet two inches in height , and stout in proportion , with hands and feet that might have sufficed a giant .  His intellectual gifts were also of no ordinary character .  He liked well enough , perhaps , to stand pre-eminent in the commercial estimation of his neighbours ; but so enlightened was his spirit , that he liked better still to shine before their eyes as a man of taste , a literary and accomplished gentleman , a speaker of modern languages .  a critical French scholar , a playful votary of the muses himself , and a universal Mecænas to all who wielded a pen in their service .  But beyond all else , Sir Matthew valued himself upon his reputation for the lighter graces of wit and gallantry : he sought to make himself into something of a delightful mixture between Killigrew and the Count de Gramont ; and there was no receptacle of wit from Joe Miller downwards , no gallant memoirs in an intelligible tongue , that he did not study with assiduity and perseverance of the highest order .  He was often heard to declare , that he loved nothing so well as the promotion of mirth and light-heartedness among his fellow-creatures ; but tragedy and comedy often walk through the world hand in hand together , and their alliance may be traced without difficulty in the career of Sir Matthew Dowling .  The wife of this prosperous gentleman had also many admirable qualities .  She was not one of the idle gossipers who delight in chattering about their own concerns to every one who will listen ; she despised such weakness , and had never been heard to hint at her own parentage , or early history , to any one ; rightly considering , that when such matters are unceasingly discussed , they may be exceedingly likely to prevent people 'sminding their own business , while devoting an undue share of attention to that of others .  Nevertheless , with nice and laudable discrimination , she took care that her neighbours should be well acquainted with all such facts respecting her as it concerned them to know .  There was hardly an individual within ten miles who was not aware that Lady Dowling kept two carriages , six horses , one coachman , one postilion , five gardeners , two grooms , three footmen , one butler , and a page — not to mention two nurses , four nursery-maids , and more ladies'-maids , housemaids , cookmaids , kitchen-maids , laundry-maids , stillroom maids , dairy-maids , and the like , than any other lady in the county .  Neither could any be ignorant that , except in the article of jewels , her wardrobe might vie with that of any duchess in the land , and all might see , moreover , that she was comely still , both in form and feature .  She conversed with great ability on all subjects connected with fashionable life ; and though some few carping critics thought that she was too apt to diversify the monotony of the English language , by indulging in some remarkable variations from its ordinary laws , nobody , or scarcely any body , attempted to deny that she was on the whole a very charming woman .  Such was the testimony of her general acquaintance ; those who knew her better were aware that her moral qualities outshone , as they always ought to do , all her external graces .  She was a faithful and exceedingly fond wife , and doted upon all her children ; no woman could more heartily detest every species of light flirting airs in females , and , being deeply sensible of the dangerous attractions of youth and beauty in her own sex , she studiously avoided bringing those of her family who might suffer thereby from coming in contact with any thing of the kind ; so that the female portion of her establishment consisted of the ugliest set of neat and carefully dressed middle-aged women that ever were found assembled together .  The knight and his excellent lady were blessed with a very numerous progeny , certainly not less than eighteen or twenty ; but , as they were rarely all at home together , it was at no time easy to count them .  Augustus , the eldest of the family , was a prodigiously fine young man , just returned from college .  He had not indeed thought it necessary to take a degree , nor did Sir Matthew or her ladyship particularly wish it ; both of them being of opinion that little distinction could be gained by the assumption of a title which was never used in society , and to which he conceived every Englishman to be eligible who could just read and write a little .  But as , on all points that concerned the interest of his eldest son , Sir Matthew was too deeply interested to run any risk of blundering : he did not give his consent for the return of Augustus , without his having gone through this idle academic ceremony , till he had paid a visit to the rector of his parish , to elicit from him some information on the subject .  " May I ask , sir , " said Sir Matthew abruptly , " what degree you took at the university ?  "  Mr. Hetherington was a new incumbent , and might , perhaps , have been a little affronted at a question which , by the blunt manner of it , seemed almost to insinuate a doubt whether he had taken any degree at all ; but , though a good man , and an excellent clergyman to boot , he had a strong taste for humour , and had already discovered that his neighbour at the great house was rich in more ways than one .  It was , therefore , with the utmost civility that he answered , " My degree , Sir Matthew , was that of Master of Arts .  "  " And pray , sir , does it give you any title by which you can be distinguished as in any way a superior sort of person in society ?  "  " I am afraid not , Sir Matthew , " was the reply .  " I thank you , sir , for your sincerity , " rejoined the knight .  " It was important that I should ascertain the truth on this point .  — You are , then , never addressed in company as Mr. Master of Arts , or any thing of that kind ?  "  " I have never yet , Sir Matthew , met with any one of sufficient politeness to do me that honour , " replied Mr. Hetherington gravely .  " And I suppose you have lived in respectable society ?  "  " Very decent society — very decent , Sir Matthew , " replied Hetherington , whose mother was the daughter of a distinguished nobleman .  " Good morning , sir ; I shall be happy to see you at Dowling Lodge — that is to say , sir , if your gown does not lead you to object to elegant amusements .  I love science , Mr. Hetherington , and am indeed devoted to every thing intellectual ; but , notwithstanding this , I am a worshipper at the shrine of grace and wit , and could not exist among people who did not relish the lighter embellishments of society .  "  " I shall be happy , Sir Matthew , to share in your gayer hours , provided I am fortunate enough to find that you have no objection to profit by my graver ones , " replied the clergyman .  Sir Matthew returned from this visit very well pleased with the new rector .  Mr. Augustus was immediately comforted by a letter , informing him that he might call in his accounts , and prepare to leave the university as soon as he pleased ; and , within ten days after receiving it , the amiable young man was restored to the bosom of his family .  Next to this primal hope of the Dowling race , came three young ladies , between the ages of seventeen and twenty-one ; the two eldest of them being as like as two peas , and the third like nothing on earth but herself .  Then followed several young gentlemen , who were placed at different fashionable schools ; for Sir Matthew , who was a man of very enlarged mind , declared it to be his opinion and his principle , that the patronage of such a fortune as his should be extended as widely as possible .  After these young gentlemen came , one after the other , with the interval of about eleven months between them , ever so many little girls , who , for the present , were all educated at home , having a particularly clever French governess .  All the rest were nice little children of different degrees of babyhood ; the dear little girls being remarkable for their long plaited hair , short frocks , and furbelowed trousers , and the dear little boys for the manly bustle with which they wore their Scotch bonnets and plaided tunics , which , considering that neither Sir Matthew nor his lady had ever been in Scotland in their lives , showed great enlargement of national feeling .  Altogether , it was considered to be the finest family ever seen .  It happened upon a broiling day about the middle of July , during one of the hottest summers England had ever known , that Sir Matthew and Lady Dowling " entertained a party of distinguished fashionables " at dinner .  It may have been remarked by those who study such subjects , that there is a difference between a dinner-party given at such a grand mansion as that of Sir Matthew Dowling , and one at a dwelling of perhaps not a quarter the size , where the owners are of a different order of the aristocracy , having a longer pedigree , and a shorter purse .  At both , probably , the banquet will be a costly one , yet the one entertainment will come off in a manner as unlike as possible to the other .  There is something in the usual way of wearing stiff new-made grandeur , not far unlike that of wearing stiff new-made clothes .  Neither the one nor the other sit easily .  At this splendid dinner at Dowling Lodge , the company consisted of a selection from the neighbouring families , made on the most legitimate principles of exclusiveness ; no family being invited who did not drive four horses at the races .  To this there were indeed two exceptions .  The first was the Right Honourable Lady Clarissa Shrimpton ; but this distinguished lady , though she drove only one pony instead of four horses , was considered by all the country round as the one thing needful to render a party completely elegant .  She was , indeed , neither young , handsome , nor rich , but she was Lady Clarissa , and this was enough .  The other exception was to be found in the rotund person of Dr. Crockley , who having formerly been a celebrated quack , made a little fortune , and taken out a diploma , had lately married a beauty , and settled in the town of Ashleigh , where he was well pleased to pick up a few guinea fees , both as a public evidence of his being a real M.D. , and as a private fund wherewith to indulge his still very tender passion , by buying finery for his pretty young wife .  This fat little gentleman was an especial favourite with Sir Matthew , chiefly on account of his jocund humour and ready laugh ; and also , perhaps , because he had a pleasant way , peculiar to himself , of paying compliments in the bluntest and most unstudied manner possible .  But , notwithstanding the presence of all these distinguished persons , the dinner moved on very slowly .  Sir Matthew , indeed , was as brilliant as it was possible for any man to be under the circumstances , and Lady Clarissa , who did not scruple to declare that she was very partial to him , listened to all he said to her with as much attention at least as any lady could be expected to do , who was making one of sixteen at a dinner , where there were an equal number of dishes of hot meats reeking upon the table , and the thermometer standing at 87 ° .  Dr. Crockley , too , laughed repeatedly ; but his laugh was like a Lucifer match that fails , just kindling and sputtering a little , but going out before it is able to communicate its light .  The very sight of the servants as they panted round the table , was quite enough to smother and stifle all inclination for enjoyment — their shoes creaked — their faces shone — ice became water — the salad looked as if it were stewed — the cucumbers seemed to have fainted away — the prodigious turbot smelt fishy , and its attendant lobster-sauce glowed not with a deeper tint , than did my Lady Dowling 'scheeks as her nose caught the unfragrant gale .  In short , it was a great dinner in the dog-days , and no more need be said of it .  Great was the inward satisfaction of every guest , when at last Lady Dowling rose , and gave signal that the party was to be divided in half .  The languid ladies welcomed the coolness of the marble hall as they passed through it , and the gentlemen gazed eagerly at the butler as he brought forward a fresh supply of claret , and a reinforcement of ice .  But the enjoyment of neither party lasted long ; for Lady Dowling was too grand and too solemn not to marshal all her company into her fine drawing-room , where they were all ceremoniously deposited on satin sofas , amidst swelling pillows that might have defied the frosts of January ; while seven or eight hot-looking children were commanded to walk round the circle and kiss every body .  Nor did the gentlemen fare much better ; for scarcely had the drawing-room door closed after the ladies , before the shining baldhead of Dr. Crockley stretched itself up nearly to a level with the long-backed Sir Matthew 'sbreast-pin , whilst , with a very ominous sort of growl , making itself heard before his lips opened , he first preluded , and then uttered the following speech .  " I do n't like it , Sir Matthew .  — I do n't like this business at the Weavers 'Arms .  "  " What business , Doctor ?  " replied his friend sharply .  " Why this meeting , Sir Matthew .  I ca n't get the notion of a strike out of my head .  " Every chair was drawn towards the little doctor : nobody had heard a word of it .  " Well , gentleman , perhaps I am mistaken — perhaps there has been no meeting , " resumed the friendly doctor .  " God knows , I do n't wish to spoil the enjoyment of this delightful hour ; but at any rate , my good friends , it is as well for you to be on the look-out .  " Then lowering his voice , he muttered , as near to the ear of Sir Matthew as he could reach , " I know that your people are meeting , in doors and out of doors .  But you are such a good , generous , kind-hearted creature , that I dare say we shall hear , before long , of your having done some d — d goodnatured thing or other , and that perhaps will set all right ; who knows ?  "  Sir Matthew gave an almost imperceptible nod , and pushed on the claret-jug ; but the gaiety of the party had been effectually checked , and it was not long before the second richest man in company ( Sir Matthew of course being the first ) said , " I do think and believe , Sir Matthew , that my lady 'scoffee would do more to cool us than your wine .  " The opinion was not opposed , and , much earlier than usual , the gentlemen rose , and followed the ladies .  But this movement did not appear greatly to increase the enjoyment of either party .  It was near nine o'clock , but the heat continued to be most oppressive , and the company being for the most part massive in all ways , their union produced more additional caloric than gaiety .  The whole process seemed to have the power of turning the hours into molten lead as they passed , a portion of which appeared to drop , and weigh heavily on each individual head .  In vain Sir Matthew made the circuit of the company , pausing in front either of the richest or handsomest ladies , as duty or inclination preponderated ; in vain he uttered his newest puns and freshest bon-mots — not one of them had strength to laugh , beyond a little feeble " he , he !  " and even that was evidently a painful effort .  Things were in this state , when Lady Clarissa Shrimpton suddenly rose from the silken couch amidst whose pillows she was imbedded , and , without explaining her intentions to my Lady Dowling , or any one else , darted through the open French-window , and out upon the well-shaven lawn .  Had it been possible that any one in the room could have been ignorant of the rank of Lady Clarissa , he must from that moment have felt an innate conviction that she was somebody ; for nobody that was not somebody could have ventured upon so daring an escapade from such a solemn presence-chamber .  The effect it produced was electric .  Sir Matthew darted across the room with the eagerness of a man of gallantry and gaiety .  He piqued himself upon being , of all the great men in the neighbourhood , the one upon whom Lady Clarissa bestowed the most attention .  His estimate of the outward advantages of his extensive person was indeed not a low one ; and , despite all his lady could do to crush such an odious idea , he was conscious that he was devoted to the fair sex , and flattered himself that the fair sex was not ungrateful .  In fact , his general manner to ladies had a good deal of what in female slang is called swaining ; but to Lady Clarissa it was certainly something more .  Had she been simply Miss Shrimpton , it is probable that , notwithstanding her great mental advantages , she would never have been exposed to the danger of this fascinating distinction , for she was nearly forty years old , had a sharp nose , and was deplorably thin .  But Sir Matthew was not a man to be insensible to the charm of getting talked of in the neighbourhood about his devotion to Lady Clarissa any body , even had she been a skeleton with a Gorgon 'shead .  There was , however , independently of her bewitching title , a charm in her conversation and character , to which the knight was peculiarly sensible .  Her ladyship was celebrated for her devotion both to literature and art ; and she permitted all the world to know , for indeed she never ceased to repeat it , that talent of every kind was to her an object of idolatry .  Now Sir Matthew knew that he was full of talent — poetical talent , pictorial talent , epigrammatic talent , every kind of talent , and it was certainly very delightful to be appreciated by such a superior creature as Lady Clarissa .  So strongly indeed did this intellectual sympathy between them occasionally manifest itself , that not even the sharp elbows and red-tipped nose of the noble lady , who , to borrow the phrase of an inimitable describer , was in every sense " preter-blue perfect , " could render Lady Dowling quite easy respecting the nature of the friendship .  Nor was it without something like a pang that she marked the sudden alacrity of movement with which Sir Matthew now strode across the floor to accompany Lady Clarissa in the extraordinary frolic which led her , in white satin shoes and a gauze dress , to exchange the drawing-room for the garden , at nine o'clock in the evening .  But upon this occasion , as upon many others , Lady Dowling found consolation in the well-known fact , that Lady Clarissa rarely moved a step without being obsequiously attended by her humble companion , Miss Mogg .  This young lady had been selected to fill her present enviable situation , principally from her appearance , though she was indeed by no means void of many other qualifications admirably suited to it .  But in appearance she was a striking contrast to her tall and slender patroness ; and , notwithstanding Lady Clarissa 'smental superiority , she was not insensible to the advantage of having a foil that should set off the charms upon which she particularly prided herself .  Lady Clarissa had a thin , narrow foot , and an ancle that resembled nothing so much as the leg of a Robin red-breast ; the person of Miss Mogg was supported on shafts that told her Saxon origin , and feet that need not have shrunk from sustaining an ox .  Lady Clarissa 'sslender waist might have been encircled by a ring of six inches diameter ; a cestus of nearly double the span had often gone nigh to suffocate her plump companion .  The throat of Lady Clarissa had not only all the flexile length of the swan 's, but might even be said to resemble that of the stork in its proportions ; while the head of Miss Mogg was separated from her shoulders by an interval so trifling , as hardly to be perceptible at all .  The hair of her ladyship , though not very abundant , was as black as ink , and its straight nature enabled her to lay it in classic bands upon her forehead , furnishing a graceful foundation for the wreath of oak leaves with which , in judicious imitation of Domenichino 'sexquisite head of Sappho , she usually adorned herself when in full dress : while Miss Mogg , on the contrary , had a bushy abundance of flaxen curls , which gave a round fussy sort of contour to her face , that could not fail of setting off to advantage the severer outline of the noble lady ; and , in a word , the contrast was altogether perfect .  To the great satisfaction of Lady Dowling , this round little personage arose , as usual , when her principal rose , and waddled to the window after her .  Many people are apt to overlook and forget companions , and the poor toady is as much used to be trod upon as the despised reptile whose name she bears .  But if the world in general be found guilty of this scorn towards what is too lowly to turn , and scorn again , more especially was our knight liable to the weakness .  As he now hastened to offer his hand to Lady Clarissa in order to assist her in stepping over the window-sill , he very nearly overturned Miss Mogg as he passed her ; but heeding neither the resistance her plump person offered to his passing elbow , nor yet the timid " oh !  " which spoke her alarm , he hurried onward , and , manfully seizing the hand whose touch was honor , walked out side by side with the titled lady upon the lawn .  CHAPTER II .  A DELIGHTFUL RAMBLE — FRIENDSHIP AND THE MUSE — AN ADVENTURE — DANGER AND ESCAPE — GRATITUDE AND BENEVOLENCE .  " Only see that !  How very extraordinary !  " exclaimed Lady Dowling , suddenly rising , and addressing herself to no one in particular .  " Oh !  how delightful !  " cried several ladies at once .  " How clever Lady Clarissa is !  Such a delicious refreshment !  " " To be sure , it is the only thing in the world to do on such an evening as this , " exclaimed Miss Brotherton ; who , as being the richest young lady in company , very properly thought she ought to speak first .  " I am sure I shall follow her example ; " and so saying , she rose and walked towards the window .  Three of the most dauntless ladies in the party started up to follow her ; which , strange as the manoeuvre appeared to the full-dressed Lady Dowling , she did not oppose , greatly preferring that the garden party should be enlarged .  But , though not by her , the adventurous fair ones were stopped before they accomplished their design , by a chorus of remonstrances from all the rest of the company , male and female .  " My dear Miss Brotherton , you will catch your death !  " cried one .  " Oh !  look at your satin shoes !  " screamed another .  " What would Mr. Tomkins say if he was here , Mrs. Tomkins ?  " demanded a third .  " And your neck and shoulders , Miss Williamson !  " whispered a fourth .  " And your blonde dress , Mrs. Simpkins !  " vociferated a fifth ; with a vast deal more in the same strain .  So that before the sortie was accomplished , every lady , save Miss Brotherton , yielded before the storm of reasons that pelted them on all sides .  The rich young lady , however , stood firm : what young lady with two hundred thousand pounds would not ?  " Mr. Augustus Dowling , " said she , still pursuing her way window-ward , but pausing ere she stepped out , " will you have the excessive kindness , — vraiment j'ai honte ; ; but will you have the charity to look in the hall for my pink satin mantelet , trimmed with swansdown ; without it I fear my poor little shoulders will be arrosées — ' too rudely , alas !  ' with the dews of night .  "  Now the young lady 'sshoulders were really very pretty little shoulders , and , moreover , Mr. Augustus Dowling , notwithstanding all his elegant nonchalance , perfectly well remembered that she had two hundred thousand pounds ; so , before she had stamped with her little foot twice , in her impatience to join those who , from their gaiety , seemed to be so greatly enjoying the fresh air , he returned with the mantelet , and having , as usual , adjusted his glass in the corner of his eye to prevent his making any mistakes , placed it on her shoulders .  " Now , then !  " she cried , " give me your arm .  Is not this good fun ?  "  The young gentleman obeyed , declaring it was delightful , and in a moment they were beside Lady Clarissa and Sir Matthew ; good Miss Mogg keeping a step or two behind .  " Nobody but your ladyship had wit enough to find out that there was more air to be got out of doors than in , " said the heiress , venturing to pass her arm through that of her noble friend .  But , upon this occasion , Lady Clarissa , though particularly intimate with Miss Brotherton , and seldom refusing to use her carriage and act as her chaperone to all the parties in the neighbourhood , seemed inclined to check her advances .  " My dear child , " said she , " I am delighted to see you come out .  I am sure you must have been half stifled , as well as myself .  But you and Mr. Augustus must wander away by yourselves , and you may take Mogg with you , if you like it , for I have just got into a discussion with Sir Matthew , that I would not break off for the world .  So away with you , my dear , as fast as you can .  "  Lady Clarissa 'swill was of course law , even to the heiress , but it was not without a little toss of the head that she turned off to another walk ; nor was it without a considerable struggle between her inclination and a sense of propriety , which , all things considered , really did her honour , that she permitted poor Miss Mogg to obey the hint of her patroness , and follow after .  " And so you really have not seen this gifted young man yet , Sir Matthew ?  " resumed her ladyship , as soon as they were again alone .  " You have never yet seen this Osmund Norval ?  "  " No , my lady , I have not , " replied the knight ; " and to say the truth , " he added , venturing to press with his stout arm the slender one that rested on it , " to say the truth , though I have heard a monstrous deal about him , I was determined that I would have nothing to say to him , till I had heard your opinion , my lady .  "  " How kind !  how flattering , Sir Matthew !  But you will let me bring him to you now ?  "  " Will I ?  " ( again pressing the lean arm .  ) " Fancy me saying no , when you tell me to say yes !  Ah !  my lady , you know better than that , or I am greatly mistaken .  "  " Oh !  Sir Matthew , you are always so kind !  What magnificent gardens you have !  By the way , I think I never tasted such a pine as that we had to-day .  I assure you , my brother , Lord Highlandloch , is celebrated for his pines — quite celebrated .  They are the finest in all Scotland , but I give you my honour , I never saw one equal to it at his table .  "  " Oh !  my lady , that is only your amiable condescension , " replied Sir Matthew , greatly touched by this preference .  " But if you really can be so polite as to think them good , I must entreat you just to let me knock at the head-gardener 'sdoor , who lives close outside this gate .  I do n't let him live inside , because of his children , Lady Clarissa .  I know what birds peck the worst — ha !  ha !  ha !  However , you must just let me pass through the gate to tell him to put up a brace for your ladyship .  They shall be well taken care of now , my lady , trust me for that ; I never valued them so much before , I promise you .  "  " You are too kind a thousand times !  " said the lady , stretching out her own hand to open the gate .  " I will go with you ; there is nothing I doat upon like visiting a gardener .  Could he not take us into the hot-houses , Sir Matthew ?  You have no idea how I should enjoy it .  "  By no means displeased to show off the high-born lady upon his arm , even to the eyes of his gardener , the knight joyfully assented to the proposal .  " Macnab !  " he cried , knocking as he passed the cottage-window , " Macnab !  come here directly , and bring a knife and a basket with you ; you must come directly — this very moment , and unlock the hot-houses — her ladyship wishes to walk through them , and I must have one or two of the finest pines cut , and packed in a basket , to be put into Miss Brotherton 'scarriage : but mind , they are for Lady Clarissa Shrimpton ; so you had better give them in charge to her ladyship 'sown man .  "  Mr. Alexander Macnab promptly left the seeds he was sorting , and prepared himself , basket in hand , to follow his master .  The knight and the lady left the cottage , arm-and-arm together ; but before they again entered the garden , a fancy seized her lively ladyship , that a short ramble in the green lane outside it would be the most agreeable thing in the world .  " Dear me !  what a poetical idea !  " exclaimed Sir Matthew with enthusiasm .  " there 'sonly one thing , " he said , stopping short , " but that will spoil my pleasure altogether : I am so dreadfully afraid that your ladyship will take cold .  "  " Ask the gardener 'swife to lend me one of her kerchiefs , " said Lady Clarissa , laughing .  " But it will only be to satisfy you , Sir Matthew , for there is no catching cold in such weather as this .  "  It was with something quite like tender anxiety that the knight stepped back , asked for and obtained a neat shawl , and himself wrapped it round the slender person of his amiable companion .  " Thank you !  thank you a thousand times !  But , dear Sir Matthew , I must not lose my pines by my frolic : will you give the gardener orders to get them without waiting for us ?  and perhaps you would let him put up a bunch of grapes , and a few peaches at the same time — it is no good to let him wait for us , Sir Matthew ; — when you and I get into a chat together , we shall neither of us think of the pines again .  "  Quitting her highly-valued aristocratic arm for an instant , the flattered knight ran back and gave the necessary orders ; and then , almost unconscious , in his full contentment , that his own gray head was as bare as that of the oak-crowned nymph by his side , he returned to his bewitching companion and led her gently onward over the mossy turf that bordered the road .  The gardener and his wife stood together for a moment looking after them .  " Who would think now that she was one of the true old gentlefolks , and Scotch to boot , to see her pair off that way with our rogue of a spinner there ?  How , in God 'sname , can she choose to be so free and friendly with such as he ?  " said the gardener .  " Just for the same reason as yourself , Sawny , " replied his wife ; " to get all she can out of him .  "  " And that 'strue , " replied Sawny , setting off upon his business .  " I had like to forget the pines , and the grapes , and the peaches .  She 'snot so far wrong after all ; and yet 'tis a pity , too .  "  The evening was still oppressively sultry , and hardly a breath of air disturbed either the leaves on the oaks beside the road , or those that mimicked them so abominably on the lady 'sbrow ; but , nevertheless , there was a freshness in the smell of the hedges and the grass , which could not fail to be agreeable to any nerves that had endured the steaming dinner , and the irksome drawing-room of Dowling Lodge .  The shady lane in which the knight and the lady were thus recreating themselves , after skirting the extensive and lofty walls of the garden , turned at right angles both to the right and the left at the corner of it .  The branch to the left followed the boundary of the garden , and led to the stable-yard and back entrance to the house ; that to the right conducted to the factory , which was the source and head-spring of all the wealth that flowed over , and irrigated with its fructifying stream , meadows , parks , hot-beds and flower-gardens , till it made itself a prodigious cistern in the depths and heights of Dowling Lodge .  When the strangely-matched pair came to this point , Sir Matthew made a halt , till Lady Clarissa came to the end of a little poem , which the protegé whom she was so desirous of introducing to her rich and ( to use her own words ) " really very clever friend , " had inscribed in her album .  Nothing could be more agreeable to her ladyship than this pause .  In the first place it was the greatest possible relief to her lungs , for the lines she was reciting were much too full of deep feeling to be repeated without a painful effort , while walking ; and in the second , the halt , accompanied as it was by a look of earnest attention from her apparently-delighted companion , furnished the most agreeable commentary in the world upon the poem itself , as well as on her manner of reciting it .  It said so plainly , " Stay !  — move not !  — lest a word , an intonation , a cadence , be lost to me !  "  Lady Clarissa was really touched by it ; and let Sawny the gardener , and his wife Janet , say or think what they would , neither peaches nor pines had any thing to do with the gratification she at this moment experienced in the society of the great manufacturer .  His eyes were fixed on her face , and she bore the gaze , and returned it with that sort of courage and confidence , which genuine enthusiasm alone can give .  She had just finished a stanza when Sir Matthew ceased to move , and feeling that he did so under the influence of a spell , which she well knew would be more powerful still were it spoken when she were at rest — for Lady Clarissa was aware that she was exceedingly short-breathed — she repeated the last eight lines in a manner that showed she felt the pleasure she was producing — a pleasure , as she thought , like that occasionally caused by the repetition of some delicious phrase in a musical composition , reiterated as if to fill the soul with its sweetness .  " And should the eye for which I write By sun-lit morn , or moon-lit night , Drop on this record of my soul , Which tells a part — ah ! not the whole , Of hopes that trembling , faltering , timid , Now fire my cheek , now turn it livid , — Should that soft eye but drop one tear , I 'dhug my chain , and call it dear ! "  The tear asked for , almost came as she ceased .  " You feel it , dear Sir Matthew !  " she said , in a voice of considerable emotion .  " I 'dhug my chain , and call it dear !  " — she again murmured , hanging on his arm with such an evident degree of weakness , as showed the slender form to be less powerful than the ardent spirit it enshrined .  " Let us turn back , " said Sir Matthew .  " My dear friend , " faintly ejaculated Lady Clarissa , " you are moved too strongly .  — But — no , no !  Sir Matthew !  Believe me , it were far better for both of us that we should proceed .  — Are we , either of us , my dear friend , in a state at this moment to meet the curious stare of idle eyes ?  — Come on , dear Sir Matthew !  " — and she gently pulled him forward as she spoke — " this soft glade invites us .  "  Though perfectly determined to find some excuse for not leading his fascinating companion within sight of his grim-looking factory , which another turn in the lane at no great distance would have made very unpicturesquely visible , it was impossible at that moment not to yield to the gentle violence which carried him forward ; and , in what Lady Clarissa felt to be very eloquent silence , he proceeded for a few steps farther .  Considerably , however , before they had reached the dreaded turning , his good star shot a ray upon him in the shape of a very large cow , with a pair of enormous horns , that slowly turned the corner , and fronted them .  " Good heaven !  " he exclaimed in an accent of great alarm .  — " There is that horrid spotted cow !  she is the worst beast in the whole parish .  Turn back , dearest Lady Clarissa !  turn back instantly .  "  " How kindly considerate !  " returned Lady Clarissa .  " But you little know the strength of your friend 'smind , Sir Matthew .  Were I alone , indeed , I might tremble and turn as pale as the veriest child that ever hid its face on a nurse 'slap ; but with you !  " — and here the lady turned a very flattering glance on the athletic form of her protector —  " Heaven knows , " replied Sir Matthew , once more pressing her lean arm , " Heaven knows that all which the strength of man could do to protect you , would not be left undone by me — but consider the dog !  " he added , pointing to a little cur that always followed him ; " its power of irritating an animal of this kind is quite extraordinary .  " And as he spoke , he whistled in a note which meant , as his dog Spite knew as well as he did , neither more nor less than — " At her , Spite !  "  " If any thing can keep Spite quiet , " resumed the knight , " it is whistling to him .  "  Obedient to the true meaning of the signal , however , the dog sprang forward , and of course there ensued the scene which always follows on such occasions .  The dog yelped , and affected to spring at the nose of the cow , while she , somewhat accelerating her stately pace , threw up her tail , and bent down her head till her horns nearly touched the ground , offering so exact an image of " the cow with the crumpled horn , " with whose portrait her ladyship 'searly studies had made her familiar , that her confidence in the prowess of Sir Matthew could sustain her no longer , and she rapidly uttered a succession of tremendous screams .  The purpose of the knight was accomplished , and he therefore indulged the fair lady by letting her scream on for at least a minute and a half , while he supported her with every appearance of the most pitying tenderness .  Meanwhile , two little boys , who were making their way from the factory homewards , across a field by the side of the lane , ran with terrified curiosity , and all the strength they had , to a gate , through which they could see the interesting spectacle of a fine full-dressed lady , screaming with all her might from between the sheltering arms of the magnificent Sir Matthew Dowling , and a little dog worrying an old half-starved cow .  " Come here , you young scamps !  " cried the knight , on perceiving the two little heads peeping over the gate : " Do n't you see what 'sgoing on ?  Clamber over the gate , ca n't you , and drive back that devil of a beast .  "  The youngest , but by far the stoutest and tallest of the two boys , instantly obeyed this command , and placing himself midway between the tormented cow and the fair creature , whose nerves her menacing attitude had so cruelly shaken , he stood manfully astride in the middle of the lane , flourished his ragged hat on high , and with a few lusty " wough !  woughs !  " repeated at the top of his young voice , succeeded in turning the front of the enemy , which was presently seen to wheel round , and , by a sort of feeble , ambling little trot , speedily got out of sight round the corner .  " Now , then , " said Sir Matthew , " let me lead you home , my dear lady !  "  " Not till I have thanked my little deliverer , " exclaimed Lady Clarissa , with very sentimental fervour .  " Good heaven !  what might have been my fate without him !  I know — I feel , Sir Matthew , that you never could have borne to leave me , and what then could have stopped the fearful approach of that most vicious animal ?  — Death , or worse than death — dislocation of limb , disfigurement of feature !  Oh , Sir Matthew , your heart , I know , will go side by side with mine .  Tell me , what can I do — what can we both do , to reward the astonishing bravery of that noble little fellow ?  "  " Depend upon it , my lady , he will be delighted if you will give him sixpence .  "  " Sixpence !  " cried her ladyship , turning extremely red , — but in a moment she recovered herself and said : " Oh !  Sir Matthew !  do I not know how dearly you love a jest ?  Men of wit and humour can rarely be grave for long together , even under circumstances that most keenly touch their feelings ; did I not know you well , my friend , what should I not think of your proposal ?  But come , come — be serious for a moment longer : we have , it is true , escaped a tremendous danger , and it may well make us feel light at heart ; but we will not laugh over it , till we have settled in what way that heroic child shall receive the meed he has earned .  I shall not rest in peace , my friend , unless his destiny be as favourably influenced by me , as mine has probably been by him .  Sir Matthew , you have great power , enormous wealth , a generous heart , a noble nature , and intellect , before which , if I mistake not , all difficulties will melt away like a mist before the sun .  Of all this I am quite certain .  There is but one IF in the business .  IF you value me , Sir Matthew , as much as I think you do , that little boy now getting over the gate will be clothed , educated , fed , lodged by you .  Do I deceive myself ?  or will the daily sight of him , by renewing the memory of this evening , rather cause you pleasure than pain ?  "  Sir Matthew Dowling clearly saw , that sending " the little blackguard to the devil , " which was decidedly what his heart whispered to him , would , at this stage of the business , be inevitably sending her sentimental ladyship to at least an equal distance from himself ; and this he had no inclination to do .  She was the only Lady Somebody Something in the whole neighbourhood , and he was quite aware that he had already acquired more envy and hatred among his friends and neighbours , by the superior degree of intimacy he had contrived to achieve with her , than by all his successful struggles to outspend them all .  This pleasure was not to be given up for a trifle , especially at a moment when it seemed so very clear that it only depended on himself to make all the world perceive that they were dearer friends than ever ; so , making a virtue of necessity , he looked in her face with one of his wittiest smiles , and cleverly taking the cue she had given , replied — " If you had not found out that I was jesting with you , Lady Clarissa , I never should have believed in your friendship more !  Come here , my boy , " he continued , raising his loud voice to a note that must have been heard as far as the factory , " come here , I say .  "  The little fellow , on hearing these imperative accents , which were not quite unknown to him , thought this was the first time he had been so greatly honoured as to have them addressed to himself , again let go the hand of his brother , by whose side he had begun to resume his progress homeward , and once more clambering over the gate , presented himself , cap in hand , before the illustrious pair .  " You are a happy little boy , " said Lady Clarissa , " in having had the extraordinary good fortune of looking over yonder gate at the moment you did ; and you are a brave little fellow into the bargain for not running away , as you certainly might have done , when you saw that dreadful beast .  Oh !  those tremendous horns , Sir Matthew !  they haunt me still !  I am quite sure it will be weeks before I lay my head on my pillow without dreaming of them .  But you drove them away , my dear child , and as a reward for it , you shall be comfortably clothed and fed for the rest of your life .  You will like that , wo n't you ?  "  " I should very much like never to go to work at the factory any more , " replied the child ; " but , please ma'am .  " he added the minute after , " I 'dsooner you 'dclothe and feed Teddy than me .  He looked over the gate first , please ma'am .  "  " Did he , my dear ?  Then that is another reason why this good gentleman 'sfavour should be shown to you ; for if your brother saw my distress first , it was you who were the first to relieve it .  "  " That was only because Teddy is so lame , please ma'am , " said the boy .  " Lame , is he ?  " repeated her ladyship , " Poor fellow !  However , my little man , if I do not greatly mistake , you have this day made a friend by serving me , who will put you in a situation where , if you behave well , you will be able to assist all who belong to you .  "  The child opened a pair of remarkably large eyes , and fixing them on her face , said , " What !  mother and all ?  "  " Yes , I should think so , my dear .  He is a fine intelligent looking little fellow , is he not , Sir Matthew ?  But he does not look healthy .  However , I dare say he will improve in that respect .  Plenty of food generally cures all poor people 'scomplaints , particularly when they are young .  How old are you , my dear ?  "  " Nine last birthday , " replied the boy .  " A tall little fellow for his age , though very thin , to be sure .  And what is your name ?  "  " Michael Armstrong , ma'am .  "  " Michael Armstrong : I shall not forget it , I assure you ; for truly do I believe that I should have been trampled in the dust by this time , if you had not been heart-strong as well as Armstrong .  And what shall we do with him at first , Sir Matthew ?  Shall we take him home with us ?  "  " What !  to your cottage , my dear lady ?  — Yes , certainly , if it will give you pleasure .  "  " My dearest Sir Matthew !  there you are at your jestings again .  "  " Ha !  ha !  ha !  Lady Clarissa , you begin to know me so well , that I shall never be able to cut my little dry jokes upon you , " replied the knight laughing , as it seemed , most heartily , but inwardly cursing the audacious exaction of his fair friend , in attempting to make him pay the enormous price she hinted at , for permitting him to enjoy the honour and glory of flirting with her .  The idea of being thus entrapped , and forced to adopt " a bag of rags out of his own factory " ( for it was thus he inwardly designated little Michael ) , galled him for a moment so severely , that he was within an ace of exclaiming , " Confound you , and the beggar 'sbrat together , you old fool ! " But , most fortunately for all parties , he did no such thing ; on the contrary , he happily remembered at that critical moment the important hints he had received from his excellent friend Dr. Crockley , and instantly decided " that this absurd whim of her ladyship 'sshould be worked up into the d — d good-natured thing that was to set all right .  "  At the very same moment , as if to confirm his resolution , Lady Clarissa drew from her pocket a cambric pocket-handkerchief , something the worse for wear , perhaps , but most elaborately embroidered at each corner with the coronet of a countess .  It was one of a dozen bequeathed to her a few years before by her thrifty and truly admirable mother , the late Countess of Highlandloch .  This coincidence appeared to be the work of Providence .  " Give me your arm , my charming friend !  " said the well-satisfied knight , with an air of tender gallantry , " and only remember , that all I shall do in this business , will proceed wholly from my devoted friendship to you .  Follow us , little boy , and you shall learn what it is to have served Sir Matthew Dowling 'smost honoured friend .  "  Having said this , he began leading his fair companion back towards the house as rapidly as might be consistent with the delicate style in which she was shod .  " Please ma'am , may I go and tell Teddy ?  " said little Michael , walking after them .  " Teddy ?  — who is Teddy , my little man ?  " inquired Lady Clarissa , graciously smiling upon him ; for her ladyship , at no time an ill-natured woman , was at this moment in the best of all possible humours with herself , and every body else .  There had been various passages in what had passed between herself and Sir Matthew , during this most delightful walk , which convinced her that the knight , notwithstanding the homage he paid to her rank , could not wholly resist the fascinations of her person , talents , and manners ; — and the conviction pleased her .  But let not the character of this noble lady be for a moment misunderstood .  Lucretia herself would hardly have shrunk with greater horror from an improper attachment .  All she dreamed of in her intimacy with Sir Matthew Dowling , with the young poet , Osmund Norval , and with a few other gentlemen whom she was in the habit of meeting , was but that their admiring friendship should be animated by a lambent , innoxious flickering of the flame , which , after a peculiar theory of her own , she believed to pervade the universe , cheering the well-conducted by its mild platonic warmth , but scorching , burning , and destroying those who permitted it to exercise over them a too-sovereign sway and masterdom .  That she had reached the age of forty , unsolicited in marriage by any suitor of any degree , she attributed , rightly enough perhaps , to the unfortunate disproportion between her fortune and her rank — but must she , therefore , live and die without the sweet consciousness of having been loved ?  Where was the law that enforced such cruelty ?  She knew it not ; and accordingly had , for many years , and quite upon principle , made up her mind to permit as many gentlemen , of all ages , ranks , and conditions , to deserve " the soft impeachment , " whether they owned it or not , as it was in her power to captivate .  For most of these tender and really very innocent friendships , she was able to assign to herself some excellent cause — as poetical sympathy with one , botanical sympathy with another , philosophical religious sympathy with a third , and so on ; but in the case of Sir Matthew Dowling , she sometimes felt a little puzzled herself .  It was not , however , that she was weak enough in the least degree to blame herself for wishing to be admired by a vulgar man .  She had long ago given such feelings to the winds .  From the time she quitted , on the death of her mother , the floods and the fells of her native land , to inhabit a pretty little cottage ( the timely gift of an English godmother ) , which happened to be situated in the midst of a manufacturing district , she had been schooling her spirit to endure the change from poor lairds of a hundred descents , to rich manufacturers , who would have been , for the most part , quite as pleased had they been unable to trace one .  Just at first , her Scotch pride rebelled a little ; but an hour or two of quiet meditation on the subject , led her to perceive so clearly all she might lose , and all she might gain , by being or not being on friendly terms with her neighbours , that she made up her mind on the matter at once , and thenceforward feasted upon delicate cates , and battened in the fructifying sunshine of universal popularity , in a neighbourhood that might be safely described as the richest in the world .  But still this did not quite explain the terms she was upon with Sir Matthew Dowling , and she did feel sometimes conscious of taking more pains to please him than she quite knew why — unconscious that it arose from a latent wish to be distinguished by a man , celebrated for the warmth of his devotion to the fair sex .  But for this , she must not be out of measure blamed , inasmuch as those who have reached the age for looking on upon the drama of life , can many of them testify that in this she only yielded to a weakness very unaccountably common to the majority of the sex .  But poor little Michael Armstrong has been left unmercifully long , looking up in her ladyship 'ssmiling face , as she inquired who Teddy was .  " Teddy is my brother , please ma'am , " was his answer .  " Is he still waiting for you at the gate , my dear ?  " said the lady .  " I do n't see him .  "  " He ca n't stand very well , ma'am , because he is lame , " replied Michael .  " I should n't wonder if he was set down , and gone to sleep .  "  " Gone to sleep !  — why it is hardly bedtime yet , my dear , is it ?  However , I suppose he had better go to see , Sir Matthew ?  — Your brother , " turning again to the child , " is younger than you are , I suppose , if he falls asleep on the grass like a baby .  Is he old enough to go home by himself , and tell the great news that has happened to you ?  "  " Teddy is two years older than me — only he is always so tired , " replied the boy .  " Well , then , just step back , and bid him run along home by himself , and tell all the family what a fine act you have done , and that Sir Matthew Dowling is going to take care of you all the rest of your life .  "  Michael now , for the first time , ventured to look steadily up into the face of the majestic Sir Matthew , and his little heart sank within him .  It was quite evident from the child 'sspeaking-countenance , that no pleasurable ideas were suggested , by the assurance that Sir Matthew would take care of him all the rest of his life .  The knight saw this , and would for a moment have desired no better sport than wringing his neck round ; nevertheless , he patted his head with astonishing condescension , and said , " It is quite true , my boy .  For the sake of this charming lady , for whose happiness you must pray morning , noon , and night , I will undertake to provide for you .  You may step back , if you will , and tell your brother so , who , if he be two years older than you , will be able to make your friends understand the good fortune that has happened to you .  "  " I have got no friends , please sir , " said the boy .  " Where do you live then ?  "  " With mother , sir .  "  " Is not she your friend , my poor child ?  " demanded Lady Clarissa in an accent of great feeling .  " Please ma'am , she is my mother , " answered Michael , while a slight flash mantled his pale cheek , and something like a tear twinkled in his eye .  " How very odd !  " exclaimed Lady Clarissa .  " Is she not kind to you , my boy ?  "  " Kind ?  " responded Michael , staring at her .  " Do you love her , my little fellow ?  "  " Love her ?  " again echoed Michael .  " Whatever she is , she has not taught you good manners , my lad , or you would not answer her ladyship this way , " said the knight rather indignantly .  The little boy was certainly very foolish , for , large as his eyes were , they could not contain the salt rheum which , for no reason in the world that the lady or gentleman could guess , first filled them and then ran down in two great big drops upon his cheeks .  " I dare say he is hungry , " exclaimed Lady Clarissa with sudden animation .  " How delightful , dearest Sir Matthew , to have found a little creature so greatly in want !  Are you hungry , my dear ?  Tell the truth — do n't be afraid .  "  " Not very , " said the child .  " Poor little fellow !  — It is quite evident , Sir Matthew , that he is exceedingly shy .  Let us go back , shall we ?  — just as far as the gate , and give the message ourselves to that lazy fellow that he says is asleep under the hedge — and two years older than this one .  — Only conceive !  — I am delighted that he is not to be the object of your bounty , for there is nothing so detestable as idleness .  "  Sir Matthew had turned in compliance with the word and action , which expressed her ladyship 'sdesire that he should do so , and in another minute they reached the gate .  " Where is this brother of yours ?  — I do n't see him , " said Lady Clarissa , looking about .  " There he is , ma'am , if you please , " replied Michael , once more climbing over the gate ; and presently he was close under the flowery hedge , extending his two hands to raise a miserably sicklooking child , who was , in truth , soundly sleeping there .  In consequence of a few words whispered to him by little Michael , the boy came forward with a shuffling gait , his knees sloping inwards , and his legs frightfully emaciated : but the moment he reached the gate , Lady Clarissa exclaimed , " Good gracious !  how beautiful !  "  It was indeed a lovely face that was then turned up to meet her eye ; and when , as if somewhat daunted by her earnest gaze , he removed his own from her countenance to that of Sir Matthew , the bright flash that lighted it up for a moment made it appear more beautiful still .  " And what is your name , my pretty boy ?  " said the lady .  " Edward Armstrong , " was the reply .  " But , my dear child , you do n't look well , and you ought not to go to sleep so , quite late in the evening , upon the grass .  What makes you so very sleepy , my dear ?  Have you been at play ?  "  " No , ma'am , " replied the boy , furtively glancing at Sir Matthew , " I have been at work .  "  " At work !  You ca n't have done much work , my poor little fellow , looking as you do .  "  " I have been at work since " —  " My dear Lady Clarissa , I really will not let you stay another moment , " suddenly exclaimed Sir Matthew .  " The heat is gone off , and I am sure you will be quite chilled if you remain any longer out of doors .  "  " I believe you are right , my dear friend , " said Lady Clarissa , with a glance of affectionate gratitude for this earnest zeal .  " Let us go .  Never can I forget the kindness you have shown me during this eventful walk , and heartless indeed must I be were I to refuse to acknowledge that it has made a deep impression on me .  "  For a moment Lady Clarissa held her coroneted handkerchief to her eyes , and then resumed .  " Go home , little Edward — tell your mother , who , by the by , I trust is not harsh to you , that your brother Michael is rewarded for an act of bravery that probably saved the life of an earl 'sdaughter — has been most generously and nobly adopted by her friend Sir Matthew Dowling , and that henceforward she need have no anxiety whatever on his account .  Now , then , Sir Matthew , I am ready .  "  " Are we never to see Michael again ?  " said the lame boy , while a sudden expression of anguish passed across his beautiful features .  " Why not , child ?  " replied her ladyship rather sharply .  " Do you suppose that Sir Matthew and I are going to hide him ?  "  " It is all very well then , " returned Edward , limping away .  " But be sure to go and tell mother all about it yourself to-morrow , Mike .  "  " Come along , little one !  " said Lady Clarissa , moving off .  " Follow behind this generous gentleman , and see the palace of a home which your bravery has won .  "  So saying , she moved on ; the obsequious knight at her side , and the wondering Michael Armstrong after her .  On reaching the gate beside the gardener 'shouse , Sir Matthew paused .  He had been meditating , while seemingly listening in rapt attention to the lady 'stalk , on the effect which would be produced on the party they were about to rejoin , by the appearance of the ragged little companion they had brought back with them .  Had he been a ragged sailor-boy , or a ragged plough-boy , or even a ragged chimney-sweeper , there might by possibility have been excited some feeling of curiosity and interest ; but a ragged factory-boy was of all created beings the one least likely to give birth to such emotions , among his friends and neighbours , or indeed to any other emotion fit to be exhibited in good society .  So , merely saying to his fair friend , " Excuse me , my lady , for one moment , " he once more knocked at the cottage-window , and called aloud for " Macnab !  "  The obedient North Briton appeared immediately , and was about to forestal the inquiry he anticipated by assurances that her ladyship 'spines , peaches , and grapes , had all been consigned to the care of her ladyship 'sown serving-man , when he was very literally struck dumb by his master saying —  " Macnab , take this little boy into the servants 'hall , and tell the servants to take care of him — do you hear ?  — and he is to have a bed made up for him , and — and supper , and breakfast — and all that ; and to-morrow I will talk to Parsons about what must be done for him .  Observe , Macnab , and take care , if you please , that all the servants about the place know it , that this boy is to be the object of the greatest benevolence .  "  " The greatest — what was you pleased to say , sir ?  " said the Scotch gardener , really and truly doubting his own ears .  " Benevolence , sir !  " shouted the knight vehemently ; " and woe to any one on my estate who dares to question or thwart my design !  "  " How inspiring is this angelic goodness , " exclaimed Lady Clarissa affectionately .  " Ah , Sir Matthew !  how few there are who know you as I know you !  "  " Come along , my man , " said the Scotchman , leading away Michael ; and he said no more till he was quite sure that the knight and the lady had got far enough in their progress across the garden , to be out of hearing , and then he added : " And now , my little fellow , tell me in God 'sname what all this means ?  Why , you look for all the world like one of the little raggamuffins out of the factory .  "  " I am one of the raggamuffins out of the factory , " replied Michael .  " You are ?  and our master 'sgoing to make a house-pet of ye ?  Why , now , you 'llbe made the talk of the whole country .  I should not have been one-half so much surprised if he had taken one of our sucking pigs into the drawing-room .  "  " Nor I , sir , " said Michael timidly , but with half a smile .  " So , then , you do n't understand it much better than I do , it seems ?  But what did he say it was for ?  He did n't take the Earl of Highlandloch 'sdaughter among the infernal whirligigs , did he , and pick you out as a specimen to be kept in a glass case ?  "  " I hope he wo n't put me in a glass case , sir , " said Michael , taking courage from the gardener 'sgood-humour ; " but why he brought me here at all , I do n't very well understand .  The lady said it was because I held up my hat , and cried ' Wough !  ' to Dame Knight 'sold cow : but of course she was only making fun .  "  " At any rate , he was making no fun , for he roared like a bulldog , did n't he ?  So his bidding I 'lldo , let it mean what it will ; and if it brings you food and lodging , I do n't suppose you 'llbreak your heart for being taken out of the factory — shall you ?  "  " Not if he 'lltake Edward out too , " said the boy .  " Edward out too !  Oh !  Lord , oh !  Lord , how many more ?  Did he cry ' Wough !  ' to the cow , too ?  "  " I wish he had !  " said Michael , shaking his head very mysteriously .  Meanwhile Lady Clarissa and the gallant knight re-entered my Lady Dowling 'sdrawing-room , amidst a perfect storm of questions , exclamations of admiration , wonder , fears for the lady 'ssafety , and so forth .  Miss Brotherton , who always took more liberties than any one else , laughed immoderately ; Lady Dowling looked the picture of conjugal woe ; and good Miss Mogg bustled forward with her usual amiable attention , put a footstool under the lady 'smisused white satin shoes , took Mrs. Janet Macnab 'sshawl off her shoulders , and whispered in her ear , that she was dreadfully afraid she must have caught cold .  But Lady Clarissa , with a lively action of both hands at once , not only drove Miss Mogg back , but every one else who attempted to crowd round her , saying , " Give me space !  give me space , I entreat you !  I must have ' ample room and verge enough 'to breathe .  Such a series of adventures !  Lady Dowling , you have no idea !  Good heaven !  I can hardly believe it myself .  I have been in the greatest possible danger of losing my life — a beast — a monster — the most terrific animal certainly that nature ever permitted on the earth !  You know , Mogg , I fear nothing — I have the spirit of my race within me .  Who ever heard of a Highlandloch being afraid ?  But I give you my honour — I pledge my noble word to you all , that such a monster as that which I have escaped from this night , might have made the black Douglas fear !  "  " Or the Earl of Warwick either , perhaps , " said Miss Brotherton , for she had heard Sir Matthew utter the word " cow , " in answer to the importunate inquiries of his eldest son .  " But what shall I say of Sir Matthew Dowling ?  " resumed Lady Clarissa , with increased energy .  " Such benevolence !  such noble , disinterested conduct !  — No , I cannot — I really have no strength left .  Miss Brotherton , my dear , pray do order your carriage ; my nerves are in disorder , so is my dress — in short , I long to get home , and meditate in solitude on my providential escape .  "  Here Lady Clarissa found it necessary to lie down upon a sofa , her faithful Mogg endeavouring in vain to pull her dress over her slender feet and ankles , for her ladyship was restless , feverish , and unable to remain in the same attitude for a minute together .  Ere long , however , the carriage of the heiress was announced , and the languid Lady Clarissa exerted herself to reach it , with the aid of Miss Mogg 'ssubstantial arm on one side , and that of Sir Matthew Dowling on the other .  " Farewell , my friend !  " she uttered with some effort , after taking her seat : " ere long I shall call upon you , and shall hope to see our interesting protegé looking very differently from what he did when we parted from him .  Farewell !  I do assure you I am almost fainting !  Do ask — will you , dear Sir Matthew ?  — if the fruit , the pines particularly , are put in .  I really think they will do me good , and I am sure I want it .  Thank you !  thank you !  Adieu !  CHAPTER III .  INTRODUCTION OF MICHAEL ARMSTRONG INTO THE FAMILY OF SIR MATTHEW DOWLING — CONJECTURES CONCERNING HIS PARENTAGE — A CONFABULATION BETWEEN SIR MATTHEW AND MR. JOSEPH PARSONS .  When Mr. Macnab and his little companion entered the kitchen , in their way to the servants 'hall , to which place of honour the wondering Scotchman remembered he had been commanded to conduct his charge , the first person they encountered was Mr. Simkins , the butler , whom some accidental wish or want had led to enter a region but rarely honoured by the sunshine of his presence .  " Good morning , Macnab .  What !  empty-handed ?  I am afraid you have forgotten the little basket of peaches I desired to have ; and upon my word , sir , if you leave it much longer , I shall not consider them worth presenting to the lady for whom I desired to have them .  Be pleased to recollect , good Mr. Sawney , that when every garden-wall is hung with ripe fruit , a bottle of comfort will be rather too high a price for a dozen .  "  " Your discourse , Mr. Simkins , is neither civil nor discreet in any way , " replied the offended North Briton : " my word , sir , is as good as the bank , either in England or Scotland ; and it is beneath a gentleman , to say nothing of your rank as a butler , Mr. Simkins , to suspect that I should forget it .  "  " Well , well , the sooner the better , that 'sall .  But who in God 'sname have you got here ?  "  " That is more than I am able to tell you , sir , " replied Macnab .  " All I know about him is a mystery .  Sir Matthew , and a lady that was hardly born to be so free in his company , came to the garden-house about an hour ago , and Sir Matthew was as gay as a lark , and ambled and smirked ; while the Highlandloch 'sdaughter , old fool !  looked as well pleased as if she had been gallanted by the Duke of Argyle .  Well , sir , he ordered a basket of the choicest and best for her ladyship , and it went against me , Mr. Simkins , both ways — for first it ought to choke her , seeing who she is , and who he is , and next I thought upon my promise to you , sir .  However , and nevertheless , Mr. Simkins , I will keep my word with you , if it cost me a ton of coals more in the forcing .  "  " But what 'sall this to do with your ragged companion there ?  The child looks as if he was ready to drop .  I 'llbet a bottle you caught him thieving in the fruit-garden .  "  The boy 'scolour rose on hearing these words .  He spoke not , however ; but his large eyes were turned up to the face of his companion , and the fingers of his little hand pressed the hard palm that held them , almost convulsively .  Sawney understood the appeal , and answered it : for though , like many other gentlemen , his code of honour was at some points a little loosened and enlarged , to fit and suit his individual circumstances , he felt the value of character as much as any man ; and promptly replied , in good Scotch , which must , however , for sundry weighty reasons , be here translated into English : " No , no , Mr. Butler !  no such thing , I assure you ; the lad 'sas honest as I am , for aught that I know to the contrary .  But , to make a short story of a long one , my lady walked off up the lane , after borrowing a shawl from my wife , and your master with her , Mr. Simkins , who but he — Well , I had picked the fruit , packed it , and delivered it over to my lady 'sman , and was just set down again to my seed-picking , when I heard Sir Matthew 'sbig voice again halloaing to me , and when I came out , there stood the ill-sorted pair , arm in arm together , as before , and this ragged chap beside them .  "  " Well !  and what then ?  " ejaculated the portly butler , impatiently .  " What a long-winded man you are , Macnab .  "  " Hoot , man !  " retorted Macnab , " if you want the story , you must just find patience to hear it .  ' Take this boy to the servants 'hall , ' said Sir Matthew , quite upon the strut , ' and order supper and a bed for him .  ' "  " To the servants 'hall ?  " repeated the indignant man of bottles , measuring the little fellow from head to foot with an eye , which , notwithstanding it was small and bloodshot , was eloquent of scorn .  " To the servants 'hall ?  Sir Matthew will inflict his own company upon us next , I suppose .  Why , look at the cotton fluff mixed with his hair !  He is neither more nor less than a factory-boy .  "  " To be sure he is , " replied the gardener , shrugging his shoulders , " but it 'sno fault of mine , Mr. Simkins ; to the servants 'hall I must take him , right or wrong .  Come along , boy .  "  " Stop one moment , if you please , Macnab .  Let me step to Mrs. Thompson 'sroom , and speak one word to her about it .  Sit down , sit down , will you , for one moment .  " And away hurried Mr. Simkins , scattering dismay as he traversed the passages , by uttering as he passed along to footmen and housemaids , abigail and page , " Go to the kitchen , do , in God 'sname !  go and see the company Sir Matthew has been ordering into the servants 'hall !  "  And away they flew , one after another , eager to see the wonder ; so that by the time Mr. Simkins himself returned to the kitchen , marshalling the housekeeper before him , at least half-a-dozen servants had assembled there , all of whom were gazing at little Michael , very much as if he had been caught in a forest , and conveyed thither to gratify their desire of studying natural history .  " Who is that dirty little boy , Macnab ?  " said the magnificent Mrs. Thompson , advancing to the spot where the gardener was seated with his frightened charge standing beside him , and all the lookers-on making way for her as she passed .  " It is a factory-boy sent here by Sir Matthew , Mrs. Thompson , " replied Macnab , while , forestalling , it may be , the storm likely to follow the intelligence , he seemed to settle himself in the arm-chair either to enjoy the fun , or abide the tempest .  But he was , as it should seem , mistaken as to Mrs. Thompson 'sfeelings ; for that lady , though usually considered by the subordinates as somewhat warm in temper , appeared on this occasion to be as mild as a lamb .  " A factory-boy , certainly , " she replied with the dignity that was peculiar to her , " nobody is likely to doubt that , Mr. Macnab ; one might know his calling at half a mile 'sdistance .  The vulgar factory itself , with its millions of windows , is not more easily known than the things that crawl out of it , with their millions of cotton specks — that is not the main point of the question , Mr. Macnab : it is not what the boy is , but who he is , and for what reason any one has dared to say that he was to sup in the servants 'hall .  "  " Oh !  dear me , ma'am , " replied the gardener , endeavouring to look very grave , " that was n't one half of it .  To you , ma'am , it 'smy duty to repeat Sir Matthew 'swords exact , and this is what he said .  ' Macnab , ' or ' Mr .  Macnab , ' for he calls me both at times , ' take this little boy , ' says he , ' into the servants 'hall , and tell every body there to take care of him — every body to take care of him ' — that was it , Mrs. Thompson , word for word .  And then he went on : ' He is to have a bed , ' says he , ' made up on purpose for him , and he is to be waited upon with supper and breakfast , ' and a great deal more , that Mr. Parsons is to make known to-morrow .  But you have not heard all yet , ma'am , " continued Macnab , raising his voice , on perceiving that the stately housekeeper was putting herself in act to speak .  " Sir Matthew went on , raising his arm like one of his own steam-engines , ' Observe , Mr. Macnab , ' says he , ' and take care that all the servants , little and great , know it , that this boy is to be the object of the greatest benevolence .  ' That 'ssomething new for you , Mrs. Thompson , is n't it ?  "  " Sir Matthew may settle about his benevolence with himself , when he is in his own pew at church , " replied Mrs. Thompson , with a very satirical sort of smile ; " but most certainly it shall not be brought to dirty my premises ; so let me hear no more about it , gardener , if you please .  " And with these words , she turned haughtily away .  " But , ma'am — Mrs. Thompson , you had better stop if you please , for go I must , if that 'syour answer , and tell Sir Matthew of it .  "  If Mr. Macnab had been a blacksmith instead of a gardener , he might have been less surprised at the phenomena which followed these words ; for he would have known that white heat is stronger than red heat , though it does not look so fierce .  He had fancied the housekeeper particularly calm and placable upon this occasion , because , forsooth , she looked rather pale than red when she entered the kitchen ; but no sooner had he uttered this threat of reporting her words to Sir Matthew , than the fact of her being in an exceedingly terrible rage became evident .  Notwithstanding the usual dignified gentility of her manner , on which , indeed , when more self-possessed , she greatly prided herself , she clenched her fists , raised her arms on high , and from one of the most imposing housekeepers in the British dominions , suddenly assumed the aspect of an inspired fury .  " Tell !  — You ?  — Sir Matthew ?  — Blackguard !  scoundrel !  — base-born spinning spider !  — I , that have lived with the Duke of Clarington !  "  " 'Tis two , too bad , and that 'sthe fact !  " exclaimed my Lady Dowling 'sown footman , who always sided with the principal person in company , which gave him very much the air of being a superior person himself ; " and if I was Mrs. Thompson , I 'dthrow my salary in the vulgar fellow 'sface , before I 'dbear to have a factory-boy pushed into my company .  "  " And so I will , Mr. Jennings , you may depend upon it , " replied the incensed prime ministeress , somewhat softened : " so now , Mr. Macnab , you may just take yourself off , and leave the brat in the kitchen , or take him away with you , as you like best .  "  " I have done my share of the benevolent job , so I will wish you good night , Mrs. Thompson ; and whether this little fellow eats his supper and breakfast in the kitchen or the hall , it will be much the same to him , I fancy .  " So saying , the gardener rose , and giving a sort of general nod to the company , left the kitchen .  Considering that there had been nothing very affectionate in the nature of the intercourse which had taken place between them , it was rather singular that the little Michael should feel as sorry as he did at the departure of Mr. Macnab .  But he did feel sorry , and when the door shut after him , he turned away , and hid his face with his uplifted arm .  Pride of place , and elevation of character , having been in a considerable degree satisfied by Mrs. Thompson 'senergetic expression of her feelings , something like curiosity awoke within her to learn what the circumstances had been which had induced Sir Matthew Dowling to declare an intention of acting benevolently .  For a moment she struggled against it , and again seemed about to leave the room ; but as she turned her eyes upon the child , she seemed to feel that before one so very abject , no loss of importance could be feared , even if she did question him .  So , with the air of a judge walking up to the bench , she stalked onwards to the seat Mr. Macnab had left , and placing her austere person in it , made a signal with her hand , that the kitchen-maid who had ventured to approach the little boy should stand back , and leave her space to examine him .  On one side of this space stood the lordly butler , with his arms folded , and a look of scorn upon his countenance that seemed to question the propriety of the measure Mrs. Thompson had thought proper to adopt .  On the other was the courtly Jennings , with an arm resting upon her chair , as if to give evidence that he was near at hand to support her .  An extremely fat and very professional-looking cook came next , while my lady 'sown maid , with all the elegant superiority of attire which marks the station , held a scent-bottle to her nose , that the curiosity which led her to be a witness of this extraordinary scene , might be punished with as little suffering as possible .  Two sprightly housemaids seemed to find something vastly amusing in the whole business , though their evident merriment was restrained by the solemnity of Mrs. Thompson 'smanner .  " Look up in my face , little boy , " said the housekeeper , as soon as she had seated herself and saw that those around her stood still , as if they had taken their places , and were prepared to listen .  Michael did not move ; he was probably ashamed to show that he was weeping , before the face of a lady who spoke so very grandly .  The kitchen-maid gave him a nudge , but a gentle one , whispering at the same time — " Look up , my boy .  What be you ' feard of ?  There 'snobody as wants to hurt you here .  "  Thus encouraged , Michael let his arm drop by his side , and discovered a face that was indeed sallow , and by no means very plump , but with features and expression which , whatever Sir Matthew Dowling 'smen and maids might think of it , might have sufficed to make the fortune of an able painter .  " Whose child are you ?  " demanded the housekeeper .  " Mother 's, " replied the boy .  " I suspected as much , " rejoined the inquisitor , half aside to Mr. Jennings .  " And I beant no ways surprised to hear it , I promise you , " he replied .  Mrs. Thompson sighed deeply .  " It is dreadful !  " said she .  Then , after taking a moment to recover herself , she resumed , " And where does the unhappy person live ?  "  " Please , ma'am , who ?  " said the puzzled boy .  " The — your mother , child .  — Shame upon you for forcing me to name her !  "  Michael gave a little shake of the head , which seemed to the merciful kitchen-maid to say , that he did not know what the great lady meant ; but he presently replied , as if discreetly determined to mind only what he did understand , " Mother lives in Hoxley Lane , ma'am .  "  " The most deplorable situation in the whole parish !  inhabited only by the very lowest !  " observed the housekeeper , with another indignant sigh .  " So much the worse for she , " muttered the kitchen-maid ; but not loud enough to be heard by her in whose hands rested the appointment of kitchen-maids as well as cooks .  " And why does such as you come here ?  " resumed the housekeeper .  " Because the squire ordered t'other man to bring me , " answered Michael .  " I suspect that the boy is a natural fool , " observed Mrs. Thompson , addressing the butler .  " It is a sure fact , and a great dispensation — bad parents have almost always children out of shape , both mind and body .  You may take my word for that , all of you , " she added , looking round her ; " and you will do well to teach it to your children after you .  "  " I 'llbe burnt if I do n't think it very likely that it was his own father sent him here , and no one else , " said Mr. Jennings , chuckling .  " Fie !  Jennings , fie !  " returned Mrs. Thompson , with a frown .  " God in heaven only knows what may have been the cause of it !  — Not but what it does look strange , there 'sno denying that .  "  " Do you know any thing about your father , child ?  " said Mr. Simkins in a magisterial tone .  " Father 'sin heaven , " replied the child .  " Mercy on me !  do you hear him ?  Is not that like mocking the Lord 'sprayer ?  " exclaimed the lady's-maid .  " No , it is not !  " said Michael , while a flash of youthful indignation rushed into his face .  " My father is in heaven along with God .  "  " I dare say he means that his father is dead , " observed the butler with an air of great sagacity ; " and if what has been jealoused at is correct , " he added , winking his eye at Mr. Jennings , " it is very natural that he should have been told to say so .  "  " That 'svery true , " said the housekeeper , " and it may be , certainly , that the child knows nothing about it whatever , either one way or t'other — indeed I think it 'sa good deal the most likely that he does not ; — but , any how , it 'sa very shocking business , and , as far as I am concerned , I 'llneither make nor meddle in the matter .  — Of course , the men-servants may do just as they like about taking notice of him — for here he is , and here he will bide , I dare say ; but I recommend the maids to follow my example , and not to injure their characters , nor to corrupt their morals by having any thing to do with the offspring of — It is more decent not to finish what I was going to say for your goods , young women , — and lucky it is that there is no need .  You must all understand me without it .  "  Mrs. Thompson then rose from her chair , and turning her eyes , and indeed her head , aside , to prevent herself from again seeing Michael , she walked with a degree of stateliness and majesty that few housekeepers ever attained , through the kitchen , along the passage , across the servants 'hall , into the sacred shelter of her own parlour , where she gave way to emotions which rendered a glass of prime London Madeira absolutely necessary .  Meanwhile Michael remained in no very happy condition in the kitchen .  He was very tired , very sleepy , very thirsty , very much longing to see his mother and brother , and very greatly puzzled as to himself .  But though accounted to be a brave little fellow for his age , he could not muster courage enough to ask any question of those around him , and if he had , it would have been of no avail ; for the very moment Mrs. Thompson was out of sight , so many of the servants began talking together , that no sounds his voice could produce would have been heard .  Jokes and gibes about Sir Matthew , mingled with ridiculous anecdotes , and very cordial abuse of him and all his race , furnished the first subject , and filled the first chorus .  Then followed some facetious observations from Mr. Jennings concerning Mrs. Thompson , and a few of her peculiarities ; and it was in the midst of the giggling which these occasioned , that the kitchen-maid ventured to say —  " Well , now , you are all so keen , and so clever about her , that I wonder it do n't come into your heads to find out that she spoke just like an old fool and no better , when she invented all that rigmarole about the boy .  Master might be just the devil you says he is , and ten times worser too , for any thing I know about him ; but the worser he is , the father I 'dbe , if I was such a mighty good gentlewoman as she thinks herself , from giving such a bad father out of my own invention to any body — whether they comed out of the factory or not .  "  " I do think Molly 'sright , " said one of the housemaids .  — " What business has the old frump to find a father for him ?  Nobody asked her .  "  " That may be all very true , Rebecca , " observed the lady's-maid , shaking her head very gravely .  " I know well enough , that Mrs. Thompson does not always wait for right and reason before she speaks — but that makes no difference as to our having any familiarity with this dirty little boy ; for it certainly does appear plain enough , that his mother is very little better than she ought to be .  "  " Lord bless us !  and how much better be you than you ought to be , I should like to know ?  " said the fat cook , who had her own reasons for not being at all partial to Mrs. Wittington , her ladyship 'swaiting-maid .  " I !  — You miserable lump of kitchen-stuff , that no man in his senses would ever deign to look upon twice !  Do you dare to say that I 'mno better than I ought to be ?  "  Now the cook was an Irishwoman ; and though she had famous black eyes , and teeth like an elephant , her principal claim to the coveted attentions of the other sex ( setting aside the attractions which it is but fair to presume her profession gave her ) , arose from the ready sauciness of her tongue , which , in a brogue as strong as that of the Scotch gardener , and equally dangerous for the untaught to meddle with , was wont to rattle about her , right and left , sometimes scolding , but oftener making sport of all who crossed her humour .  Now this virtuous outbreak of Mrs. Wittington , was too fair an opportunity to be lost ; and accordingly , putting on as demure a look as her wicked eyes would let her , she replied , " You be better than you ought to be , be you ?  Well now , that 'sa trouble for your conscious , is n't it ?  — Is there nobody as can help her out of it ?  — Think what it is , gentlemen , to be so burdened , and she , poor soul , unable to confess to a priest , seeing she 'sa heretic !  — Oh !  she 'sbetter than she ought to be !  and you 'veher own word for it too , and that 'sthe reason you see why she 'sobliged , whether she will or no , to turn her back on this poor little fellow , just because he 'sfatherless .  Is n't that a sore strait for a young lady 'sconscious ?  — Praise and glory to the Holy Virgin , and all the company of saints , now and for ever more , that I beant one bit better than I ought to be , and I hope you beant neither , Molly ; and so just run to the larder , will you , girl , and bring out something for supper , fit for a hungry little boy , that hav n't the misfortune to be so burdened in mind as pretty Mrs. Wittington .  — Oh !  the poor soul !  she 'sbetter than she ought to be !  "  Molly , the kitchen-maid , did not wait for a second order ; and if a capital dish of cold cutlets could have set little Michael 'sheart at rest , he might then have been a very happy fellow ; but , in truth , he was longing for his own porridge , by his own mother 'sbedside ; and except from the relief afforded by a copious draught of milk , he went to the bed prepared for him by his friend , the kitchen-maid , so little elated in spirit , and so little thankful for the extraordinary change which had befallen him , that , had his noble patroness been made aware of it , she would , beyond all doubt , have punished his ingratitude , by requesting Sir Matthew to turn him out of doors again ; and , moreover , have for ever abandoned the generous idea of surrounding his young head , as she poetically expressed it , with a halo of immortality , by means of getting Mr. Osmund Norval to relate his adventure in verse .  Sir Matthew Dowling went to his bed also , hardly better pleased with what had occurred than little Michael .  But there was this difference between them : little Michael said his prayers , which the great Sir Matthew did not ; but , on the contrary , spent his last waking moment in cursing , with great fervour of spirit , the folly of the hideous old maid , who had entailed such a detestable burden upon him — the result of which , as a peace-offering to the whole body of operatives , was at any rate but problematical .  Nevertheless , when he awoke the next morning with his head quite cool , he felt disposed to think more of the hint given him by his friend and favourite Dr. Crockley , and less of the inconvenience of having a few pounds to pay out of hundreds of thousands for a job , which , if well managed , might help , perhaps , to avert a monstrous deal of mischief .  With these rational thoughts working strongly in his ever-active brain , he rang his bell , and ordered that Joseph Parsons , his principal overlooker , should be sent for instantly , and shown into his study .  A short half-hour brought the master and man to a tête-à-tête in the snug little apartment described in the first chapter .  " Good morning , Parsons , " said Sir Matthew .  The overlooker bowed his head respectfully .  " Have you heard any thing of this meeting at the Weavers 'Arms , Parsons ?  " inquired Sir Matthew .  " As much as a man was likely to hear , Sir Matthew , who , as you will easily believe , was not intended to hear any thing , " replied the confidential servant .  " And how much was that , Parsons ?  Sit down , Parsons — sit down , and let us hear all about it .  "  " I was a coming , sir , if you had n't a sent for me , " rejoined the overlooker ; " for to say truth , my mind misgives me , that there 'smischief brewing .  "  " I have heard as much , " said the master ; " but it can hardly have gone very far yet , if such a sharp-sighted fellow as you only suspect .  "  " That 'strue , sir , " said the man , with a grim smile , in acknowledgment of the compliment ; " and I 'venot been idle , I promise you .  But all I know for certain is , that the people , old and young our own people I mean , have , one and all , taken dudgeon about that girl Stephens , that died the week before last , just after leaving the mill .  She had been at work all day in the spinning-mill , and who was to guess that she was that low ?  "  " It was a d — d stupid thing though , Parsons , to have a girl go on working , and not know whether she was dying or not .  "  " And how is one to know , sir ?  I 'lldefy any man to find out , what with their tricks , and what with their real faintings .  "  " You wo n't tell me , Parsons , that if you set your wits to work , you ca n't tell whether they are shamming or not ?  "  " That 'snot the question , Sir Matthew , asking your pardon .  There 'sno great difficulty in finding out whether they are in a real faint , or only making the most of being a little sickish from standing , and want of air .  That 'snot the difficulty .  The thing is to know , when they really take to the downright faintings , whether they are likely to live through it or not .  "  " And where is the great difficulty of that ?  You know Dr. Crockley would come at a moment 'swarning at any time , and feel their pulses .  "  " And he does do it , sir .  But , in the first place , I doubt if any man can justly tell whether girls are likely to go on fainting , and up again , as lots and lots of ' em do for years , or drop down and die , as Nancy Stephens did .  That 'sone thing ; and another is , that Dr. Crockley is so fond of a joke , that 'tis rarely one knows when he speaks earnest , and when he does not .  He did see Nancy Stephens , about a month ago , and all he said was , ' she do look a little pale in the gills , to be sure , but a dance would cure her , I have no doubt .  ' A dance !  says I , doctor .  And please to tell me , says I , how the work is to get on , if the factory boys and girls sets off dancing ?  "  " ' Maybe you have n't got a fiddle ?  ' " said he .  " Maybe I have n't , " said I .  " ' Well , then , ' says he , ' if it do n't suit you to let them dance to the fiddle , I 'llbet ten to one you 'llbe after making ' em dance to the strap .  ' And with that , if you 'llbelieve me , sir , he set off capering , and making antics , just as if there had been somebody behind a-strapping him .  To be sure , it was fit to make one die of laughing to see him ; but that 'snot the way you know , sir , to do one any good as to finding out the real condition of the people .  "  Sir Mathew could not resist a hearty laugh at this characteristic trait of his friend , but he concluded by acknowledging that Parsons was quite right in saying that this way of doing business was more agreeable than useful .  " However , Parsons , " he continued , " we must not talk about that now , for I have something else to say to you .  It is quite plain that they are getting again to their grumblings ; and Crockley , who you know is up to every thing , says that he 'llbet his life they have got some new mischief into their cursed heads .  Now this must be prevented , Parsons , some way or other ; for any harm they can do the machinery , is not the worst of it .  — ' Tis the rousing up people 'sattention again , Parsons , there 'sthe danger .  — Just see what they 'vedone about the blackamoor slaves , by going on boring for everlasting , ding-dong , ding-dong , till they actually got the thing done at last .  Now the Philadelphy people and the Boston people are just playing the very same game t'other side the water ; and when they have got their way , where will their national wealth be I should like to know ?  — And where will our national wealth be , when these rascals have contrived to stop the mills instead of working them ?  "  " Lord have mercy upon us !  Sir Matthew ; — if you do n't make me creep all over to hear you !  " exclaimed Parsons .  " ' Tis a pity , sir , and often 'sthe time I have said it , that you ar n't in parliament yourself — you 'dpretty soon show ' em what their meddling with factories would do for the country .  "  " 'Tis likely I might , Parsons ; but a man ca n't be in two places at once — and depend upon it , there 'sgood to be done here , if we knew how to set about it .  I shall make you stare , perhaps , Mr. Parsons , when I tell you what I am about now .  It came into my head by accident at first ; but if I do n't greatly mistake , I 'llmake a capital thing of it before I have done .  "  " There 'sno doubt of that , Sir Matthew , if you sets your mind to it , let it be what it will , " replied the confidential overlooker ; " and if it is n't a secret , sir , I should like uncommon much to hear it .  "  " No , it 'sno secret , Parsons — any thing in the world but that , " replied Sir Matthew , laughing .  " What should you say now , Mr. Superintendent , to my taking a dirty little dog of a piecer out of the factory into my own house , and dressing him , and feeding him , and lodging him , all for the love of pure benevolence , and little boys ?  "  " I do n't quite understand you , sir , " replied Mr. Joseph Parsons , looking very grave .  " No , I dare say you do n't .  But I think I do , Parsons , and that 'smore to the purpose .  Trust me , man , it will do good if it 'sonly by giving the people something to talk of just now , besides this confounded girl 'sdeath .  And now , my good fellow , tell me all you know of a boy called Michael Armstrong , for he you must understand , is the hero of my tale .  "  " That 'sthe boy , is it ?  — Then that 'swhy the chap did n't come to work this morning , " replied Mr. Parsons ; " I knows him well enough , Sir Matthew , in course ; for he 'sgoing on for eight or nine , and he comed to the factory just about five .  "  " And what sort of a boy is he , Parsons ?  "  " Nothing very particular , Sir Matthew , unless it is because of the unaccountable fuss he makes about his elder brother , who is but a poor rickety , shriveldy sort of a child .  For some reason or other , his bones never seemed to come rightly straight , and this Mike makes as great a fuss about him , as if he was his grandmother .  "  " Are the parents living ?  " inquired Sir Matthew .  " The mother is .  She is a bedridden woman , and ought to be in the workhouse ; but she 'supish , and ca n't abide it , and so she lies abed , doing plain work and that , and the two boys 'wages maintains ' em .  But I did hear t'other day , she had given in , and was a begging to go into the house , and take the eldest boy with her .  These creturs never know what they would be at .  I suspect , howsomever , that she has got hold of a notion , that because he 'sso cripply , he beant to work no more ; but I shall take care to see Butchel , the parish-overseer , about it .  It is altogether a trick that , what wo n't answer — his fingers is just as able to handle the reels , and piece the threads as ever they was ; and in course , a little dwarf like him , with his legs like crooked drumsticks , ca n't look for any but the youngest wages ; so after all , he 'sone of them as answers best .  "  " No !  Parsons , no !  ejaculated Sir Matthew with sudden energy .  That woman must not go into the workhouse .  The whole thing shall be got up , I tell you , in the best possible style .  What d'ye say now to getting the woman arrested for debt ?  — or having all her things sold ?  — and we just stepping in at the very nick of time , to save her from destruction !  "  There was something so truly comic in the expression of the knight 'scountenance , as he said this , that even the saturnine Mr. Parsons could not help laughing .  " If the born devils do n't sing your praises through the country , sir , " said he , as soon as he had recovered his gravity , " why we must find some other way to go to work with them .  "  " Now then be off , Parsons , and contrive some clever scheme or other to throw the unhappy family into a quandary .  "  " I understand , sir , " said Parsons , nodding his head , and so parted the master and the man .  CHAPTER IV .  A LITTLE COTTAGE GOSSIP — A VISIT OF CHARITY — PRACTICAL BENEVOLENCE .  The promptitude of the measures taken by Mr. Joseph Parsons , to bring to effect the wishes of his master , showed him to be deserving the post of confidence he held , as principal superintendent of Sir Matthew Dowling 'sfactory .  He lost not a moment in obtaining a short interview with one of the parish-officers , who was his particular friend , and then made his way to Hoxley-lane , with the intention of questioning the widowed mother of the two Armstrongs , as to the situation of her affairs , and the particular species of misery from which she might , at that precise moment , be suffering the most .  The statement pronounced in Sir Matthew 'skitchen respecting the general eligibility of Hoxley-lane as a place of residence , was perfectly correct .  It was the most deplorable hole in the parish — a narrow , deep-rutted parish-road ( too hopelessly bad to be indicted ) , led from the turnpike down a steep hill to the town of Ashleigh .  Exactly at the bottom of the hill , just at the point where every summer storm and winter torrent deposited their gatherings , there to remain and be absorbed as they might , began a long , closely-packed double row of miserable dwellings , crowded to excess by the population drawn together by the neighbouring factories .  There was a squalid , untrimmed look about them all , that spoke fully as much of want of care , as of want of cash in the unthrifty tribe who dwelt there .  It was like the moral delinquencies of a corporate body , of which no man is ashamed , because no man can be pointed at as the guilty ONE .  It was not the business of No. 1 to look after the filth accumulated in front of No. 2 ; and the inhabitants of No. 3 , saw no use in mending the gate that swung on one hinge , because No. 4 had no gate at all ; and the dogs and the pigs who made good their entry there , of course found their way easy enough through the make-believe hedge , which throughout the row divided one tenement from another .  The very vilest rags were hanging before most of the doors , as demonstration that washing of garments was occasionally resorted to within .  Crawling infants , half-starved cats , mangy curs , and fowls that looked as if each particular feather had been used as a scavenger 'sbroom , shared the dust and the sunshine between them , while an odour , which seemed compounded of a multitude of villanous smells , all reeking together into one , floated over them , driving the pure untainted air of heaven aloft , far beyond the reach of any human lungs abiding in Hoxley-lane .  " Where does widow Armstrong live ?  " demanded Mr. Parsons of a woman who was whipping a child for tumbling in the dunghill before No. 5.  " In the back kitchen of No. 12 , please your honour , " replied the woman , making a low reverence to the well-known superintendent .  " No. 12 !  — why that 'sSykes 'stenement — and they 'reon the ground-floor themselves .  "  " Yes , please your honour ; but since the rents have been raised by Sir Matthew , the Sykes 'shave been obliged to let off the back-kitchen , and live in the front one .  "  " Why there 'sa matter of a dozen of ' em , is n't there ?  "  " Yes , your honour , they lies terrible close .  "  " Obstinate dolt-heads !  — That 'sjust because they pretend to fancy that it is not good for the small children to work — I know , for certain , that they have got two above five years , that they wo n't send to the factory ; and then they have the outdaciousness to complain that the rents are raised — as if because they are above choosing to earn money in an honest way , Sir Matthew was not to make what he could of his own .  ' Tis disgusting to see such airs , where people ought to be thankful and happy to get work .  "  " That 'squite true , no doubt , sir , " answered the woman , continuing to shake , and occasionally to slap the grub of a child she had taken off the dunghill .  " But Robert Sykes 'schildren are very weakly ; and them as your honour talks of , is almost too small — though 'tis n't to be doubted that it is the bounden duty of us all to send ' em , sooner than see ' em starve .  "  " I fancy so , indeed , " replied Mr. Parsons ; adding , with a finger pointed at the squalling child , who still continued under the cleansing process above described , " And is n't it a comfort now , Mrs. Miller , to get rid of the plague of ' em ?  "  The woman ceased to shake her little boy , and looking for a moment at the clear blue eyes that , notwithstanding her rough discipline , were very lovingly turned up to her face — something like a shudder passed over her .  " Get along in with you , Bill , " said she , as if afraid that the blighting glance of the superintendent should rest upon him ; and then added , " as long as they be so very small , your honour , they ca n't do no good if they be sent .  "  " Stuff and nonsense !  there 'sways to teach ' em .  But do n't fancy that I want you to send your brats — confound ' em !  They 'rethe greatest plagues in natur ; and nothing on God 'searth but good-heartedness and love of his country would ever make Sir Matthew , for one , trouble himself or his men with any of the creturs .  — No. 12 , is it , where I shall find the widow Armstrong ?  "  " Yes , please your honour — you 'llbe sure to find her .  She 'sa cripple pour soul , and ca n't stir .  "  " She 'smade up her mind to go into the workhouse , has n't she ?  " demanded the manager .  " Have she indeed , poor thing ?  " responded the woman , in an accent of compassion .  " I heard so , as I come along , and that 'sthe reason I 'mgoing to her .  Our good Sir Matthew , who to be sure is the kindest-hearted man in the whole world , has taken a fancy to her boy , and he 'llbe a father to him , I 'llbe bound to say he will ; and that 'swhy I think he 'dlike me to give her a call , just to tell her not to fret herself about the workhouse .  If she do n't like going there , she need n't , I dare say , with such a good friend as she 'sgot .  "  The woman stared at him with an air of such genuine astonishment , that the superintendent felt disconcerted , and turning abruptly away , continued his progress down the lane .  By the time he had reached No. 12 , however , he had begun to doubt whether his sudden appearance at the bedside of the widow Armstrong might not produce an effect unfavourable to the object he had in view .  " As sure as steam 'ssteam , " thought he , " she 'llbe more inclined to fancy that I am come scolding about the boys for something , than to take her part , or do her pleasure ; so I 'lljust say a civil word to the Sykeses , and then stroll away on , till such time as the parish officers have been after her .  I 'llengage for it , that Sam Butchel wo n't let no grass grow under his feet after what I said to him ; and if I turn in when he 'sthere , as if to see what was going on , it would certainly be more natural-like , and believable .  "  In accordance with this improved projet de charité , Mr. Joseph Parsons walked on ; but he had not proceeded far ere , on turning his head round to reconnoitre , he perceived , not the tall and burly Sam Butchel , the overseer of the parish , but the lean and lathy person of little Michael , advancing with an eager and rapid step towards his mother 'sdwelling .  " Soh !  " ejaculated the sagacious Parsons , " here comes the charity job !  It would be worth a week 'swages to hear him tell his own story .  "  Mr. Joseph Parsons had a Napoleon-like promptitude of action , which the unlearned operatives described by calling him " a word-and-a-blow man , " but which in reality often deserved the higher epithet above bestowed .  Scarcely had the thought of overhearing little Michael 'stale suggested itself , ere a sidelong movement ensconced him for a moment behind a favouring pig-sty , from whence , unseen , he watched the boy enter the door of No. 12.  Again Napoleon-like , he remembered all he had heard from her neighbour , concerning the position of the widow 'sdwelling-place ; and rightly judging that Sykes 'sback-kitchen must , in some way or other , be in a condition to favour the emission of sound , he troubled not the household by making his approaches through the principal entrance , but striding over the inefficient fence of the tiny cabbage-plot behind , obtained a station as favourable to his purpose , as he could possibly desire .  This was a nook between a protuberance intended for an oven , and the window close beside the widow Armstrong 'sbed , from whence prophetic fate , favouring the yet latent purpose of the manager , had caused three panes to be extracted by a volley of pebbles , intended for mother Sykes 'scat , at least two months before .  To this safe and commodious crouching-place , he made his way just in time to hear the widow say , " Understand one word of Edward 'sstory , Mike ; so sit down dear boy , and tell me all .  "