84 DIGGING A GRAVE _

here, I think he was glad to eet rid of me;
_ the very sight of me reminded him of what
he had been and what he was! I do. think
that, indeed! It’s a good thing we can’t sce
the inside of each other’s hearts; we’d find
worse readin’ in many of ’em than has ever
been put in print. But if ever poor craythur
was broken to bits, it was me : and though
_ I was that eager to find the child, that though
my knees, praise the Lord, are ready and
quick at kneeling for prayers, I almost broke
them, they were that stubborn, trying to kneel

to ax her to tell me where she had sent the
} darlin’; but she wouldn’t; and there was |
alone, and my heart in my bosom shriveling —
7 for want of something living to love; doing
a hand’s’ turn for the poor craythurs that
war that ignorant. they, had not a word of
English, and asking them to lend me a cat
‘or company ; for I had no money to get back
to England, and, sure the master and his new

4, o