Adela Cathcart, vol 3 | Page 2

before I knew, I was in another street. It was dark
and narrow. Just at the moment a man came from the opposite side and
joined the woman. Then they caught hold of my hands, and before my
fright would let me speak, I was deep into the narrow lane, for they ran
with me as fast as they could. Then I began to scream, but they said
such horrid words that I was forced to hold my tongue; and in a minute
more they had me inside a dreadful house, where the plaster was
dropping away from the walls, and the skeleton-ribs of the house were
looking through. I was nearly dead with terror and disgust. I don't think
it was a bit less dreadful to me from having dim recollections of having
known such places well enough at one time of my life. I think that only
made me the more frightened, because so the place seemed to have a
claim upon me. What if I ought to be there after all, and these dreadful
creatures were my father and mother!
"'I thought they were going to beat me at once, when the woman, whom
I suspected to be my aunt, began to take off my frock. I was dreadfully
frightened, but I could not cry. However it was only my clothes that

they wanted. But I cannot tell you how frightful it was. They took
almost everything I had on, and it was only when I began to scream in
despair-- sit still, Charlie, it's all over now--that they stopped, with a
nod to each other, as much as to say--'we can get the rest afterwards.'
Then they put a filthy frock on me; brought me some dry bread to eat;
locked the door, and left me. It was nearly dark now. There was no fire.
And all my warm clothes were gone.--Do sit still, Charlie.--I was
dreadfully cold. There was a wretched-looking bed in one corner, but I
think I would have died of cold rather than get into it. And the air in the
place was frightful. How long I sat there in the dark, I don't know.'
"'What did you do all the time?' said I.
"'There was only one thing to be done, Charlie. I think that is a foolish
question to ask.'
"'Well, what did you do, Chrissy?'
"'Said my prayers, Charlie.'
"'And then?'
"'Said them again.'
"'And nothing else?'
"'Yes; I tried to get out of the window, but that was of no use; for I
could not open it. And it was one story high at least.'
"'And what did you do next?'
"'Said over all my hymns.'
"'And then--what did you do next?'
"'Why do you ask me so many times?'
"'Because I want to know.'

"'Well, I will tell you.--I left my prayers alone; and I began at the
beginning, and I told God the whole story, as if He had known nothing
about it, from the very beginning when Uncle Peter found me on the
crossing, down to the minute when I was talking there to Him in the
dark.'
"'Ah! my dear,' said my uncle, with faltering voice, 'you felt better after
that, I daresay. And here was I in despair about you, and thought He did
not care for any of us. I was very naughty, indeed.'
"'And what next?' I said.
"'By and by I heard a noise of quarrelling in the street, which came
nearer and nearer. The door was burst open by some one falling against
it. Blundering steps came up the stairs. The two who had robbed me,
evidently tipsy, were trying to unlock the door. At length they
succeeded, and tumbled into the room.'
"'Where is the unnatural wretch,' said the woman, 'who ran away and
left her own mother in poverty and sickness?'--
"'Oh! uncle, can it be that she is my mother?' said Chrissy, interrupting
herself.
"'I don't think she is,' answered Uncle Peter. 'She only wanted to vex
you, my lamb. But it doesn't matter whether she is or not.'
"'Doesn't it, uncle?--I am ashamed of her.'
"'But you are God's child. And He can't be ashamed of you. For He
gave you the mother you had, whoever she was, and never asked you
which you would have. So you need not mind. We ought always to like
best to be just what God has made us.'
"'I am sure of that, uncle.--Well, she began groping about to find me,
for it was very dark. I sat quite still, except for trembling all over, till I
felt her hands on me, when I jumped up, and she fell on the floor. She
began swearing dreadfully, but did not try to get up. I crept away to

another corner. I heard