“Please, sir,” interrupted Clare eagerly, “I didn’t mean the dog was in heaven yet. I meant the angel I named him after!”

“They had a little dog with them, sir!”

“Yes—Abdiel. He wanted to be a prisoner too, but they wouldn’t let him in. He’s a good dog—better than Tommy.”

“So! like all the rest of you, you can keep a dog!”

“He followed me home because he hadn’t anybody to love,” said Clare. “He don’t have much to eat, but he’s content. He would eat three times as much if I could give it him; but he never complains.”

“Have you work of any sort?”

“I had till yesterday, sir.”

“Where?”

“At Mr. Maidstone’s shop.”

“What wages had you?”