Never mind about the fire and the water for my bath. I want you to get a basket and do some shopping, somewhat as follows: one frying-pan, one pound of the choicest Wiltshire bacon, three moderately fresh eggs if money will buy them, which I expect it will not, one pot of marmalade, one pound of the most expensive butter and a loaf of bread, a pound of tea, price half a crown, and a pint of milk. Now get along, if you please, and I will light the fire."
The blank stupefaction on the face of Mrs. Brown conveyed to Northcote that he had forgotten to give her the money.
"I am so unaccustomed to have the handling of money," he said, "that I have forgotten to give it to you. This is a note for ten pounds. See that no one robs you of the change."
The stupefaction on the face of the old woman appeared to deepen as her fingers closed over this unheard-of treasure.
"I—I don't know that I dare trust myself with it, sir, along the Strand," she said weakly.
"Very well," said Northcote. "Just make the fire—a real good one, mind, and you can use all the coal that is laid by, because at one fell swoop I am going to order a ton—and I will do the shopping myself. Where is that big basket in which you bring home the washing?"
"Here, sir," said the old woman, passing behind a curtain at the far end of the room which concealed a bed.
"Good," said Northcote. "Providence is working for us. It intends that we shall do ourselves
