and he was not always kind and gentle with his little playfellows; for
he had been raised in a hard school, and the giving and taking of blows
was a natural matter, to him the only feasible manner of settling a
misunderstanding.

His conduct to me, however, was touching in its devotion and perfect
obedience; and from the first hour he was my poor little knight _sans
peur et sans reproche_.

Meanwhile, though not perfect, he was greatly changed for the better. We
had given him a neat little coat and trousers, his hair was short and
smooth, and his great dark eyes shone with unutterable content. He was
never joyous; born under a cloud, he had lived in its shadow, and sorrow
too early borne had left its indelible impress, to be removed only by
that "undisturbed vision of the Father's face, which is joy
unutterable;" but for the first time in his life he was at peace.

The Duchess of Anna Street had moved into a house a trifle better suited
to her exalted station in life; one where the view was better, and the
society worthy of a fish-peddler's family. Accordingly we transferred
the Kennetts into Number 32, an honor which they took calmly at first,
on account of the odor of fish that pervaded the apartments. The three
and four year old Kennetts were now members of our flock, the dull baby
was cared for daily by the Infant Shelter, and Mrs. Kennett went out
washing; while her spouse upheld the cause of labor by attending
sand-lot meetings in the afternoon and marching in the evening.

So, in the rainy winter afternoons, when the other children had gone,
Patsy and I stayed together and arranged the next day's occupations.
Slang was being gradually eliminated from his conversation; but it is no