"You'll be quite the fashion," continued she; "and I presume, like most
fashionable gentlemen, your clothes are not paid for."

I replied, laughing, that they were not; but that they should be, if I
lived and could work.

"I've heard the whole story from old Ben," replied she. "Come in
to-morrow, Jack; I want to speak with you."

I did so in the forenoon, when she put a five-shilling piece in my hand,
and said, "That's from me, to help you to pay your debt to old Nanny.
But that's not all, Jack; I've coaxed the doctor (not that he required
much coaxing, to do him justice), and here's two half-crowns from him,
which, I believe, will go about as far as my five shillings. Now, Jack,
you look very happy; so, just out of gratitude, run as fast as you can,
and make poor old Nanny happy, for she moans over her generous fit, and
wonders all day long whether you will ever pay her again."

I had listened all this while to Mrs. St. Felix, but I was so moved by
her kindness and generosity that I could not speak. I had received money
for services performed, and I had obtained it from Nanny as a loan, to
be repaid with interest; but so much money, as a gift, had never entered
into my imagination. I could not restrain my feelings. I dropped my face
on the counter to conceal the tears which escaped.

"I can't say 'thank you,' as I wish, indeed I can't," said I, as I
looked up at her.

"Why, you foolish boy, you have said thank you," replied the widow; "and
now run away, for I must leave the shop a minute."