point, and not only was victorious, but was empowered to tell Mike that
his son would be taken into the foundry and paid five shillings and
sixpence a week--"a most special case," as Mr. Furze told Mike, in order
to stimulate his gratitude.

Mike was now able to find his way about by himself, but before the date
of the first chapter in this history he had left the bridge, and Tom
supported him.

The morning after the fire beheld the Furze family at breakfast with the
hospitable Hopkins. They had saved scarcely any clothes, but Tom and his
master were equipped from a ready-made shop. The women had to remain
indoors in borrowed garments till they could be made presentable by the
dressmaker. Mr. Furze was so unfitted to deal with events which did not
follow in anticipated, regular order, that he was bewildered. He and Tom
went out to look at the ruins, and everything which had to be done seemed
to crowd in upon him at once, one thing tumbling incessantly over the
other, and nothing staying long enough before him to be settled. Although
his business had been fairly large, he had nothing of the faculty of the
captain or the manager, who can let details alone and occupy himself with
principles. He had a stock of copper bolt-stave in the front shop, and
he poked about and pestered the men to know if any of it could be found
melted. Then it occurred to him the next instant, and before the inquiry
about the bolt-stave could be answered, that he had lost his
account-books, and he began to try to recollect what one of his principal
customers owed him. Before his memory was fairly exercised on the
subject it struck him that the men in the foundry--which was
untouched--would not know what to do, and he hurried in, but came out
again without leaving any directions. At last he became so confused that
he would have broken down if Tom had not come to the rescue, and gently