public-house deity in the neighbourhood of Somerset House. As a
matter of course, both Norman and Tudor spoke much of their new
companion to the ladies at Surbiton Cottage, and as by degrees
they reported somewhat favourably of his improved morals, Mrs.
Woodward, with a woman's true kindness, begged that he might be
brought down to Hampton.

'I am afraid you will find him very rough,' said his cousin
Alaric.

'At any rate you will not find him a fool,' said Norman, who was
always the more charitable of the two.

'Thank God for that!' said Mrs. Woodward,' and if he will come
next Saturday, let him by all means do so. Pray give my
compliments to him, and tell him how glad I shall be to see him.'

And thus was this wild wolf to be led into the sheep-cote; this
infernal navvy to be introduced among the angels of Surbiton
Cottage. Mrs. Woodward thought that she had a taste for
reclaiming reprobates, and was determined to try her hand on
Charley Tudor.

Charley went, and his debut was perfectly successful. We have
hitherto only looked on the worst side of his character; but bad
as his character was, it had a better side. He was good-natured
in the extreme, kind-hearted and affectionate; and, though too
apt to be noisy and even boisterous when much encouraged, was not
without a certain innate genuine modesty, which the knowledge of
his own iniquities had rather increased than blunted; and, as