He had no human sympathy or gratitude, I say, but he had both sympathy
and gratitude from Abdiel. The dog never failed to understand what
Clare wished and expected him to understand. In Clare's absence he
took on himself the protection of the establishment, and was Tommy's
superior.

Though Tommy was of no use to earn bread, Clare did not therefore
allow him to be idle. He insisted on his keeping the place clean and
tidy, and in this respect Tommy was not quite a failure. He even made
him do some washing, though not much could be accomplished in that way
where there was so little to wash. Now that Abdiel was nurse, Tommy
had the run of the garden, and often went beyond it for an hour or two
without Clare's knowledge, but always took good care to be back before
his return.

A bale of goods happening to be unpacked in his presence one day,
Clare begged the head-shopman, who was also a partner, for a piece of
what it was wrapped in; and he, having noted how well he worked, and
being quite aware they could not get another such boy at such wages,
gave him a large piece of the soiled canvas. Now Mrs. Person had
taught Clare to work,--as I think all boys ought to be taught, so as
not to be helpless without mother or sister,--and with the help of a
needle and some thread the friendly girl gave him, he soon made of the
packing-sheet a pair of trousers for Tommy, of a primitive but not
unserviceable cut, and a shirt for himself, of fashion more primitive
still. He managed it this way: he cut a hole in the middle of a piece
of the stuff, through which to put his head, and another hole on each
side of that, through which to put his arms, and hemmed them all
round. Then, having first hemmed the garment also, he indued it, and
let the voluminous mass arrange itself as it might, under as much of