"What woman have you got with you?"

"Baby's the only woman we've got, sir."

"But who attends to her?"

"I do, sir. She only wants washing and rolling round in the blanket;
she's got no clothes to speak of. When I'm away, Tommy and Abdiel take
care of her."

"Abdiel! Who on earth is that? Where is he?" said the magistrate,
looking round for some fourth member of the incomprehensible family.

"He's not on earth, sir; he's in heaven--the good angel, you know,
sir, that left Satan and came back again to God."

"You must take him to the county-asylum, James!" said the magistrate,
turning to the tall policeman.

"Oh, he's all right, sir!" said James.

"Please, sir," interrupted Clare eagerly, "I didn't mean the dog was
in heaven yet. I meant the angel I named him after!"

"They _had_ a little dog with them, sir!"

"Yes--Abdiel. He wanted to be a prisoner too, but they wouldn't let
him in. He's a good dog--better than Tommy."

"So! like all the rest of you, you can keep a dog!"