hundred times she'd pull my legs when I was hanged; but _she_ won't be
at the hanging!"

"Why shouldn't you run for it first?" said Clare. "Then they wouldn't
want to hang you!"

"Then I shouldn't have nobody!" replied Tommy, whimpering.

"I should have thought Nobody was as good as granny!" said Clare.

"A big bilin' better!" answered Tommy bitterly. "I wasn't meanin'
granny--nor yet stumpin' Simpson."

"I don't know what you're driving at," said Clare. Tommy burst into
tears.

"Ain't you the only one I got, up or down?" he cried.

Tommy had a little bit of heart--not much, but enough to have a chance
of growing. If ever creature had less than that, he was not human. I
do not think he could even be an ape.

Some of the people about the parson used to think Clare had no heart,
and Mrs. Goodenough was sure of it. He had not a spark of gratitude,
she said. But the cause of this opinion was that Clare's affection
took the shape of deeds far more than of words. Never were judges of
their neighbours more mistaken. The chief difference between Clare's
history and that of most others was, that his began at the unusual
end. Clare began with loving everybody; and most people take a long
time to grow to that. Hence, those whom, from being brought nearest to