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"I don't see that we can. Time is the great settler, you know."

"Yes," the Squire knew that, and after musing a little, he came to feel of the same opinion with Savage, and to enjoy a good deal of relief.

So when Mr. Haddock happened in, all the gentlemen shook hands, and Squire Ben led off by saying --

"A bad, bad, horrible state of things, Mr. Haddock!"

"Quite so," replied he.

"Yes," said Savage. "As I told Haddock, not twenty minutes ago, up at Jones' store, and a dozen others in there, it's 'about as bad as murder.' You know I said that, Haddock?"

Mr. Haddock recollected the remark.

"Well, isn't it about half so at any rate. Haddock?"

Mr. Haddock (very coolly) didn't know what it was like. He had "never before seen such a case."

"And now, Mr. Haddock," said the Squire, "what is best to do about it?"

Mr. Haddock (very calmly) wasn't prepared to do any thing further about it at present. "We have them down at Captain Bunce's," said he, "and they are as comfortable as possible in their case just at present. The town must pay the bills, I suppose."

"Well -- yes -- I reckon so, if they are light."

"Must mind that, though," said Savage.

"The folks over at Jones' talk," said Mr. Haddock, "as though they would like to have the town authorities prosecuted, and be willing to pay the bills, let them be ever so large."

"Mere talk!" said Esquire Ben. "I've seen such things before. Men don't like to pay such bills so well."

* * * * * * *

Miss Emeline Flush ran to Mrs. Shire's, and the two hastened in to Mrs. Smith's, and the three departed with celerity to Mrs. Newcombe's, and these, the four, were met by four more, who all, with one breath, began to say the same thing, and then branched all off to saying several things of the same import. "Did you ever hear of such an HORRIBLE thing!" "How could it have happened?" Was there any body to blame? Is she dead or alive? Does she know any thing? Is she drunk? Was she sober? Is old Tucker burnt also? When did they find her? Who found her? How did they find her? Dreadful! Horrible! Awful! Mysterious! Shows the uncertainty of life! Miserable couple! Filthy creatures! Drunken brutes! Worse than brutes! Shame and disgrace to us! Dreadful catastrophe! Unforeseen event! Calls for prayer! Ought to be improved! Trust it will be a warning to our young people! Awful dispensation! Unexpected! Dreadful! Touching! Painful!

And yet the speakers did not appear fully to realize what it was that wore so "dreadful" an aspect. True, Polly Tucker had been exposed to death in the way we have mentioned, and her case was a deplorable one; but the thing most dreadful and to be deplored, was the cruel and harsh regulations of the town in respect to its pauper and dependent population, in consequence of which, the Tuckers, wandering, vicious persons, were allowed their drunken orgies, and to celebrate them unmolested with all other persons, far and near, whom they might be able to persuade into them.

Old Mr. Warren, George, and Eliza said "it was a dreadful misfortune;" but they were not surprised at it. -- something of the kind they had long anticipated. In like manner the Phillips, Wilsons, and Haddocks had expected some awful calamity would befall them sooner or later. But the class of persons who scarcely ever thought of them, or saw them, were absolutely over- whelmed and astonished when the news came flying over the town.

The sympathy of the town for the sufferers, and its respect for the Providence, ran out about the usual length of such excitements, then wholly passed off; and the paupers of Crampton, Polly and John Tucker included, remained at Captain Isaac Bunce's.

CHAPTER XXVII.
CAPTAIN Bunce settles a score with Jims, and Jims with Bastardy and Pauperism. Remarkable Geniality discoverable in unpropitious circumstances, which is proof that Society is homogenous and vital. Flaws are exceptions to the rule. The Rule remains.

Old Mr. Warren in a few days regained his usual strength and calmness, although there remained on him a perceptible grief at the loss of his precious trust. He now informed George and Eliza in confidence the whole of that secret which had so seriously weighed of late upon his mind. He also told them of the fear he had entertained that the Tuckers would put in practice their threatenings, and actually burn them up if he divulged the secret. What had become of the box he did not know; but he said it contained the only documentary evidence in the world respecting the true parentage of Jims; and he should of course suspect the Tuckers, if he could, for a single moment, imagine how they had obtained access to his drawers.

Quickened to activity by the remark, Eliza's memory recalled the morning when Polly came and so kindly offered her services to help off the morning work; and that she was anxious to make the fire in Mr. Warren's room, and put it in order while he slept. And now she remembered the haste with which she left after she came from the room, although the work was not all done.