She begged me so hard: I was at the door.

Such a beautiful girl! I could not take my eyes off her." "The child ?" said Bartley, with natural impatience.
"I have hidden her in the yard." "Bring her this moment, while the clerks are out." Hope hurried out, and soon returned with his child, wrapped up in a nice warm shawl he had bought her with Bartley's money.
Bartley took the child from him, looked at her face, and said, "Little darling, I shall love her as my own;" then he begged Hope to sit down in the lobby till he should call him and introduce him to his clerks.

"One of them is a thief, I'm afraid." He took the child inside, and gave her to his confederate, the nurse.
"Dear me," thought Hope, "only two clerks, and one of them dishonest.

I hope it is not that good-natured boy.

Oh no! impossible." And now Bartley returned, and at the same time Monckton came briskly in through the little office.
At sight of him Bartley said, "Oh, Monckton, I gave that fellow Bolton a week's notice.