I came to Norton Bury six years ago--a beggar-boy.

No, not quite that--for I never begged! I either worked or starved." The earnestness, the passion of his tone, made Miss March lift her eyes, but they fell again.
"Yes, Phineas found me in an alley--starving.

We stood in the rain, opposite the mayor's house.

A little girl--you know her, Miss March--came to the door, and threw out to me a bit of bread." Now indeed she started.

"You--was that you ?" "It was I." John paused, and his whole manner changed into softness, as he resumed.
"I never forgot that little girl.