The boy murmured a reply of intelligence; and hurried
down stairs after his companions.

'He has not peached so far,' said the Jew as he pursued
his occupation. 'If he means to blab us among his new
friends, we may stop his mouth yet.'

OLIVER soon recovering from the fainting-fit into which
Mr. Brownlow's abrupt exclamation had thrown him, the
subject of the picture was carefully avoided, both by the
old gentleman and Mrs. Bedwin, in the conversation that
ensued: which indeed bore no reference to Oliver's history
or prospects, but was confined to such topics as might
amuse without exciting him. He was still too weak to get
up to breakfast; but, when he came down into the house-
keeper's room next day, his first act was to cast an eager
glance at the wall, in the hope of again looking on the face
of the beautiful lady. His expectations were disappointed,
however, for the picture had been removed.

'Ah!' said the housekeeper, watching the direction of
Oliver's eyes. 'It is gone, you see!'

'I see it is, ma'am,' replied Oliver. 'Why have they
taken it away?'

'It has been taken down, child, because Mr. Brownlow
said, that as it seemed to worry you, perhaps it might pre-
vent your getting well, you know,' rejoined the old lady.

'Oh, no, indeed. It didn't worry me, ma'am,' said Oliver.
'I liked to see it. I quite loved it.'

'Well, well!' said the old lady, good-humouredly; 'you

-115-