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but I think we might find some more twenties."

"Do you think of making him a doctor?" asked Miss Avery in surprise.

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“Well, it would be very hasty to declare at once that I did; but I think there's something in that boy; and didn't you perceive that his eye sparkled when he said he should like to cure other poor cripples as I cured him'? I'll sleep over it, said the Doctor, "and perhaps I'll tell you all about it in the morning."

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Oh, so will I," said Miss Avery, and then they dismissed the subject for the evening.

CHAPTER XIV.

MARY GRAHAM soon found that there was very little use in endeavouring to gain admittance to her former home, so she took up her abode with Mr. Dobbin, and Poll, and crippled Sam. She was not, however, the girl to live upon others so long as she had the power to help herself; so she proposed to

the worthy coalheaver to do something for her own living.

Before she spoke to him, she had held a long conversation with Poll and Sam; and they both agreed with her as to what was best to be done. To Mr. Dobbin, then, Mary Graham went, and after thanking him for his kindness, she told him that she could not think of living upon him. "You have Poll and Sam to support, and that is quite enough."

"But what will thee do, girl?" said the coalheaver, looking at her in astonishment; "thee can't earn bread, and this is a wicked place for girls to live in who have no home nor any friend to look after them.'

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"Oh, if you'll let me stay here, I won't go away," said Mary Graham; "I'd far rather stay with Poll and Sam."

"What canst do?" asked Mr. Dobbin in astonishment" canst sew, eh? My Missus used to sew at one time, but she was paid so bad, she left it off."

"I can't sew very well," said Mary Graham, "but I have what's almost as good as a trade, and if you'll let me try, perhaps I can support myself.'

At the mention of a trade, Tim Dobbin, who was in extra good humour, put his hands to his sides, and laughed as though the said sides would split. "Well, that is a joke,'

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said he, "the funniest thing I've heard for a long time. trade?"

Come, lass, what is the

Mary Graham was a little disconcerted at being laughed at, and with rather a serious air she told Tim Dobbin, that it was making sugar-sticks.

This only seemed to increase his merriment, for he laughed louder than before.

"Indeed I'm in earnest," said the little girl with tears in her eyes, "only get me some sugar, and you'll see what I can do.'

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Well, well, we'll think about it," said Tim Dobbin; and so he went off to his daily work.

When Mary Graham returned to the hayloft, where she had left Poll and Sam, the three took counsel together as to what further was to be done.

They were by no means sure that the plan of making sugar-sticks had been favourably received; they had never calculated on the coalheaver's being incredulous as to Mary's powers; something they felt must be done.

After having sat some time in silence, Sam told them not to stir till he came back. What he was going to do the children could not tell; but it was evident that it was something important. Away shuffled the little cripple, and in about a quarter of an hour

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