156 Studies in Rat Catching, [ch. ix. 



felt that the husband in the little fishing boat 

 on the storm-tossed deep might have his eyes 

 fixed on the lantern burning in the window, 

 but it would be the light of the wife's smile 

 that kept his hand steady on the helm and 

 guided the boat, and made him long to 

 round the point and come to anchor. 



On the other side of the hearth was 

 another arm-chair, also made out of a barrel, 

 but much smaller ; and in this, packed tightly 

 and snugly round with cushions, half-sat, 

 half-reclined a boy about ten years of age ; 

 but, alas ! a pair of crutches leaning in the 

 corner beside him at once told a sad tale. I 

 know the points and beauties of all sorts of 

 dogs, and always admire them, but I am not 

 much of a hand at the good points and 

 beauties of men and women, and as for 

 boys, it is rare I see anything but mischief 

 written in their faces ; but somehow I could 

 not take my eyes off the boy in the chair. I 



