第472页 / 共896页

"The occupation resumed under the influence of this passing

affliction so happily recovered from," said Mr. Lorry, clearing

his throat, "we will call--Blacksmith's work, Blacksmith's work.

We will say, to put a case and for the sake of illustration, that

he had been used, in his bad time, to work at a little forge. We

will say that he was unexpectedly found at his forge again. Is it

not a pity that he should keep it by him?"

The Doctor shaded his forehead with his hand, and beat his foot

nervously on the ground.

"He has always kept it by him," said Mr. Lorry, with an anxious

look at his friend. "Now, would it not be better that he should

let it go?"

Still, the Doctor, with shaded forehead, beat his foot nervously

on the ground.

"You do not find it easy to advise me?" said Mr. Lorry. "I quite

understand it to be a nice question. And yet I think--" And there

he shook his head, and stopped.