work，andwithwhatacruelpertinacitythatpieceofVirtuespunherthreadofevidencedouble，byintertwistingitwiththesternestthreadofconstruction。Smittenhardbytheterriblelowwailfromtheutterlyfriendlessorphangirl，whichneverceasedduringthewholeinquiry，Itookhearttoaskthiswitnessaquestionortwo，whichhopefullyadmittedofananswerthatmightgiveafavourableturntothecase。Shemadetheturnaslittlefavourableasitcouldbe，butitdidsomegood，andtheCoroner，whowasnoblypatientandhumanehewasthelateMr。Wakley，castalookofstrongencouragementinmydirection。Then，wehadthedoctorwhohadmadetheexamination，andtheusualtestsastowhetherthechildwasbornalive；buthewasatimid，muddle-headeddoctor，andgotconfusedandcontradictory，andwouldn’tsaythis，andcouldn’tanswerforthat，andtheimmaculatebrokerwastoomuchforhim，andoursideslidbackagain。However，Itriedagain，andtheCoronerbackedmeagain，forwhichIeverafterwardsfeltgratefultohimasIdonowtohismemory；andwegotanotherfavourableturn，outofsomeotherwitness，somememberofthefamilywithastrongprepossessionagainstthesinner；andIthinkwehadthedoctorbackagain；andIknowthattheCoronersummedupforourside，andthatIandmyBritishbrothersturnedroundtodiscussourverdict，andgetourselvesintogreatdifficultieswithourlargechairsandthebroker。AtthatstageofthecaseItriedhardagain，beingconvincedthatIhadcauseforit；andatlastwefoundfortheminoroffenceofonlyconcealingthebirth；andthepoordesolatecreature，whohadbeentakenoutduringourdeliberation，beingbroughtinagaintobetoldoftheverdict，thendroppeduponherkneesbeforeus，withprotestationsthatwewereright-protestationsamongthemostaffectingthatIhaveeverheardinmylife-andwascarriedawayinsensible。
Inprivateconversationafterthiswasallover，theCoronershowedmehisreasonsasatrainedsurgeon，forperceivingittobeimpossiblethatthechildcould，underthemostfavourablecircumstances，havedrawnmanybreaths，intheverydoubtfulcaseofitshavingeverbreathedatall；this，owingtothediscoveryofsomeforeignmatterinthewindpipe，quiteirreconcilablewithmanymomentsoflife。
Whentheagonisedgirlhadmadethosefinalprotestations，Ihadseenherface，anditwasinunisonwithherdistractedheartbrokenvoice，anditwasverymoving。Itcertainlydidnotimpressmebyanybeautythatithad，andifIeverseeitagaininanotherworldIshallonlyknowitbythehelpofsomenewsenseorintelligence。
Butitcametomeinmysleepthatnight，andIselfishlydismisseditinthemostefficientwayIcouldthinkof。Icausedsomeextracaretobetakenofherintheprison，andcounseltoberetainedforherdefencewhenshewastriedattheOldBailey；andhersentencewaslenient，andherhistoryandconductprovedthatitwasright。IndoingthelittleIdidforher，Iremembertohavehadthekindhelpofsomegentle-heartedfunctionarytowhomI
addressedmyself-butwhatfunctionaryIhavelongforgotten-whoIsupposewasofficiallypresentattheInquest。
Iregardthisasaverynotableuncommercialexperience，becausethisgoodcameofaBeadle。Andtothebestofmyknowledge，information，andbelief，itistheonlygoodthateverdidcomeofaBeadlesincethefirstBeadleputonhiscocked-hat。
ItcameintomymindthatIwouldrecallinthesenotesafewofthemanyhostelriesIhaverestedatinthecourseofmyjourneys；
and，indeed，Ihadtakenupmypenforthepurpose，whenIwasbaffledbyanaccidentalcircumstance。Itwasthehavingtoleaveoff，towishtheownerofacertainbrightfacethatlookedinatmydoor，’manyhappyreturnsoftheday。’Thereuponanewthoughtcameintomymind，drivingitspredecessorout，andIbegantorecall-insteadofInns-thebirthdaysthatIhaveputupat，onmywaytothispresentsheetofpaper。
Icanverywellrememberbeingtakenouttovisitsomepeach-facedcreatureinabluesash，andshoestocorrespond，whoselifeI
supposedtoconsistentirelyofbirthdays。Uponseed-cake，sweetwine，andshiningpresents，thatglorifiedyoungpersonseemedtometobeexclusivelyreared。AtsoearlyastageofmytravelsdidIassistattheanniversaryofhernativityandbecomeenamouredofher，thatIhadnotyetacquiredthereconditeknowledgethatabirthdayisthecommonpropertyofallwhoareborn，butsupposedittobeaspecialgiftbestowedbythefavouringHeavensonthatonedistinguishedinfant。Therewasnoothercompany，andwesatinashadybower-underatable，asmybetterorworseknowledgeleadsmetobelieve-andwereregaledwithsaccharinesubstancesandliquids，untilitwastimetopart。Abitterpowderwasadministeredtomenextmorning，andIwaswretched。Onthewhole，aprettyaccurateforeshadowingofmymorematureexperiencesinsuchwise！
Thencamethetimewhen，inseparablefromone’sownbirthday，wasacertainsenseofmerit，aconsciousnessofwell-earneddistinction。
WhenIregardedmybirthdayasagracefulachievementofmyown，amonumentofmyperseverance，independence，andgoodsense，redoundinggreatlytomyhonour。ThiswasatabouttheperiodwhenOlympiaSquiresbecameinvolvedintheanniversary。Olympiawasmostbeautifulofcourse，andIlovedhertothatdegree，thatI
usedtobeobligedtogetoutofmylittlebedinthenight，expresslytoexclaimtoSolitude，’O，OlympiaSquires！’VisionsofOlympia，clothedentirelyinsage-green，fromwhichIinferadefectivelyeducatedtasteonthepartofherrespectedparents，whowerenecessarilyunacquaintedwiththeSouthKensingtonMuseum，stillarisebeforeme。Truthissacred，andthevisionsarecrownedbyashiningwhitebeaverbonnet，impossiblysuggestiveofalittlefemininepostboy。MymemorypresentsabirthdaywhenOlympiaandIweretakenbyanunfeelingrelative-somecrueluncle，orthelike-toaslowtorturecalledanOrrery。TheterribleinstrumentwassetupatthelocalTheatre，andIhadexpressedaprofanewishinthemorningthatitwasaPlay:forwhichaseriousaunthadprobedmyconsciencedeep，andmypocketdeeper，byreclaimingabestowedhalf-crown。ItwasavenerableandashabbyOrrery，atleastonethousandstarsandtwenty-fivecometsbehindtheage。Nevertheless，itwasawful。Whenthelow-
spiritedgentlemanwithawandsaid，’Ladiesandgentlemen’
meaningparticularlyOlympiaandme，’thelightsareabouttobeputout，butthereisnottheslightestcauseforalarm，’itwasveryalarming。Thentheplanetsandstarsbegan。Sometimestheywouldn’tcomeon，sometimestheywouldn’tgooff，sometimestheyhadholesinthem，andmostlytheydidn’tseemtobegoodlikenesses。Allthistimethegentlemanwiththewandwasgoingoninthedarktappingawayattheheavenlybodiesbetweenwhiles，likeawearisomewoodpecker，aboutasphererevolvingonitsownaxiseighthundredandninety-seventhousandmillionsoftimes-ormiles-intwohundredandsixty-threethousandfivehundredandtwenty-fourmillionsofsomethingelses，untilIthoughtifthiswasabirthdayitwerebetternevertohavebeenborn。Olympia，also，becamemuchdepressed，andwebothslumberedandwokecross，andstillthegentlemanwasgoingoninthedark-whetherupinthestars，ordownonthestage，itwouldhavebeenhardtomakeout，ifithadbeenworthtrying-cypheringawayaboutplanesoforbits，tosuchaninfamousextentthatOlympia，stungtomadness，actuallykickedme。Aprettybirthdayspectacle，whenthelightswereturnedupagain，andalltheschoolsinthetownincludingtheNational，whohadcomeinfornothing，andservethemright，fortheywerealwaysthrowingstoneswerediscoveredwithexhaustedcountenances，screwingtheirknucklesintotheireyes，orclutchingtheirheadsofhair。AprettybirthdayspeechwhenDr。
SleekoftheCity-Freebobbeduphispowderedheadinthestage-
box，andsaidthatbeforethisassemblydispersedhereallymustbegtoexpresshisentireapprovalofalectureasimproving，asinforming，asdevoidofanythingthatcouldcallablushintothecheekofyouth，asanyithadeverbeenhislottoheardelivered。
Aprettybirthdayaltogether，whenAstronomycouldn’tleavepoorSmallOlympiaSquiresandmealone，butmustputanendtoourloves！For，wenevergotoverit；thethreadbareOrreryoutworeourmutualtenderness；themanwiththewandwastoomuchfortheboywiththebow。
WhenshallIdisconnectthecombinedsmellsoforanges，brownpaper，andstraw，fromthoseotherbirthdaysatschool，whenthecominghampercastsitsshadowbefore，andwhenaweekofsocialharmony-shallIaddofadmiringandaffectionatepopularity-leduptothatInstitution？Whatnoblesentimentswereexpressedtomeinthedaysbeforethehamper，whatvowsoffriendshipweresworntome，whatexceedinglyoldknivesweregivenme，whatgenerousavowalsofhavingbeeninthewrongemanatedfromelseobstinatespiritsonceenrolledamongmyenemies！Thebirthdayofthepottedgameandguavajelly，isstillmadespecialtomebythenobleconductofBullyGlobson。LettersfromhomehadmysteriouslyinquiredwhetherIshouldbemuchsurprisedanddisappointedifamongthetreasuresinthecominghamperIdiscoveredpottedgame，andguavajellyfromtheWesternIndies。Ihadmentionedthosehintsinconfidencetoafewfriends，andhadpromisedtogiveaway，asInowseereasontobelieve，ahandsomecoveyofpartridgespotted，andaboutahundredweightofguavajelly。ItwasnowthatGlobson，Bullynomore，soughtmeoutintheplayground。Hewasabigfatboy，withabigfatheadandabigfatfist，andatthebeginningofthatHalfhadraisedsuchabumponmyforeheadthatIcouldn’tgetmyhatofstateon，togotochurch。Hesaidthatafteranintervalofcoolreflectionfourmonthshenowfeltthisblowtohavebeenanerrorofjudgment，andthathewishedtoapologiseforthesame。Notonlythat，butholdingdownhisbigheadbetweenhistwobighandsinorderthatI
mightreachitconveniently，herequestedme，asanactofjusticewhichwouldappeasehisawakenedconscience，toraisearetributivebumpuponit，inthepresenceofwitnesses。ThishandsomeproposalImodestlydeclined，andhethenembracedme，andwewalkedawayconversing。WeconversedrespectingtheWestIndiaIslands，and，inthepursuitofknowledgeheaskedmewithmuchinterestwhetherinthecourseofmyreadingIhadmetwithanyreliabledescriptionofthemodeofmanufacturingguavajelly；orwhetherIhadeverhappenedtotastethatconserve，whichhehadbeengiventounderstandwasofrareexcellence。
Seventeen，eighteen，nineteen，twenty；andthenwiththewaningmonthscameaneveraugmentingsenseofthedignityoftwenty-one。
HeavenknowsIhadnothingto’comeinto，’savethebarebirthday，andyetIesteemeditasagreatpossession。Inowandthenpavedthewaytomystateofdignity，bybeginningapropositionwiththecasualwords，’saythatamanoftwenty-one，’orbytheincidentalassumptionofafactthatcouldnotsanelybedisputed，as，’forwhenafellowcomestobeamanoftwenty-one。’Igaveapartyontheoccasion。Shewasthere。ItisunnecessarytonameHer，moreparticularly；ShewasolderthanI，andhadpervadedeverychinkandcreviceofmymindforthreeorfouryears。IhadheldvolumesofImaginaryConversationswithhermotheronthesubjectofourunion，andIhadwrittenlettersmoreinnumberthanHoraceWalpole’s，tothatdiscreetwoman，solicitingherdaughter’shandinmarriage。Ihadneverhadtheremotestintentionofsendinganyofthoseletters；buttowritethem，andafterafewdaystearthemup，hadbeenasublimeoccupation。Sometimes，Ihadbegun’HonouredMadam。IthinkthataladygiftedwiththosepowersofobservationwhichIknowyoutopossess，andendowedwiththosewomanlysympathieswiththeyoungandardentwhichitweremorethanheresytodoubt，canscarcelyhavefailedtodiscoverthatI