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had joined him to an endless number of by…ways。 For； whereas he would；
but a little while ago； have walked these streets blindly brooding； he now
had eyes and thoughts for a new external world。 How the many toiling
people lived； and loved； and died； how wonderful it was to consider the
various trainings of eye and hand； the nice distinctions of sight and touch；
that separated them into classes of workers； and even into classes of
workers at subdivisions of one complete whole which combined their
many intelligences and forces； though of itself but some cheap object of
use or ornament in common life； how good it was to know that such
assembling in a multitude on their part； and such contribution of their
several dexterities towards a civilising end； did not deteriorate them as it
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was the fashion of the supercilious Mayflies of humanity to pretend； but
engendered among them a self…respect； and yet a modest desire to be much
wiser than they were （the first evinced in their well…balanced bearing and
manner of speech when he stopped to ask a question； the second； in the
announcements of their popular studies and amusements on the public
walls）； these considerations； and a host of such； made his walk a
memorable one。 〃I too am but a little part of a great whole；〃 he began to
think； 〃and to be serviceable to myself and others； or to be happy； I must
cast my interest into； and draw it out of； the common stock。〃
Although he had arrived at his journey's end for the day by noon； he
had since insensibly walked about the town so far and so long that the
lamp…lighters were now at their work in the streets； and the shops were
sparkling up brilliantly。 Thus reminded to turn towards his quarters； he
was in the act of doing so； when a very little hand crept into his； and a
very little voice said：
〃Oh！ if you please； I am lost！〃
He looked down； and saw a very little fair…haired girl。
〃Yes；〃 she said； confirming her words with a serious nod。 〃I am
indeed。 I am lost！〃
Greatly perplexed； he stopped； looked about him for help； descried
none； and said； bending low。
〃Where do you live； my child？〃
〃I don't know where I live；〃 she returned。 〃I am lost。〃
〃What is your name？〃
〃Polly。〃
〃What is your other name？〃
The reply was prompt； but unintelligible。
Imitating the sound as he caught it； he hazarded the guess； 〃Trivits。〃
〃Oh no！〃 said the child； shaking her head。 〃Nothing like that。〃
〃Say it again； little one。〃
An unpromising business。 For this time it had quite a different
sound。
He made the venture； 〃 Paddens？〃
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〃Oh no！〃 said the child。 〃Nothing like that。〃
〃Once more。 Let us try it again； dear。〃
A most hopeless business。 This time it swelled into four syllables。 〃It
can't be Tappitarver？〃 said Barbox Brothers； rubbing his head with his hat
in discomfiture。
〃No！ It ain't；〃 the child quietly assented。
On her trying this unfortunate name once more； with extraordinary
efforts at distinctness； it swelled into eight syllables at least。
〃Ah！ I think；〃 said Barbox Brothers with a desperate air of
resignation； 〃that we had better give it up。〃
〃But I am lost；〃 said the child； nestling her little hand more closely in
his； 〃and you'll take care of me； won't you？〃
If ever a man were disconcerted by division between compassion on
the one hand； and the very imbecility of irresolution on the other； here the
man was。 〃Lost！〃 he repeated； looking down at the child。 〃I am sure I am。
What is to be done？〃
〃Where do you live？〃 asked the child； looking up at him wistfully。
〃Over there；〃 he answered； pointing vaguely in the direction of his
hotel。
〃Hadn't we better go there？〃 said the child。
〃Really；〃 he replied； 〃I don't know but what we had。〃
So they set off； hand…in…hand。 He； through comparison of himself
against his little companion； with a clumsy feeling on him as if he had just
developed into a foolish giant。 She； clearly elevated in her own tiny
opinion by having got him so neatly out of his embarrassment。
〃We are going to have dinner when we get there； I suppose？〃 said
Polly。
〃Well；〃 he rejoined； 〃IYes； I suppose we are。〃
〃Do you like your dinner？〃 asked the child。
〃Why； on the whole；〃 said Barbox Brothers； 〃yes； I think I do。〃
〃I do mine；〃 said Polly。 〃Have you any brothers and sisters？〃
〃No。 Have you？〃
〃Mine are dead。〃
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〃Oh！〃 said Barbox Brothers。 With that absurd sense of unwieldiness
of mind and body weighing him down； he would have not known how to
pursue the conversation beyond this curt rejoinder； but that the child was
always ready for him。
〃What；〃 she asked； turning her soft hand coaxingly in his； 〃are you
going to do to amuse me after dinner？〃
〃Upon my soul； Polly；〃 exclaimed Barbox Brothers； very much at a
loss； 〃I have not the slightest idea！〃
〃Then I tell you what；〃 said Polly。 〃Have you got any cards at your
house？〃
〃Plenty；〃 said Barbox Brothers in a boastful vein。
〃Very well。 Then I'll build houses； and you shall look at me。 You
mustn't blow； you know。〃
〃Oh no；〃 said Barbox Brothers。 〃No； no； no。 No blowing。
Blowing's not fair。〃
He flattered himself that he had said this pretty well for an idiotic
monster； but the child； instantly perceiving the awkwardness of his
attempt to adapt himself to her level； utterly destroyed his hopeful opinion
of himself by saying compassionately： 〃What a funny man you are！〃
Feeling； after this melancholy failure； as if he every minute grew
bigger and heavier in person； and weaker in mind； Barbox gave himself up
for a bad job。 No giant ever submitted more meekly to be led in triumph
by all…conquering Jack than he to be bound in slavery to Polly。
〃Do you know any stories？〃 she asked him。
He was reduced to the humiliating confession： 〃No。〃
〃What a dunce you must be； mustn't you？〃 said Polly。
He was reduced to the humiliating confession： 〃Yes。〃
〃Would you like me to teach you a story？ But you must remember it；
you know； and be able to tell it right to somebody else afterwards。〃
He professed that it would afford him the highest mental gratification
to be taught a story； and that he would humbly endeavour to retain it in his
mind。 Whereupon Polly； giving her hand a new little turn in his；
expressive of settling down for enjoyment； commenced a long romance； of
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which every relishing clause began with the words： 〃So this；〃 or； 〃And
so this。〃 As； 〃So this boy；〃 or； 〃So this fairy；〃 or； 〃And so this pie was
four yards round； and two yards and a quarter deep。〃 The interest of the
romance was derived from the intervention of this fairy to punish this boy
for having a greedy appetite。 To achieve which purpose； this fairy made
this pie； and this boy ate and ate and ate； and his cheeks swelled and
swelled and swelled。 There were many tributary circumstances； but the
forcible interest culminated in the total consumption of this pie； and the
bursting of this boy。 Truly he was a fine sight； Barbox Brothers； with
serious attentive face； and ear bent down； much jostled on the pavements
of the busy town； but afraid of losing a single incident of the epic； lest he
should be examined in it by…and…by； and found deficient。
Thus they arrived at the hotel。 And there he had to say at the bar； and
said awkwardly enough； 〃I have found a little girl！〃
The whol