"
Thus the child, prattled on, revealing to his new companion the secrets
of the prison-house. Had he looked up at that moment into his uncle's
face, he would have seen the tear upon his cheeks. He pressed the poor
child silently against him as they rode on.
"We will take Shock with us, Anthony, and he shall have plenty to eat as
well as you."
"Oh, dear uncle, how we shall love you, both Shock and I!"
"But tell me, Anthony, has your father really left the Hall?"
"Long, long ago; as far back as I can remember. It is the first thing I
can remember, since I awoke in this world and found myself alive, the
removing to old Pike's cottage. The Squire said that he was too poor to
live at the Hall, and there was plenty of room in the gardener's cottage
for us three, and there we have lived ever since. See, uncle, we are now
coming to it."
Algernon looked up and saw that they had entered a long avenue of lofty
trees, which he recognised as a back way to the extensive gardens, at
the extremity of which, and near the garden gate, stood a small cottage,
once neat and comfortable, but now fast falling to decay. He had often
played there with his brother and Grenard Pike in their childhood. The
plastered walls of the tenement in many places had given way, and the
broken windows were filled with pieces of board, which, if they kept out
the wind and rain, dismally diminished the small portion of light which
found its way through the dusty panes.
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