comment. In food, the transition from too
little to enough, very soon works a change in
youthful bodies.

But they are pale still. Let us leave the
fire, for, cloaked and hooded, there they all
are, hurrying through the rain to stand under
that roof, which four posts lift up, in the
centre of the pier, to make exposure of its
craziness ! Either the roof is wretched, or
the day is wretched, or they are both wretched
together ; for thereof is wet through, and can
do no more than give a flavour to the rain
which soaks through, on the sixty girls,
packed, while they wait until the steamer
shall arrive, under that clumsy bit of shelter.
In the slate of the sky no crack is to be seen ;
it is high water in the puddles, and low water
in the Thames ; we must go down stairs to
the floating barge before we can embark.
There she is—a Gravesend boat. "Now,
girls ! " Who speaks to them ? A clergyman,
by his white neckcloth ; a Christian,
by his kindly face, which looks like a small
piece of fine weather under that umbrella,
which defends it from the rain.

A man of years, not without winter on his
head, and with a pleasant summer in his
heart. It is the same clergyman, some
recognition of whose labours in an Eastern parish
has become part of our Household Words.*
We had not been prepared to meet him here;
but here he is, brimful of work, just now
field marshal, and about to board the steamer
with his troop. We have been looking at
his soldiers. The emotion natural to such a
crisis in their lives, has spread an uniform
expression of much gentleness over the faces
of these women. Though, to be sure, while
huddled thus beneath the bit of roof, they
have been variously occupied; some, talking
to their friends who come to bid good-bye;
one, smiling at the ridiculous behaviour of a
sandwich, which insists on yielding all its
meat at the first bite, emigrating from the
mustardy embrace of the remaining bread;
and many fingers, as all fingers that are
feminine will do however rough with labour,
are adjusting faded shawls, perking up neat
woollen cloaks, part of the outfit given in the
Home to those who may be destitute; protecting
necks against the weather, or twiddling
with mutual care, one over the outline of
another's bonnet. Yet, however slight, or to
outward seeming frivolous, may be the
occupation of these girls, the deep importance of
this hour to all of them, has put an under-tone
of seriousness and a sign of concealed feeling
into every face; we look on, and forget
the rain. The women, too, are thinking,
and they forget the rain; and we are all
aroused by the kind wrath of the good
field marshal, who is expostulating with
members of his troop as they pass down
towards the steamer, for getting their feet
wet by thoughtlessly—or rather out of
excess of thoughtfulness—neglecting to beware
of puddles.

* " What a London Curate can do if he Tries."
"Household Words," vol. ii., page 172.

We are on board; boxes are coming after
us, and long mysterious packages belonging
to some emigrants; of which, in a hundred
years, we never could, by guessing, find out
the contents. " Now, then, don't stand about.
Out of the rain, girls; get down out of the
rain! " The kindly marshal has no peace till
he has seen the last bonnet cleared away
from deck. Here we perceive that he is
aided by a woman who is not young; and who,
going out as emigrant herself, is appointed to
be matron on the voyage. Now, all is ready,
and through pertinacious rain the " Meteor"
proceeds to Gravesend.

On the way we may make acquaintance
with our friends. There are the ordinary
passengers of the Gravesend boats, and there
are certain earnest gentlemen who come as
working members of the charity. You will
find Mr. Sidney Herbert at a table in the
cabin, busily engaged with fellow-labourers
in folding copies of a letter that is to be
given to each girl on her departure.
Perhaps it will occur to you, that English
gentlemen, who leave the luxuries of home to
travel down the cheerless river on this miserable
day—who work so eagerly and steadily, with
mind and body—are almost as well employed
as they might be if they behaved like proper
squires, and bent their energies on the
provision of a hare for dinner. Perhaps you
think there are more manly sports than one,
or half-a-dozen, and that it is not the least
manly occupation in which an English gentleman
can be engaged, to be the helper of weak
girls, who are battling, in an overcrowded
city, against the temptations brought by helpless
poverty; to be their helper, not with a
purse only, but in person; and, while removing
them from danger, to speak human words into
their ears. You may think it not the least
advantage of this kind of manly sport, that it
is one which, not the man only, but his wife
with him, can enjoy; and you will call
to mind the names of English ladies, through
whose sympathy—in this one charity alone,
drop, as it is, in the great sum of good
—many a weary heart has left off aching.
Now, we have had a little talk, moreover,
with the matron of the Home in Hatton
Garden, and we are not surprised to find some
of the girls flitting tenderly about her. She
does not talk philanthropy; but we feel that
she is active as a bird, and full of tact and
woman's feeling. She was at work until
four this morning, full of preparation, and,
after two hours' sleep, she got up, and, among
other little odd jobs, cut sandwiches for
sixty.

We hear, too, over other talk, from one of
the committee, how, yesterday, when the
matron had gone out, he called at the Home,
found the women locked up, and knocked
some time before they let him in upon a
scene of tears. They were enjoying a good