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and so on； I should strengthen my strength； and weaken your weakness；
day by day； until at last I found myself on the high road to fortune； and
you left behind on some bare common； a hopeless number of miles out of
the way。〃
〃Exactly so；〃 said I。
〃To prevent this； Michael；〃 said John Spatter； 〃or the remotest chance
of this； there must be perfect openness between us。 Nothing must be
concealed； and we must have but one interest。〃
〃My dear John Spatter；〃 I assured him； 〃that is precisely what I mean。〃
〃And when you are too easy；〃 pursued John； his face glowing with
friendship； 〃you must allow me to prevent that imperfection in your nature
from being taken advantage of； by any one； you must not expect me to
humour it〃
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〃My dear John Spatter；〃 I interrupted； 〃I DON'T expect you to humour
it。 I want to correct it。〃
〃And I； too；〃 said John。
〃Exactly so！〃 cried I。 〃We both have the same end in view； and；
honourably seeking it； and fully trusting one another； and having but one
interest； ours will be a prosperous and happy partnership。〃
〃I am sure of it！〃 returned John Spatter。 And we shook hands most
affectionately。
I took John home to my Castle； and we had a very happy day。 Our
partnership throve well。 My friend and partner supplied what I wanted；
as I had foreseen that he would； and by improving both the business and
myself； amply acknowledged any little rise in life to which I had helped
him。
I am not （said the poor relation； looking at the fire as he slowly
rubbed his hands） very rich； for I never cared to be that； but I have enough；
and am above all moderate wants and anxieties。 My Castle is not a
splendid place； but it is very comfortable； and it has a warm and cheerful
air； and is quite a picture of Home。
Our eldest girl； who is very like her mother； married John Spatter's
eldest son。 Our two families are closely united in other ties of attachment。
It is very pleasant of an evening； when we are all assembled together
which frequently happensand when John and I talk over old times； and
the one interest there has always been between us。
I really do not know； in my Castle； what loneliness is。 Some of our
children or grandchildren are always about it； and the young voices of my
descendants are delightfulO； how delightful！to me to hear。 My dearest
and most devoted wife； ever faithful； ever loving； ever helpful and
sustaining and consoling； is the priceless blessing of my house； from
whom all its other blessings spring。 We are rather a musical family； and
when Christiana sees me； at any time； a little weary or depressed； she
steals to the piano and sings a gentle air she used to sing when we were
first betrothed。 So weak a man am I； that I cannot bear to hear it from
any other source。 They played it once； at the Theatre； when I was there
with Little Frank； and the child said wondering； 〃Cousin Michael； whose
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hot tears are these that have fallen on my hand！〃
Such is my Castle； and such are the real particulars of my life therein
preserved。 I often take Little Frank home there。 He is very welcome to
my grandchildren； and they play together。 At this time of the yearthe
Christmas and New Year timeI am seldom out of my Castle。 For； the
associations of the season seem to hold me there； and the precepts of the
season seem to teach me that it is well to be there。
〃And the Castle is〃 observed a grave； kind voice among the
company。
〃Yes。 My Castle；〃 said the poor relation； shaking his head as he still
looked at the fire； 〃is in the Air。 John our esteemed host suggests its
situation accurately。 My Castle is in the Air！ I have done。 Will you be
so good as to pass the story？〃
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THE CHILD'S STORY
Once upon a time； a good many years ago； there was a traveller； and he
set out upon a journey。 It was a magic journey； and was to seem very
long when he began it； and very short when he got half way through。
He travelled along a rather dark path for some little time； without
meeting anything； until at last he came to a beautiful child。 So he said to
the child； 〃What do you do here？〃 And the child said； 〃I am always at
play。 Come and play with me！〃
So； he played with that child； the whole day long； and they were very
merry。 The sky was so blue； the sun was so bright； the water was so
sparkling； the leaves were so green； the flowers were so lovely； and they
heard such singing…birds and saw so many butteries； that everything was
beautiful。 This was in fine weather。 When it rained； they loved to
watch the falling drops； and to smell the fresh scents。 When it blew； it
was delightful to listen to the wind； and fancy what it said； as it came
rushing from its home where was that； they wondered！whistling and
howling； driving the clouds before it； bending the trees； rumbling in the
chimneys； shaking the house； and making the sea roar in fury。 But； when
it snowed； that was best of all； for； they liked nothing so well as to look up
at the white flakes falling fast and thick； like down from the breasts of
millions of white birds； and to see how smooth and deep the drift was； and
to listen to the hush upon the paths and roads。
They had plenty of the finest toys in the world； and the most
astonishing picture…books： all about scimitars and slippers and turbans；
and dwarfs and giants and genii and fairies； and blue… beards and bean…
stalks and riches and caverns and forests and Valentines and Orsons： and
all new and all true。
But； one day； of a sudden； the traveller lost the child。 He called to
him over and over again； but got no answer。