The months passed (more than I had bargained for), and no occasion

presented itself for disturbing that mark in the book. It was not till

this present month of November, eighteen hundred and fifty, that Mr.

Franklin came into my room, in high good spirits, and said, "Betteredge!

I have got some news for you! Something is going to happen in the house,

before we are many months older."

"Does it concern the family, sir?" I asked.

"It decidedly concerns the family," says Mr. Franklin. "Has your good

lady anything to do with it, if you please, sir?"

"She has a great deal to do with it," says Mr. Franklin, beginning to

Advertisement..

look a little surprised.

"You needn't say a word more, sir," I answered. "God bless you both! I'm

heartily glad to hear it."

Mr. Franklin stared like a person thunderstruck. "May I venture to

inquire where you got your information?" he asked. "I only got mine

(imparted in the strictest secrecy) five minutes since."

Here was an opportunity of producing ROBINSON CRUSOE! Here was a chance

of reading that domestic bit about the child which I had marked on the

day of Mr. Franklin's marriage! I read those miraculous words with an

emphasis which did them justice, and then I looked him severely in the

face. "NOW, sir, do you believe in ROBINSON CRUSOE?" I asked, with a

solemnity, suitable to the occasion.

"Betteredge!" says Mr. Franklin, with equal solemnity, "I'm convinced at

last." He shook hands with me--and I felt that I had converted him.

With the relation of this extraordinary circumstance, my reappearance

in these pages comes to an end. Let nobody laugh at the unique anecdote

here related. You are welcome to be as merry as you please over

everything else I have written. But when I write of ROBINSON CRUSOE, by

the Lord it's serious--and I request you to take it accordingly!

When this is said, all is said. Ladies and gentlemen, I make my bow, and

shut up the story.




Most Popular