The landlady came running in, with hot brandy and water, with which and other restoratives, the child was so far recovered as to be able to thank them in a faint voice.  Without suffering her to speak another word, the woman carried her off to bed, and after having been made warm and comfortable, she had a visit from the doctor himself, who ordered rest and nourishment.  As Nell evinced extraordinary uneasiness on being apart from her grandfather, he took his supper with her.  Finding her still restless on this head, they made him up a bed in an inner room, to which he presently retired.  The key of this chamber happening to be on that side of the door which was in Nell’s room; she turned it on him, when the landlady had withdrawn, and crept to bed again with a thankful heart.

In the morning the child was better, but so weak that she would at least require a day’s rest and careful nursing before she could proceed upon her journey.  The schoolmaster decided to remain also, and that evening visited Nell in her room.  His frank kindness, and the affectionate earnestness of his speech and manner, gave the child a confidence in him.  She told him all—­that they had no friend or relative—­and that she sought a home in some remote place, where the temptation before which her grandfather had fallen would never enter, and her late sorrows and distresses could have no place.

The schoolmaster heard her with astonishment, and with admiration for the heroism and patience of one so young.  He then told her that he had been appointed clerk and schoolmaster to a village a long way off, at five-and-thirty pounds a year, and that he was on his way there now.  He concluded by saying that she and her grandfather must accompany him, and that he would endeavor to find them some occupation by which they could subsist.

Accordingly next evening they travelled on, with Nell comfortably bestowed in a stage-wagon among the softer packages, her grandfather and the schoolmaster walking on beside the driver, and the landlady and all the good folks of the inn screaming out their good wishes and farewells.

It was a fine clear autumn morning, when they came upon the village of their destination, and every bit of scenery, and stick and stone looked beautiful to the child who had passed through such scenes of poverty and horror.  Leaving Nell and her grandfather upon the church porch, the schoolmaster hurried off to present a letter, and to make inquiries concerning his new position.  After a long time he appeared, jingling a bundle of rusty keys, and quite breathless with pleasure and haste.  As a result of his exertions on their behalf, Nell and her grandfather were to occupy a small house next to the one apportioned to him.  Having disburdened himself of this great surprise, the schoolmaster then told Nell that the house which was henceforth to be hers, had been occupied by an old person who kept the keys of the church, opened and closed it for the services, and showed it to strangers; that she had died not many weeks ago, and nobody having yet been found to fill the office, he had made bold to ask for it for her and her grandfather.  As a result of his testimony to their ability and honesty, they were already appointed to the vacant post.