“Is it a boy?” asked Mr. Dinneford.

“Yes, and has a finely-formed head and a pair of large, clear, hazel eyes.  Evidently it is of good parentage.  The vicious, the sensual and the depraved mark their offspring with the unmistakable signs of their moral depravity.  You cannot mistake them.  But this baby has in its poor, wasted, suffering little face, in its well-balanced head and deep, almost spiritual eyes, the signs of a better origin.”

“It ought at once to be taken away from the woman,” said Mr. Dinneford, in a very decided manner.

“Who is to take it?” asked the missionary.

Mr. Dinneford was silent.

“Neither you nor I have any authority to do so.  If I were to see it cast out upon the street, I might have it sent to the almshouse; but until I find it abandoned or shamefully abused, I have no right to interfere.”

“I would like to see the baby,” said Mr. Dinneford, on whose mind painful suggestions akin to those that were so disturbing his daughter were beginning to intrude themselves.

“It would hardly be prudent to go there to-day,” said Mr. Paulding.

“Why not?”

“It would arouse suspicion; and if there is anything wrong, the baby would drop out of sight.  You would not find it if you went again.  These people are like birds with their wings half lifted, and fly away at the first warning of danger.  As it is, I fear my visit and inquiries will be quite sufficient to the cause the child’s removal to another place.”

Mr. Dinneford mused for a while: 

“There ought to be some way to reach a case like this, and there is, I am sure.  From what you say, it is more than probable that this poor little waif may have drifted out of some pleasant home, where love would bless it with the tenderest care, into this hell of neglect and cruelty.  It should be rescued on the instant.  It is my duty—­it is yours—­to see that it is done, and that without delay.  I will go at once to the mayor and state the case.  He will send an officer with me, I know, and we will take the child by force.  If its real mother then comes forward and shows herself at all worthy to have the care of it, well; if not, I will see that it is taken care of.  I know where to place it.”

To this proposition Mr. Paulding had no objection to offer.

“If you take that course, and act promptly, you can no doubt get possession of the poor thing.  Indeed, sir”—­and the missionary spoke with much earnestness—­“if men of influence like yourself would come here and look the evil of suffering and neglected children in the face, and then do what they could to destroy that evil, there would soon be joy in heaven over the good work accomplished by their hands.  I could give you a list of ten or twenty influential citizens whose will would be next to law in a matter like this who could in a month, if they put heart and hand to it, do such a work for humanity here as would make the angels glad.  But they are too busy with their great enterprises to give thought and effort to a work like this.”