Whentheothertravellersclosedtheireyes，whichtheydidonebyone-eventhekittencurlingitselfupinthebasket，wearyofitstoocircumscribedplay-theboyremainedjustasbefore。Hethenseemedtobedoublyawake，likeanenslavedanddwarfeddivinity，sittingpassiveandregardinghiscompanionsasifhesawtheirwholeroundedlivesratherthantheirimmediatefigures。
ThiswasArabella’sboy。WithherusualcarelessnessshehadpostponedwritingtoJudeabouthimtilltheeveofhislanding，whenshecouldabsolutelypostponenolonger，thoughshehadknownforweeksofhisapproachingarrival，andhad，asshetrulysaid，visitedAldbrickhammainlytorevealtheboy’sexistenceandhisnearhome-comingtoJude。Thisverydayonwhichshehadreceivedherformerhusband’sansweratsometimeintheafternoon，thechildreachedtheLondonDocks，andthefamilyinwhosechargehehadcome，havingputhimintoacabforLambethanddirectedthecabmantohismother’shouse，badehimgood-bye，andwenttheirway。
OnhisarrivalattheThreeHorns，Arabellahadlookedhimoverwithanexpressionthatwasasgoodassaying，`YouareverymuchwhatIexpectedyoutobe，’hadgivenhimagoodmeal，alittlemoney，and，lateasitwasgetting，dispatchedhimtoJudebythenexttrain，wishingherhusbandCartlett，whowasout，nottoseehim。
ThetrainreachedAldbrickham，andtheboywasdepositedonthelonelyplatformbesidehisbox。Thecollectortookhisticketand，withameditativesenseoftheunfitnessofthings，askedhimwherehewasgoingbyhimselfatthattimeofnight。
`GoingtoSpringStreet，’saidthelittleoneimpassively。