robert patterson knew that the extraordinary heat and drought of the summer had scorched up the grass the very ground had licked up the water from crabhole pool and many a creek had withered the herbage into crisp hay and so withered the foliage that yon might crumble it be tween your fingers


the country seemed thoroughly prepared for a conflagration and only required this fiery wind to send a blaze of extermination over the whole land


for weeks nay months the shepherds and sawyers had spoken of fires burning in the hills and in the ferntree breaks of this very forest he had been recently told that flames had been observed in various directions burning redly by night


if the fire had reached him and his herd before they escaped into the open plains they must he consumed like stubble


the cattle began to show signs of exhaustion hanging out their parched tongues and panting heavily the perspiration himself and horse was dried up by the awful heat and the dogs ran silently or only whining lowly to themselves as they hunted every hollow on their way for water


suddenly they were out in an open plain yet with the forest on either hand but at a considerable distance


what a scene


the woods were flaming and crackling in one illimitable conflagration


tlier wind dashig from the north in gusts of incon ceivable heat seemed to sere the very face and shrivel up the lungs


the fire leaped from tree to tree flashing and roaring along with the speeil and the destructiveness of lightning


ihe sere foliage seemed to snatch the fire and to perish in it in a riot of demonical revelry


on it flew fast as the fleetest horse could gallop and consuming acres of leaves in a moment still remained to rage and roar amongst the branches and in the hollow stems of ancient trees


the whole wood the left was an enormous region of intensest flame and that on the right sent forth the sounds of the same ravaging fires but being to windward the flames could not be seen for the vast clouds cf smoke mingled with fiery sparks which were rolled on the air


there was a sound as ot thunder mingled with the crash of falling trees and the wild cries of legions of birds of all kinds which fell scorched and blackened and dead to the ground


once out on this open plain the cattle wore speedily lost in the blinding ocean of smoke and the young settler obliged to abandon them made a dash onward for his life


now the flames came racing along the grass with the speed of the wind and mowing all smooth as a pavement now it tore furiously through some near point of the forest and flung burning ashes and tangles of blazing bark upon the galloping rider


but sorcerer with an instinct more infallible than human sagacity sped on over thicket and stone and fallen tree snorting in the thick masses of smoke and stretching forward his gaping jaws as to catch every breath of air to sustain impeded respiration


when the wind veered the reek driven back ward revealed a most amazing scene


the blazing skirts of the forests huge isolated trees glaring red standing columns of fire here avast troop of wild horses with flying manes and tails rushing with thundering hoofs over the plain there herds of cattle running with bloodshot eyes and hanging tougues they know not wither from the fires troops of kangaroos leaping frantically across the riders path their hair singed and giving out strongly the stench of fire birds of all kinds and colors shrieking piteously as they drove wildly by and yet saw no spot of safety thousands of sheep standing huddled in terror on the scorched flats with singed wool deserted by their shepherds who had fled for their lives


but onward flew the intrepid sorcerer onward stretched his rider thinking lightningwinged thoughts of home and of his helpless paralysed mother there


with a caution inspired by former outbreaks of bushfires he had made at some distance round his homestead a bare circle


he had felled the foresttrees leaving only one here and there at such distances that there was little fear of ignition


as the summer dried the grass he had set fire to it on days when the wind was gentle enough to leave the flame at command watching branch in hand to beat out any blaze that might have travelled into the forest


by this means he had hitherto prevented the fire from reaching his homestead and he had strongly recommended the same plan to his neighbors though generally with little effect now the fire was so terrible and sparks flew so wide on the wind thatlie feared they might kindle the grass round his homestead and that he might find everything and every person the e consumed


but behold


the gleaming welcome water of lake colac


sorcerer rushed headlong towards it and wading hastily up to his sides in its cool ing flood thrust his head to the eyes into it and drank as if he could never be satisfied with less than the whole lake


englishmen new to the scene would have trembled for the horse but the bush steed knows best what he needs eats and drinks as likes him best and flourishes on if


smoking hot the rider lets him drink his fillrand all goes well


the heat produces perspiration and the evaporation cools and soothes him


robert patterson did not lose a moment in fol lowing sorcarers example


he flung himself headlong from the saddle dressed as he was dived and splashed and drank exuberantly


he held again and again his smarting face arul singed hands in the delicious water then threw it over the steed that now satiated stood panting in the flood


he laved and rubbed down the grateful animal with wave after wave cleaning the dried perspiration from every hair giving him refresh ment at every pore


then up and away again


he had not ridden two hundred yards before he saw lying on the plain a horse that had fallen in saddle and bridle and lay with his legs under him and head stretched stiffly forward with glaring eyeballs but dead


near him was a man alive but sunk in exhaustion


his eye turned wildly the young sqiutter and his parched lips moved but without a sound


robert patterson compre hended his need and running to the lake brought his pannikin full of water and put it to his mouth


it was the water of life to him


his voice and some degree of strength come quickly back


he had come from the north arul had ridden a race with the fire till horse and man had dropped here the horse never to rise again


but pattersons need was too urgent for delay


he found the man had no lack of provisions he carried him in his arms to the margin of the lake mounted and rode on


as he galloped forward it was still fire fire everywhere


he felt convinced that the con flagration fanned by the strong wind and acting upon fires in a hundred quarters extended over the whole sundried colony


it was still early noon when with straining eyes and a heart which seemed almost to stand still with a terrible anxiety he came near his own home


he darted over the brow of a hill there it lay safe


the circle within his clear boundary was untouched by the fire


there were his pad docks his cattle his huts and home


with a lightning thought his thanks flew up to heaven and he was the next moment at his door in his house and in his mothers arms


the mysteries of paris


continued


chapter vii


the arexndezvouz


next morning rodolphe still disguised as a workman was to be seen at the door of a tavern called the flower basket situ ated near the barriere de hercy


it was noon and the rain was falling in torrents the seine had swrollen to a greatheight and overflowed a part of the quay


ro dolphe looking around fromtime totime with great impatience at last descried at a distance a man and woman advancing shel tered by an umbrella it was la chouette and the maitre decole


these two persons were completely metamorphosed the bri gand had abandoned his wretched clothes and at the same time thrown off his air of brutal ferocity he wore a long surtout of green beaver cloth and his cravat and shirt were of extreme whiteness


if it had not been for his ugliness and the savage sparkling of eye he might have been taken with his peaceable and confident gait for an honest citizen


la chonette also in her sunday garb wore a white hat and a large


shawl of imitation cashmere and carried in her hand a reticule


the rain having ceased for a moment rodolphe surmounting the disgust that he felt at the sight of these wretches walked straight up to them


for the slang of the tapisfrane the maitre decole had substituted a language more polished which appeared the more horrible as it announced a cultivated mind


as rodolphe approached the maitre decole saluted him deferentially and la chonette made a low courtesy


monsieur your very humble servant said he deighted to make or rather re


new your acquaintance for the day before yesterday you deigned to bestow on me two blows with you fists enough to stun a rhinoceros


but we will say no more about that now grave affairs bring us together again


i saw the chourineur last night at the tapis franc told him to meet us here this morning if he wished to be our assistant but it appears that he re fuses decidedly


you accept then t


if you please monsieur your name rodolphe


slet us go into this tavern


neither madame nor myself has breakfasted


we will spdak of our little affairs while we are breaking a crust


willingly


however we can talk as we are walk log you and the chourineur owe although you may not be aware of it some damages to my wife and me


you have been the cause of our losing more than two thousand francs


la chonette had an appointment near st ouen with a tall gentleman in mourning who came to enquire for you the other night at the tapisfranc


sthe


maitre decole then informed ro dolphe how the chourineur had deprived him of the two thousand francs by way laying la chouette rodolphe endeavoured to excuse the chourineur by saying that having an affair in hand he had appointed to meet the chourineur at st onens but the project failing hlie had not kept his ap pointmentthe maitre decole appeared satisfied with this explanation


they then went in to breakfast


the breakfast was brought in butbefore the door was closed rodolphe saw his old friend the charbonnier seated in an adjoin ing cabinet


the chamber wherein passed the scene we are about to describe was long and narrow and lighted by a window that looked into the street directly oppo site the door


la chouette sat with her back to he window the maitre decole was son one side of the table and rodolphe was son the other as soon as the servant went out the brigand arose took his plate and seated himselfat the side of rodolphe be tween him and the door


we can talk better he said and we need not talk so loud


and besides you wish to place yourself so as to prevent my going out answered rodolphe boldly


the maitre decole by way of reply half drew out of the pocket of his coat a long round stiletto with a wooden handle do you see that said hlie knitting his brows with a significant gesture


and look out for me too added la chounette


apropossaid rodolphe to la chouette is it true that you know who are the parents of la goualeuse


my man has two letters which speak about her


but she shall never see themn the little gironde


would rather tear out both her eyes with my own hands


oh f when i catch her at the tapis franc her account shall be paid


scome come


talking all talk yet busi ness does not get on


can we talk before her asked rodolphe


with all confidence she has been tried and can be of great use to us in watching getting information receivingselling c she has every quality for an excellent man ager


notwithstanding iais presence of mind and the command which he had over him self rodolphe was not able to control a movement of surprise in seeing suspended by a silver ring to a heavy chain of gold which the old woman had around her neck a little saint esprit of lapislazuli conform ing in every respect to the description of the one worn by the son of madame georges at the time of his disappearance


at this discovery a sudden thought struckrodolphe


according to the account of the chourineur the maitre decole in escaping from the galleys six months back had by disfiguring and mutilat ing himself evaded all the pursuits and researches of the pohce


it was also just six months since the husband of madame georte had made his escape and iso one kniew what had become of him


from all this he came to the conclusion that it was very possible that the maitre decole and the husband of this unfortu mate were one and the same person this latter had belonged to thu better class of society the maitre decole expressed him


self often in select language


one remem brance awakened another


rodolphe also recalled to mind that madame georges one ay in speaking of her husbands arrest d mentioned the herculean resistance of ihe monster and that he had nearly made yis escape


i


the brigand was the husband af madame georges he must know the btte of his son besides he had just been in formed that the stranger had sone


papers relative to the birth of la goualcuse so that rodolphie lid now many nod grave reasons for persisting in his projects


morbleui said rodolphe to la chonette you have a fine chain therel


fine but not dear said the old woman laughing it is false gold which i keep until my dear roan gives me a real one


that will depend on whether the busi ness we are about will be profitable


it is astonishing bow


well it is imitated said rodolphe


and at the endwhat is the little blue thing


it is a present from my man until he can give me a toquante


rodolphe saw his suspicions half con firmed and awaited with anxiety the next words of the brigaud who said you must take care of that toquante or no toquanteit is a talisman


but to return to our business


you say then that in the allee des veuves


there is at number a house occupied by a rich man he is called monsieur i will not be so indiscreet as to ask you his name there is you say sixty thousand francs in gold t rodolphe made a sign in the affirmative


and you know all the rooms in the house said the maitre decole


svery well


and the entrance is it difficultt


a wall of seven feet in height on the side of the allee des veuves a garden and windows down to the ground


and is there only one porter to guard all the treasure


yes


and what may be your plan of cam paign young man demanded the maitre decole


it is very simple climb over the wall pick the lock of the door or force the win dow shutters from without


where shall we meet i meet


why we wont part said the maitre decole


how why should we part


if the rain holds up a little we will go and take a look at the house


thatdone we will return and play a game at piqutet and eat a mouthful in a cellar that i know in the champs elysees near the river and as the allee des veuves is deserted very early we will go there about ten oclock


i will rejoin you at nine oclock then


do you want to do this job or not certainly


well then you must not leave us be fore this night otherwise sotherwise


i shall think you want to lay a snare for me and it is on that accountyou wish to leave me


if i wished to lay a trap for you what would hinder me laying it to night


everything


you did not think that i would propose to act so soon


by not quitting us you cannot inform any one


rodolphe found himself in an anxious position if he let this occasion escape of taking the maitre decole he perhaps would never find him again henceforth on his guard or perhaps recognised arrested


and taken back to the galleys he would carry with him those secrets which he had so much interest to discover


trusting to chance to his courage and address he said to the maitre decole


i consent we will not quit one another until to night


then i am your manand you shall not repent


but it is now two oclock from hence to the alice des venves is a long way it rains in torrents pay the scot and let us take a hack


rodolphe saw no chance of escape but did not despair


complaining of the cold he muffled his hands in his blouse


then continuing the conversa tion with the brigand took a pencil from the pocket of his waistcoat and without being perceived wrote some words in haste taking care to place the letters wide apart for he wrote without seeing


having finished the difficulty was to send it to its address


he walked to the window and began to sing keeping time with his fingers on the window


the maitre decole came and looked through the window and said to him care lessly what are you playing there i play tu naura pas ma rose i


it is very pretty


si only wished to see if it had effect enough on any of the passersby to induce them to stop and listen you have some other object young man for you beat the glass as you would a drum


the maitre decole then proposed ad journing to a tavern in the champs elysees


on going out rodolphe had the satisfaction of seeing his disguised friend at the bar and he was enabled to exchange signs with him in getting into the coach rodolnhe dropped the writing and after he had moved on some streets was delighted to see sir walter murphy pass by which he knew that his note had answered the purpose


immediately before this the maitre decole had much to the surprise of rodolphe ordered the carriage to the place de la magdaliene


here the carriage stopped at a low tavern called the bleeding heart and the maitre decole giving a private signal was told to enter


chiapter viii


the cellars of brasarouge


the landlord of the bleeding heart after having replied to the signal of the maitre decole civilly advanced to the door to receive him


thiis person whom rodolphe hadsoulhtfor in the cit and whom he did notyet know was bras rouge


small and slender weak and feeble this man was about fifty years of age his weaselshaped face his sharp nose his retreating chin his little slhar


sparkling black eyes gave him an inimit able expression of cunning intelligence


an old white wig which had grown as yellow as his bilious complexion concealed only a part of his grisly locks and he wore a round jacket with a long black apron such as is usually worn by the waiters of the winecellars


our trio had hardly de scended the steps when a child of not more than ten years very small but with a very cunning look sickly lame and slightly humpbacked came and joined brasrouge to whom there was such a resemblance that at once he would be recognised as his son


he had the same cunning look his forehead was almost covered with thick yellow hair coarse and stifi as a mane trousers of a maroon colour and a grey blooise fastened with a belt completed the costume of tortillard so named in conse quence of his deformity he stood close slngritle of his fiather on his sound leg alt ii eron


in a few minutes after their arrival la chouette accompanied by tortillard pro ceeded to the alice des veuves to recon noitre


rodolphe was left alone for a moment while the two worthies had time for a feaw words and some mysterious signs


you will take a glass of beer or brandy while we are waiting said the maitre decole sno


i am not thirsty


every one to his liking


for myself ill drink a glass of brandy added the brigand seating himself at one of the small tables in the second room


it was now so dark that it was impossible to see in one of the corners of the room the open entrance to one of the cellars with two folding doors one of which was left open for convenience of access


the table by which the maitre decole had seated himself was near this hole to which he turned his back conceainig it from rodolphe


the latter looked through the windows for occupation and to con ceal his anxiety


although he was very vigorous very resolute and well armed he had to strugle in cunning with a murderer capablhe of doing anything


but such was the energetic temper of his dis position so eager for violent and strong emotions that rodolphe found a sort of terrible charm in the obstacles that had frustrated his plans


however not willing that he should be mistrusted he came and seated himself at the table of the maitre decole and asked for a glass


here is la choueate said brasrouge hearing and answering a cry similar to that made by the maitre decole on arriving at this tavern


she entered alone saying all right understood


brasrouge discreetly retired with out asking after tortillard whom he pro bably did not expect to see


the garments of the old woman were saturated with rain


she seated herself opposite rodolphe and the brigand


well said she this young man has told you the truth so far


hardly had she pronounced these words when the maitre decole threw himself sud denly on rodolphe caught him by the throat and threw him backward into the cellar which was open


behind the table


this attack was so sudden so unexpected so vigorous that rodolphe was not able to forsee or prevent it


as soon as the noise fthe falling body had ceased the maitre decole who was perfectly acquainted with the subterranean apartments of the house descended slowly into the cellar listening with attention


at first nothing was heard but after a few moments the distant noise of a door grating on its susty hinges sounded heavily through the cellar and then again all was still


the horrid figure of the maitre decole appeared at the opening of the trap


la chouette was not able to restrain an ex clamation of affright at the sight of his pale mutilated face with eyes almost phos phorescent which seemed to crawl on the ground in the midst of the darkness which the feeble glimmer of the candle hardly dis pelled


quick


to the allee des veuves said the brigand shutting the cellar doors and fastening them with a bar of iron


in anhour it will he too late


the mysteries of paris scontinued


on the afternoon of the day of m dhar villes suicide rodolphe called at the rue du temple


after some conversation on in different subjects the portress told him that ml


ferrands housekeeper had just been there to enquire for polidori the quack and was much disappointed at his not being at home


rodolphe also learned during this visit that madame dorbigny the stepmother of madame dharville had called upon poli dori and that they had both started for the residence of her father at aubhiers


he also ascertained that madame dorbigny was the lady whose handkerchief he picked upon the stairs when he first visited the house in the rue du temple


suspecting some sinister design ro dolphe immediately wrote the following note to madame dharville


madame i learn this moment the unexpected blow which has overphelmed you and which takes from me one of my best friends i shall not endeavour to decribe my sorrow


yet i must inform you of things fireign to this cruel event


i havejust learned that your sapmother who has been some days in paris leaves to night for normandy with polidori


will you allow me to give you some advice


after the frightful affair of this morning your desire to leave paris will be nothing extraordinary


i would therefore advise you to set ofl at once for for your fathers house ataubiers to arrive there if not before at least as soon as your stepmother


be assured madame far or near i shall still watch over you the abo minable projects of your stepmother shall be baffled adieu madame i write this in haste


my heart is almost broken when i think of last evening when i left him more tran quil and happy than he had been for a long time


believe madame my profound and sin cere devotion


ronoerphe


following this advice madame dllar ville three hours after the receipt of this letter was on the road to normandy


unfortunately from the trouble into which she was plunged by the complication of events and tlie precipitation of her de parture clemence forgot to acquaint the prince that she had met la goualeuse at st lazare the storm gathered around jaques fer rand in the course of the day la chouette returned to reiterate her threats and to prove that they were not in vain she had declared to the notary that the little girl formerly abandoned by madame seraphin was then a prisoner at st lazare under the name of la goualeuse and that if they did not give her francs in three days she should put into the hands of this young girl some papers which would inform her that she had been in her infancy confided to the care ofjaques fer and


accordingto his custom the notary de nied all this with aqdacity and drove off la chouette as an imtpudent liar although he was really frightened by her threats


in the course of the day the notary found means to assure himself that la goualeuse was a prisoner at st lazare and so noted for her good conduct that her release was expected from one moment to another


furnished with this inflbrmation jnques ferrand arranged amost diabolical schemne but felt that to execute it the assistance of polidori was more and more indispensa ble


hearing of his departure and forced to act by the imminence of his danger he remembered the martial family a gang of freshwater pirates established near the bridge of asnieres


h aving absolutely need of an accomplice to carry out his wicked designs against marie the notary next morning sent ma dame seraphin in great haste to see the martials


we have said that the martialswere a bloodthirsty and cruelrace with one ex ception the eldest son whoalthoubh a great poacher and leading


a lawlessclife had hitherto been innocentof any heinous crime


on this accouut he was iated by all the rest of the family


the proposals of jaques ferrand throiughl madame seraphin accompanied with a tempting offer of reward for tile destrue


tion of la goualeuse led to a quarrel in this worthy family which ended in their shutting up their elder brother as a close prisoner on the island which they inhabited


m ferrand afterwards found means to have a second communication with nicolas martial in which it was agreed for a large reward to drown madame seraphin with la goualeuse the notary knowing full well that by these meanshe should get rid of a dangerous accomplice


jaques ferrand when lie became ac quaiuted with the residence of marie had easily procured her release


sihe was re ceived at the door by mvladame seraphin who said she had come to conduct her to the countty


they had proceeded but a few paces when they met rigolette rigolette cried marie at once recog


nising her lbrmer companion in prison and of her rural excursions


laoualouse exclaimed the grisette in her turn


and the two young girls threwthiemselves into each others arms


nothing corld be more enchauting than the contrrast between these two young crea turesk of siateen tenderly embracing both so charming and yet so different in ex pression and beauty


the one a blonde with large blue melaneholy eyes and a complexion of angelic pureness the othera lively brunette with round and rosy cheeks


pretty black eyes a charming picture of youth and gaiety a rare example of hap pilncs in inuignce of virtue in destitution and of joy in industry


a long conversation took place between the two friends which was interrupted by madame seraphin saying they should be too late


upon this the two friends sepa rated iigolette first giving la goualeuse her address


madame seraphin and her victim took the rold to the island inhabited by the martial family


chapter xix


the i sla n d mounted on a bench outside of the ar bour calebasse with her eyes shaded by her hand was lookiingin the direction where she expected madame scraphin and marie to appear


nicholas i do you see them


there just by that rising ground


cried calebasse pointing to the other side of the river


let us wait for the signal and have no bungling


said nicholas


while nicholas was tying his boats to a post madame seraphin approached and said


come mon gargon bring your boat a little nearer that we can embark and in a low tone she whispered the little one must be drowned if she comes up put her under again


it is said dont be afraid when i make a sign give me your hand


she will sink all aloneall is preparedyou have nothing to fear answered nicolas in a low tone


then with savage imperturba billity without being touched with the beauty of marie he offered her his arm


the young girl leaned lightly on him and entered the boat


now your turn my good lady said nicolas to madame seraphin


and he offered to assist her


whether it wasa presentiment suspicion or only a fear that she could notjump quick enough from the boat where la ganalense and nicolas were seated when it should sink the housekeeper of jaques ferraud said drawing back on second thoughts i will go in the other boat


and she took a seat along side of calebasse


very good said nicolas exchanging a glance with his sister and with the end of his oar he shoved off his boat


the two boats moved slowly off towards the opposite side


before we acquaint the reader with the denouement of the drama which passed in the boats we will go back a little


a few moments after marie had left saint lazare la louve had also quitted the prison


a complete change had taken place in this creature heretofore so headstrong vile and corrupted


keeping constantly in mind the descrip tion made by marie of a peaceful and soli tary life la louve held in horror her past crimes


at four oclock in the afternoon a ca briolet stopped at the entrance of a little street of the village of asnieres


la louve gave five francs to the coachman jumped to the ground and ranhastily to the abode of pere ferot


on reaching the house of the fishermen she found him seated at the door mending his nets


as soon as she saw him she cried out your boat pore perotyuick quick i sahl is it you mademoiselle


good


day good day


you have not been here for a long time


yes but your boatquickto the is land


ah well


fate will have it so


my girl it is impossible today


how


my boy has taken my boat to go with the others to a rowing match at saint ouen


there is not a single boat left on the whole shore from this to the docks


mordieul cried la louve


stamping and clenching her fist it happens so ex pressly for me


its true i on my word i i am very sorry i cannt convey you to the island for


without doubt ha must be worse


worse who cried la louve seizing pere ferot by the collar is martial sicki syes certainly but you will tear my blouse do be quiet


lie is sick


and since when two or three days ago


sit is filse


he would have written to me


ah well he is too sick to write


too sick to write


and he is onthe island you are sure of it


si will tell you


this morning i met the mother ofi martialwhen i see her on one side you understand i generally cross to the other for i dont like her company then sbut


my martialwhere is he


syou will not tell any one what i am going to say


no no no


word of honor spere ferot youll throw me into con vulsions


i


oh what a girll what a girll


hlasnt she a hot head


i ill go on


in


the first place you muit know that martial is more and more at loggerheads with his family and ifthey should play him dsme bad trick i should not he surprised


it is ontlhis account that i am sorry my boat is ndt here for if you count on those from the island you are wrong


neither nicolas nor fthis hussey of a calebasse will take you there


i know it well enough


but what did his mother say


did he fall sick on the island


dunt get me into a scrape this is the story this morning isaid to the widow for two days past i have not seen mar tial his boat is there


is he in the city thereupon the widow looked at me with her wicked eyes lihe is sick on the island and so sick that he will never coma off again


i said to inyself how can that be


welll where are you going to


where the devil is she running tonow


believing the life of martial menaced by the inhabitants of the island la louve listened no longer to the fisherman but ran along the seine


the island approached nearer the left side of the river than the right shore from whence marie and madame seraplin had embarked


la louve was on the lofc side


although not very steep the hills on the island concealed in all its length the viewv of one shore from the other


thus la louve had not seen the embarkatioa of lt gonaleuse and the martial family of course could not see her as she ran along the shore on the opposite side


the first movement of la louve on learn ing the peril of her lover had been to run impetuously towards the place where she knew he was in danger


breathless her face flushed her eyes sparkling she stopped opposite to a point of the island which forming a curve at this place was nearest to the mainland


through the leafless branches of the willows and poplars la louve could see the roof of the house where perhaps martial was dying


at this sight uttering a fearful cry she threw herself into the river and waded until she lost her footing when she began to swim vigorously towards the is land


it was a spectacle of savage energy


at each stroke the thick and long hair of la louve untied by the violence of her movements shook about her head like a shagy mane


suddenly from the other side of the is land resounded a cry of distress a cry of terrible desperate agony


la louve shud dered and stopped short


then sustaining herself on the water with one hand with the other she pushed back her thick hair and listened


a new cry was heard but more feeble more supplicating convulsive expiringand all relapsed into a profound silence


pere ferot being old had not been able to follow la louve quick enough to pre vent what she accomplished


he arrived opposite the island at the moment that the two fearful screams were heardand stopped as much alarmed as la louve


seeing her struggle intrepidly agalest thecurrent he cried the poor thing will be drowned i these fears were vain she swam like an otter a few more strokes and she reached the land


she was gettingl out of the water by the assistance of the poles which formed a kind of stockade at the end of the island when she perceived the body of a young girl dressed as a peasauit sustainedd by her clothes floating downthe current


to grasp with one hand the polesand with the other to seize hold of the girl by her dress was a movement as rapid as thought


endued with no common strengthl and address la louve raised up la goualeuse whom she had not yet recognised took her up in her robust arms as one would have takef a child


made some steps outi of the water aid laid her on the green baunkof the island


a few minutes afterwards the current brought down another body in an eddy which la louve did not perceive


it was the corpse of the notarys housekeepier deadquite dead


nicolas and calebasse had as much in terest as jaques ferrand in getting ridof this witness this accomplice of their new crime thus when the boat was sunk with fleur de marie nicolas springing into the boat of his sister nearly upset it and seizilig a favorable moment threw the housekeeper overboard and despatched her with a boat hook


outof breath and exhausted la louve kneeling on the ground alongside of marie recruited her strength and examined the features of her whom she had rescued fiom death


let her surprise be imagined when she recognised her companion of the prison her companion who had exercisedupon hiei destiny aninfluence so ra pid and bene volent


in her surprise for a moment she forgot martial


la goualcuse cried she


and with bended body leaning on her hands and knees her hair dishevelled her clothes dripping with water she contem


plated the unhappy child extended almost expiringon the ground


pale inanimate her eyes half open and without expression her beautiful hair falling flat over her forehead her blue lips her small hand already stiff and icyone would have thought her dead


sla goualeuse repeated la louve i who come to say to my martial the good she had done me with her words and pro mises the resolution that i had taken


poor little thingl


i find her here dead


i


but no no


cried la louve approaching still nearer to marie and feeling an almost imperceptible breath escape from her mouth


no mon


dieu she breathes still


i have saved her from death


ah i that does me


good it makes me warm


yes but my martial i must save him also


perhaps at this moment he is


expiring


yet i cannot leave this poor little thing here


i will kill everybody i


and immediately getting up la louve carried marie in her arms


with this light burden she ran towards the house


when she reached the highest part of the island from whence could be seen both shores of the seine nicolas his mother and calebasse weie far off they were then going in all haste to the dwelling of bras rouge


at this moment also a man who con cealed in the limekiln disappeared be lieving with the murderers that the crim e was executed


this man was jaques ferrand


to her great surprise on arriving at the house la louve found the door closed


placing the still inanimate body of marie under the arbour she dreinueair to the house


she knew the window of martials chamber


what was her siurprise to see the shutters covered with i ro plates and sitiened with bars of the same material


suspecting


partly the truth la louve uttered a hoarse resoundingcry andbegan to call iith all lher strength martial


mon ami


sound answered from the interior of the hhuso


la louve shudderedlistened the noise ceased he has heard mel i must enter even if i have to gnaw the door with my teeth


and again she uttered her savage cries


several blows feebly struck on the in side of window the shutters answered to her shouts


he is there cried she stoppingsud denly under the window ot her lover he is there


in a moment she procured a hammer and set to work to unfasten the doorithis was soon done


at length


i see you


i hold you


cried liflaouvo receiving martial in her arms with an accent of joy and savage energy then sustaining him almost carrying him she led him to a seat placed in the corridor


half an hour


afterwards marie who had not yet recovered hersenses was taken to the house of a physician who re sided near the island placed in a warm bed and maternally watched by the gar donors wife assisted byla louve


the island romnined dese rted


aq shal soon meet with its wretched occupants ai brasrouges where they had


agreed t meet


chapter ii


whvis the happy man the man possest


ofairhissoul would grasp p anon


during the travels of young elverton he was duly informed by letter from miss mfhattonof the circumstances of


maria


qneof the communications nearly produced the effect of j transplanting henry into ire land it related that besides the persecu tionof marias uncles common beha vour there were other circumstances which it was expected woujd eventually lead her to


seek the protection of her late governess


these tother circumstances henry thought might perhaps be aninten tiqnon the part pf dowd to induce


her to marry he could not bear the thought and at once tlnde up his


mind to proceed to dublin he sent to the post office for any letters that miht have arrived


there was one from his father who reminded him that two years must embrace the full time from his leaving home till hi return to rivulet


hall


there was another which had the effect cf dissuading him from the purpose he had just


formed


it gave a more favor able account of marias health and circum stances so young elvarton continued his tour


on hi voynge to sicily henry fell in with a person named connor who whs the st mate of the vessel and who proved to he the poji of the old gardener at thesemi rmry


this officer


was


under the impre


sion


that his fatherj was dead


a he had written home severajtiines


andhad received no answer


he observed that frorn


the information he had now


received he had reason


to believe that his letters had been intercepted hesaid


that uncle of


missviildiel mr el yerton ir ajvillain


and ithough he lias gone lerore thejwind rather prosperously now some years lie will yet become a perfect wreck a littlemoretime and l shall have the means and opportunity ilupi of coo frontinghim


henry nv remembered the kind of mys teriuiis interest that old coiinor took in marias history


and he was therefore pro ceeding to make further enquiries when an unexpected squallj riquireil the presence of officer on decktogiveorders to the sailors


the severity of the storm left them under bare poles and until they arrived in port rip opportunity offered for a conversation on lite subject


youngconror however had prepared a letter for his father which he requested henry to deliver at his earliest convenience


lie might possibly himself be in ireland in h few months he said but nothing like taking advantage of a favorable wind as we could riot reckon muchbefore hand


itrequires not any thing in addition to


fi


st


true love to beget an undying interest


in its object yet some circumstances are capable of producing an increase of the sympathies and consequently a more deter mined devbtedness to such object


so it was with henry


he loved maria this had been proven for his travels had carried him through france germany switzerland and italy he had seen ladies of beauty and distinction but nothing like the impression he received at miss deltas seminary had been made upon him in any of the countries hie had passed through since he left ireland nay it seemed as if his love but increased as he thought of the form arid mind of maria and compared her with the continental ladies to whom he had been introduced


but the remarks which had fallen from the mate of the ship in connection with what the old man his father had said and an observation which he now remembered the


irish governess had made to maria her self referring to the pensive character of her thoughts created in the mind of henry u kind of circumstantial interest which he had not felt before on her behalf


he now saw that the lovely object of his affections was a persecuted being


miss mhattons letters came within the same class of of evidence and he longed to finish his tour that he might if possible un ravel the mystery the extent of which even maria hethought must herself be unaware


the mind of young elverton now took another tone


he had been a happy lover he was now become a partially unhappy one and he frequently had his slumbers broken by the force of mere excitement


v


meanwhile


the incidents of marias life were taking a character more decisive than hitherto and to


which without further re mark the readers attention is directed


the old gardener bad already according to his intention expressed to miss mfhattohi made h way to mildred house had


ob tained employment in


a similar capacity to that hefilled at the seminary and occupied his time in no way worthy our particular remark except that he might be observed to have an aversion to mr dowd theould uncle as he called him although he was muchyounger than himself and


on occa aioriswheri it was likelythey


might cotnein contact to avoid him as if in fear of being recognised


iv one day michael was indulging himself athisemployment by thinking aloud wish said hei the young english gintle man would come back and marry herithin id be cohtint


of whom are you speaking michael said maria and to whom are you talking as she came upon him without being ob served by the old man


dear miss maria said michael i did not think i was talking at all but did you hear me t did indeed michael returned maria i


and i really think it would be advisable hot to clothe your thoughts in this style


whyi sure miss maria said he i was only wishing you well and forbye that miss maria i would rather die than you should be unhappy


maria saw that now was the opportunity to make her enquiries as to the uncommon interest the old man seemed to take in her afftirs and she was proceeding to ask him at once when from behind a large laurel which stood near dowd suddenly appeared maria said he his eyes stood in their sockets with a kind of vacant brilliancy and his lip quivered as if under aqiue powerful emotion as he spoke maria be repeated i am expecting and he looked askance at connor i am expect ing he said again and his breast heaved as if a powerful convictio of an awful reality had comeupbn him as the eye of the old man met his own


a gentleman to dinner will will you maria be kind enough to give the necessary directions and be prepared to dine with us


r yes uncle replied maria and she im mediately retired into the house


she had no sooner disappeared than dowd addressed the old man


who was was about to proceed with his work how long have you been employed here


a few months sir answered connor still working


and where did you come from


i was born in the county antrim sir born you wretch


exclaimed dowd i did not ask you where you were born i asked where you came from to this


the old man suddenly raised his head in a moment stood upright before his inter rogator and looking him full in the face replied where i came from has hot the character of producing wretches though they say some others have you will not cdl me wretch again or by the powers ill knock you down with the spade


with an effort which will be best under stood by men of his kind dowd as sud denly cc oled as he had but now become enraged and he said tell me old man were you


in the service of mr mildred the former owner of this property was sullenly replied the old man


to be continued


j


the weather during the past week has been delightful in fact verifying mr wells appellation of the montpellier of new south wales


the evenings and morn ings are now beginning to feel rather sharp but the mild temperature of the day soon dispels the temporary frosts of the night


the recent copious falls of rain have just crowned the winter feed and we say with out hesitation that the plains are as pic turesque at the present time as they could possibly appear and that the landscape painter could not have a better opportunity of applying his art than the present mo ment


agriculture in all its branches is progressing rapidly through the district the plough and the spade being unremit tingly employed on all available soils whilst the general appearance of the nu merous flocks and herds is promising in the extreme


quick work


the mail packet which sailed yesterday afternoon carried home the government despatches conveying the opinion of the


legislative council on the exile question


as the home government will have been quite prepared for the decision that has been come to and there are under stood to be several hundred who have already served their probation in parkhurst and pentonville it is probable that by the end of the year the first drafts may arrive in the colony and as there will be a succession of emigrant ships until that period there need be no fear of any further increase in the rate of wages


tuesdays herald


libbliisseierst t ioniiiiiwiniiiintgt ei pickering r the proprietors of bells life in sydney dwere yesterday apprehended on warrant issued at the instance of mr w moffatt for a false scandalous and malicious libels the defendants were allowed bail and the care will come on before the


police court on


thursday


tuesdays herald the winei season


with regard to the districtof the lower hunter and william this year although the season


on the whole has seemed most unfavorable for the perfec tion of the grape andboth the quantity and quality of the produce must in consequence be inferior


yet the result confirms theim portance of vineculture as a profitable direction for colonial industry


the long continued drought had nearly burnt up the crop and the succeedingtmoisture in excess seemed likely to burst and rot a large pro portion of that which survived


notwith standing so unfavorable a season i have made two hundred gallons of wine peracre and mr lang i understand has made one thousand gallons of wine from less than an acre of one kind of grape


with me the quality is fully as good as any i have hitherto made and i learn from some of my neigh bours that theirs is not inferior


corres pondent of maitland mercury


marden op lieutenant snow


a most startling revelation was made on thursday night in the gaol


the prisoner burns condemned to transportation for pn assault upon the woman margaret reardon con fessed that he and two others whom he named were the murderers of lieutenant snow and his family


the investigation will be conducted before the police magis trate today


the impropriety of com menting upon or even mentioning in a news paper any part of the evidence that has pre maturely transpired is too evident to need insisting on


this much however we may be permitted to say that however much we may grieve to see the foul deed iixed upon individuals two at least of whom have hitherto borne respectable characters we shall rejoice for the sake of the outsettlers and of the natives themselves if the mao ries can be relieved


of the suspicion which has hitherto attached to them and will be among the first to offer reparation for the stain that we ourselves have innocently con tributed to fix upon them


a cm zealander march


gleaningst from late papers the following are the melbourne stock returns for the past month cattle slaughtered the last


month for melting pot s for butchers meat


for melting by watson and wight by phil pott


the legislative council of van diemens land has rendered the importation of native dogs from port phillip an offence punishable with a fine of


it seems that some per sons have taken dogs over for curiosity who have got loose in the bush and made consi derable havoc among the sheep


two hundred children attending the schools in connexion with the roman catholic chapel at auckland were regaled with cakes c in the government domain on st patricks day


a little girl aged eleven years re siding at colhngwood having began to play with an axe actually chopped off two of her toes


she was immediately placed under medical assistance and is doing as well as might be expected on the nd instant a person lost a dray and six bul locks in the yarra he was about to take a load of water to brighton but the bullocks got too far in the water and were drowned


the driver was intoxicated


the maiikets


the quantity of produce brought into town this week has been small but there is little alteration in prices


wheat may be quoted at per bushel


fine flour s


se conds s


per cwt


bread b


loaf d


hay to s


per ton


maize s


d


to s


barley s per bushel


butter d


to d


cheese d


bacon d to d per lb


eggs is


per dozen


fowls is


per pair


potatoes s per cwt


fruit is not very plentiful and realizes good prices


oats s


to s lid


per bushcl


chapter xlvii


conclusion of the enterprise of ib jonas and nib fiubnd


did no men passing through tie dim streets shrink without knowing why when he came stealing up behind them t as he glided on had no child in its sleep an in distinct perception of a guilty shadow fall ing on its bed that troubled its innooent rest


did no dog howl and strive to break its rattling chain tint it might tear him no burrowing rat scenting the work he had in hand essay to gnaw a passage after him that it might hold a greedy revel at the feast of his providing


when lie looked back across his shoulder was it to see if his quick footsteps still fell dry upon the dusty pavement or were already moist and clogged witb the red mire that stained the naked feet of cain


he shaped bis course for the main western road and soon reached it riding a part of the way then alighting and walking on again


he travelled for a considerabledis tance upon the roof of a stagecoach which came up while he was afoot and when it turned out of his road bribed the driver of a return postcuaise to take him on with him and then made across die country at a run and raved a mile or two before he struck again iuto the road


at last as his plan was be came up witb a certain lum bering slow nightcoach which stopped wherever it could and was stopping then ata publichouse while tlie guard and coach man ate and drank within


he bargained for a seat outside this coach and took it


aud he quitted it no more until it was within a few miles of its destination hut occupied the same place all night


all night i it is a common fancy that nature seems to sleep by night


it is a false fancy as who should know better than bet the fishes slumbered iu the com bright glistening streams and rivers perhaps and the birds roosted on the branches of the trees and in their stalls and pastures beasts were quiet and human creatures slept


but what of that when the solemn night was watching when it never winked when its darkness watched no less than its light


the stately tree the moon and shining stars the softly stirring wind the over shadowed lane the board bright countryside they all kept watch


there was not a blade of growing grass or corn but watched and the quieter it was the more iutent and fixed its watch upon him seemed to be


and yet he slept


riding on among these sentinels of god he slept and did not change the purpose of his journey


if he forgot it in his troubled dreams it came up steadily and woke him


but it never woke him to remorse or to abandonment of his design


he dreamed at one time that he was lying calmly iu his bed thinking of a moonlight night and lliu noise wheelb when the old clerk put his head iu at the door and beckoned him


at this signal he rose immediately being already dressed in the clothes be actually wore at that time and accompanied him into a strange city where the names of the streets were written on the walls in characters quite new o him which gave him no surprise or un easiness for he remembered in his dream to have been there before


although these streets were very precipitous insomuch that to get from one to auuther it was neces sary to descend great heights by ladders that were too short and ropes hut moved deep bells and swung and swayed as they were clung to the danger gave him little emotion beyond the first thrill of terror his anxieties being concentrated on his dress which was quite unfitted for some festival that was about to be holden there and in which lie had come to take a part


already great crowds began to fill the streets and in one direction myriads of people came rushing down an interminable perspective trewing flowers and making way for others on white horses when a terrible figure started from the throng and cried out that it was the last day for all the world


the cry being spread there was a wild hurrying on to judgment and the press became so great that he and his companion who was constantly changing and was never the same man two minutes together though he never saw one man come or another go stood aside in a porch fearfully surveying the multitude in which there were many faces that he knew and many he did not know but dreamed he did when all at once a struggling head ruse up among the rest livid and deadly but the same as he had known it and denounced him as laving appointed that direful day to happen


they closed together


as he strove to free the hand in which he held a club and strike the blow he had so often thought of be started to the kuowledge of his waking purpose and the rising of the sun


the sun was welcome to him


there were life and motion and a world astir to divide the attention of day


it was the eye of night of wakeful watchful silent and attentive night witb so much leisure fur the observation of his wicked thoughts that he dreaded most


there is no glare in the night


even glory shews to small advantage in the night upon a crowded battlefield


how then shows glorys blood relation bastard jiurderl ay


he made no compromise and held no secret with himself now


murder


he had come to do it


let me get down here ue said


short of the town eb observed the coachman


i may get down where i pleabe i sup pose


you got up to pleaseyourself and may get down to please yourself


itwontbreak our hearts to lose jou and h wouldnt have broken em if we d neveribund you


be a little quicker


thats all


the erf nad aleuailind was waiting in the road to take bis money


in the jealousy and distrust of what he contem plated be thought this man looked at him witb more than common curiosity


what are you staring at said jonas


not a handsome man returned the guard


if you want your fortune told i ii tell you a bit of it


you wont be drowned


that a a consolation for you


before he could retoit or turn away the coachman put an end to the dialogue by giving him a cut with hiswhip and bidding him get out for a surly dog


the guard jumped up to his seat at the same moment and they drove off laughing leaving him to stand in the road and shake his fist at them


he was not displeased though on second thoughts to have been taken for an illconditioned common country fellow but rother congratulated himself upon it as a proof that he was well disguised


wandering into a copse by the road sidehut not in that place two or three miles off he tore out from a fence a thick hard knotted stake and sitting down be neath a hayrick spent some time in shaping it in peeling off the bark and fashioning its jagged head with his knife


the day pasbed on


noon afternoon evening


sunset


at that erene and peaceful time two men riding in a gig came out of the city by a road not much frequented


it was the day on which mr pecksniff had agricl to dine with montague


he had kept his appointment and was now going home


his host was riding with him for a short distance meaning to return by a pleasant track which mr pecksniff had engaged to show him through some fields


jonas knew their plane


he had hung about the inn yard while they were at dinner and had heard their orders given


they were loud and merry in their con versation and might have been heard at some distance iar above the sound of their carriage wheels or hones hoofs


they came on noisily to where a stile and foot path indicated their point of separation here they slopped


its too soon


much too soon said mr pecksniff


bui this is the place my dear sir


keep he path and go straight through the littl wooj youll come to


the path is narrower there liut you cant miss it


when shall see you again t suon i hope


i hope so replied montague


goodnigiitl


ciuod night


and a pleasant ride


tohteoalmmd


cimptuit vii


muriu began lo work ill ilie grammarschool iimi moniiiig


uilh nu luucli nyour and tijie dition thul mr vinch hud new reason to do homage to the natural ciidwmeuts f thui vnansicntleinull ami lo lukliowledgc his in liime siipmoiiy to himself


tie new pupil mid having by this time emiceived a real re gard for him in his own peculiar way pie ilicted tlut they noull always he the very hesl of friends aiul thai neilhti of ihcro he was tcnaiu hut jnmiculay tom would ever have reason tu regret the day on which ihey became nciiuainted


mr pinch was delighted to hear him snv this und frit so imirli haltered by his kind insurances of frituiubiji mid jirolcctiou that he was at a loss how lo express the pleasure they afforded him


aud indeed il may he observed of this friendship such us it wns that il had ullhill il more likely materials ill endurance than many u sivurn hrolheihood that has been rich in promise


for so lung us thr


one parly found n pleasure in patronising und ibe other in being piilronued which was in the vei v essence of llieir rcspeclice cba niceib ii was of all possible events among tire least probable thatthc twin demons em und pride would ever arise between them


so in very many ciees of friendship or whal liussee for it the old axiom is reversed and lkc clings to unlike mori llinti to like


they were holh very busy on the afiernnon succeeding the family departure mmtiu with the giaimniiiscboil and tom in bouncing certain receiiits of rents and deducting mr pecksniffs commission from the tame in which abstruse employment he was much dis tracted by a habii his new friend had of whistling nloud


while he wan diawing when they were not a lillle ttu riled by the unuxjicckd obtrusion into thin snncluury of genius of a human head which although a shaggy and somewhat alnmiing head in flpeiiriuce smiled tikihly upon them from the luonray in a nniniicr thai was at once wafruish con ciliatory and expressive of upjuobutiuu


i in not industrious myself gems hulh snid tlie head hut know haw to appreciate lliit noalily in others


i wish i may lurii grey and uglj if il isnt il


my opinion nest tu liuiiius


one uf the vuivliiinuiiipbt iuilui nl lie human mind


upon my soul i am lrnlelu to my friend pccuiiflfor leliiul me to the contemplation of such a dcliciou


piclutc us you present


you remind me of whil tiiilon ulternurds ihrice juj mayor of london give you my unsullied word of honour that you very strongly remind me of ihat historical character


you arc n pnir of wliiuingtoiie gents without the cat which is u most iigreeiiblc mid blessed exception to me lor


i am not uttuched to the feline sjiccics


my name is tigg how do ou do t worlin looked lo mr pinch for an expla nation und tom who had never in his life set eyes on mr tigg before looked lo that gen tleman himself chevy slyme


eari mr tigg inter rogatively and kissing his left hand in token ot friendship


y ou will understand roc when i say that i urn the accredited agent of chevy slyme thai am the ambassador from the court or cliiv


hahal


heyday i asked mmtiu starling at the does he wnnl nilh me t


if your name is pinch


mr tigg began


it is not said martin checking himself


tint is mr pinch


if that is mr pinch cried tigp kissinp bis hand again and beginning lo follow liis bend into he room he will permit me to suy thai i greatly fsiecm and respect his character u hicli hns been most highly commended to me by my fiiend pecksniff and that deeply appreciate bis talent for tin organ notwith standing llmt do not if i miiy use the ex pression rind myself


if thnt is mr pinch ivill venlure


lo express a hope thai sec him well ami lhat he is suffering no inconvenience from the easlerly wind t


thank you said tom


iain very well


that is n comfort mr tigg rejoined


then he added shielding his lips with the palm of his hand and applying them close to mr pinchs ear i have come for the letter


tor the letter


siiid tom aloud


what letter


the icuer whispered tigg in the same cautious manlier as before which my friend pecksniff addressed to chevy slyme esquire and lefi with you


lie didnt leave any letter with me said lliishr cried the olher


hfl all the same thing though not so delicately done by my friend pecksniff as i could have wished the money


the money i cried tom quile scared


ikncily so said mr tigg


with which he rapped tom twice or thrice upon the breast and nodded several times as though he would siv that he siiv


they understood each other and but be would take it as a particular favour if tom would tlip the amount mlo his hand as quietly as possible


mr pinch however wns so very much astounded by this lo him inexplicable de porlmcut lhat he at once openly declared there must be some mistake and that he hud been entrusted with no commission whatever having any reference lo mr tigg or to his fiiend cither


mr tigg received tliia decla ration with a grave request lhat mr pinch would have the goodness to mrke it again j and on tumis repenting it in a still more em phatic and unmistakcable manner checked it oil sentence for sentence by nodding his head solemnly ul the end of each


when it had come to a close for the second time mr tigg sat himself down in a chair and addressed the young men as follows then tell you what it is gents botli


there is at this present moment in this very place a perfect constellation of talent and genius who is involved through nliat i can not hut designate as the culpable negligence of my friend pecksniff in a situation as iremen dous perhaps as the social intercourse of the nineteenth century will readily admit of


there is actually at this instant al the blue dragon num


paltry lowmind d clodhopping pipe smoking alehouse an individual of whom it may be said in the language of the poet that nobody but himself can in any wav come up to him who is detained there for his bill


hal hal for his bill


i repeat it for liis bill


noiv said mr tigg we bave heard of foxs book of martyrs i believe and we have heard of the court of requests and the star chamber bull ear the contradiction of no nniu alive or dead when i assert that my friend chevy slyme being held in nawn for a bill beats any amount of cockfigbting with which i am acquainted


martin and ir


pinch looked first al each nther mid aflorwariis at mr yiga who with bis arms folded on bis breast surveyed them hiiu in despondency and half in uiumess


dont mistake me cents both he said stretching forth his right hnlld


if it had liecu for unytuin


but a bill i could have borne it and could still have looked upon mankind with some feeling of respect hut ivheti such a man as my friend slyme is de tained for a score a thiug in itself essentially sibiyclnlkedupolnlhe back of adoorldo feel that there is a screw of such magnitude soriiiv is sunken mid the very first principles of thiiis cm no longer be trusted


in short gents both said mr tigg wilh a passionate rlouiisli of his hands aud head when a man like skine is detained lor such a thing us a bill lieject the superstitions of ages aud believe nothing


i dont even believe that liuut believe curse me if do i


i mi


very sorry i am sure said tom after a pause but m r pecksniff said nothing to me about it and i couldnt act without his in structions


wouldnt it he hotter sir if you yourselfwand remit the money lo your friend


how can that he done when lam detained also said mr tigs


aud when moreover owing to the astounding and must add guilty negligence of my friend pecksniff i tom ihougul of reminding the gentleman vlio nn doubt in his agitation had forgotten il tliat there uus a nostollice in the laud and thilt possibly if he wrote to some friend or iigcnt fur a remittance it inighl


nol he lost upon tlie road nr at all events that the chance holt ever desperate was worth trusting to


hut as his good nalure presently suggested tu him certain reasons for abstaining from this hint he paused again and then asked lid you say sir hat you were detaiued come here said m r tigg rising


you have no objection to my opening this window for a moment v certainly not saij tom


very gooj said mr tigg raising the sash


you see a fellow down there ill a red ucekcluth and no waistcoat


of course do cried tom


thats marktapley


murktatiley is ill said the gentleman


then mark tapley had nol only the great poltctieb to follotvme lo this house but is wiiitin now to see me home again


and for thai act of attention sir added mr tigg stroking his moustache i can tell you tliut slink tiipley hud better in his infancy have been smothered to suffocation by mrs tujiley than preserved to this lime


ilr


pinch was not so dismayed by this ter rible threat but unit he


had voice enough to cull mark to come in and up stairs a sum mons which he so speedily obeyed lhat almost asuouas tom and mr tigg had drawn in their heads and closed the window again he the denounced uimeared before them


come here


murk i said mr pinch


guod gracious me whats the matter be tween mrs lupin and this neulleiunn f fflisi gentleman sir said mark


i dont see nu geutlemun here sir excepting ii


i ii


i


i you mid llic new gentleman lu wlium tie mude a rough kind of how and theres nothing wrong belueen jilts


lupiu aud either ofyourmr


pimli mil sure


nonsense mark i cried tom you see mr


tigg interposed that gentleman


wait a bit


shall crush him soon


all in good time i oh aim rejoined mark with an air of careless defiance


yes i sec him


i could sec him a little better if hed have himself and gel his hnir cut


m r tigg shook his head with a ferocious look and smule himself once upon tlie breast


its no use said mark


if you knak ever so much in that quarter youll get no answer


i knon belter


theres nothing there but padding und a greasy boii it in


auy murk urged mr iinch interposing to prevent hostilities tell me whal i usk you


youre not oul of temper i hope


out of temper sir i cried mark with a grin why no sir


theres u little credit not rauchin being jolly when such fellowb as him is a going about like roaring lions if there is any breed of lions at leost ob is all roar and inane


what is there between him and mrs lupin sir


why theres a score between him and mrs lupin


aud think mrs lupin lets him aud his friend off very easy in not charging cm double prices for being a disgrace to the dragon


thnts my opinion


i wouldnt have any such peter the wild doy as him in my house sir not if was paid raceweek juices for it


ho s enough to turn the very beer in the casks sour with his looks he is i


so he would if he had judg ment enough


youre not answering my question you know mark observed mr pinch


well sir said mark dont know as theres much tonisiver fuither than that


him nnd his friend cries aud stops al the moon mid stars till theyve run a bill ihcre and then comes and stops with us and does the same


the running of bills is common enough mr pinch it aint that as we object to its the ways of this chap


nothings good enough for him all the women is dying for him lie thinks and is overpaid if he winks nl em aud all tlie men were made to be ordered about by him


this not being aggravation enough he says this morning lo me in liis usual capti vating way avere going touigbt my mail


are you sirf says i perhaps youd like the bill got ready fir v


oh no my man he says you neednt mind thai


ill give peck sniff orders to see to that


in reply to which the dragon makes answer thankee sir youre very kind to honour us so far but as we dont know anything particular good of you and you dont travel with luggage and mr pecksniff ant at home which perhaps you maynt happen to be awaie of sir we should prefer something more satisfactory and thats where the mailer stands


and ask said mr tupley pointing in conclusion to mr tilir with his hot any lady or gen tleman possessing ordinary strength of mind to say whether he is a disagreeablelooking chap or not i let me inquire said martin interposing between this candid speech and the delivery of some blighting anathema by mr tigg whal the iinoutit ol this debt may be


in point of money sir very little an swered mark


only just turned of three poun js hut it


ant that its the


yes yes


you told us so before said martin


piucli a word with you


what is it


asked tom retiring with him


why simply i am ashamed to say that this mr slyme is a relation of mine of whom never heard anything pleasant and that i dont want him here just now and i think he would be cheaply got rid of perhaps for three or four pounds


you havent enough money to pay this bill i suppose


tom shook his head to an extent that lea


no doubt of his entire sincerity


thats unfortunate for i am poor too and in case you had had it id have borrowed it of you


hut if we told this landlady we would sec her paid i suppose that would onsuer the same purpose


oh dear yes said tom


she knows me bless you p


then let us go down nt once and tell her so for the sooner we ore rid of their company the better


as you have conducted the con versation wilh ibis geulleman hitherto perhaps youll lell him what we purpose doiug will mr piuch complying at once imparted the intelligence to mr tigg who shook him warmly by the baud in return assuring him that ins faith in anything aud everything was arain restored


it was not so much he said for the temporary relief of this assistance that he prized il as lor ils vindication of the high principle that natures nobs felt for natures volis and true greatness of soul sympathised with true greatuess of soul all the world over


it proved to him he said that like him they admired peiiiuseven when it was cuupled with the alloy occasionally visible in the metal of his friend slyme aud


ou behalf uf thai friend he thanked them us warmly and heartily as if the cause were his own


being cut shorl in these speeches by a general move towards the stairs he took possession at the strcetuoor of the hipel of mr pinchs coat as a security against further interruption and enterluiiied thai gentleman with some highly improving discourse uutil they reached the dragon whi uier they were closely followed by mark and the new pupil


the hostess scarcely needed pinchs word as a preliminary to the release of her two visitors of whom she was glad to he rid on any terms indeed their brief detention had mainly ori ginated with mr tapley who entertained a constitutional dislike lo gentlemen outat elbows who flourished on false pretences and had conceived a particular aversion to mr ti and his friend as choice specimens of the species


the business in hand thus easily settled mr pinch and martin would have withdrawn immediately but for the urgent entreatiebof mr tigg unit they would allow him the honourof presenting them to his friend slyme which were so very difficult of resist ance that yielding partly to these persuasions and partly to their own curiosity they suffered themselves to be ushered inui the presence of that distinguished gentleman


he was brooding over the remains of yes terdays decanter of brandv and was eogaged in the thoughtful occupation of making a chain of rins on the top of the table wilh the wet foot of his driukingglass


wretched and for lorn as he looked mr slyme hod once been in his way the choicest of swaggerers putting forth his pretensions boldly as a man of in finite taste and most undoubted promise


he slockiutrade requisite to set up an amateur iu this department of business is very slight and easily got together a trick of the nose and a curl of the up sufficient to compound a tolera ble bneer being ample provision for any exi gency


but in an evil hour this offshoot of the chuzzlewit trunk being lazy and ill qua lified for any pursuit aud having dissipated such means as he ever possessed had formally established himself as a professor of tunle lor a livelihood and finding too late tlial some thing more uian hi old amount of qualifications was necessary to sustain him in this calling had quickly fallen to his present level where he retained nothing of his old self but his boastfulnesb aud liis bile aud seemed lo have no exislece separate or apart from his frieud tig


and now bo abject and so pitiful was he at once so maudlin insolent beggarly and proud that even his frieud and parasite standing erect beside him swelled into a mou by contrast


chiv said mr tigg clapping him on the hack my frieud pecksniff uot being at home have arranged our trifling piece of business with m r piuch and friend


mr pinch and friend mr chevy slyme chiv mr iinch aud


friend i these are agreeable circumstances in which to he introduced to strangers baid chevy slyme lurniug his bloodshot eyes to wards tom pinch


i am the most miserable man in the world i believe tom bcleil lie wouldnt mention it and finding liiiimii this condition retired atler an awkward pause followed by marliu


but mr tigg so urgently conjured them by coughe and signs to reintin i the kuwluw of hie door that they slopped there


swear cried mr slyme giving uie table mi imbecile blow with his hst and then feebly icuuing his head upon his hand while some drunken drops oozed irom bis eyes that i am ihe wieichedesi crealuro on record


so mot iiternry mlts m fojof scholar ship im full uf genius im full of informa tion


pin full of novel vieivs on every subject yet look ot my condition


i im at ibis moment ohlied to two strangers for a tavern hill i jfr


tigg replenished his friends glass pressed it into his hand and nodded uu inti maiion to the visitors that ihey would see him in a better aspect immediately


to be continued


chapter iii


the appleshaws


the same day that saw giddys cage in its new place and the artizans two rooms at the jewellers neatly furnished and arrayed joe appleshaw his wife and children approached london


fail ing to obtain further work by the way joe at nellys suggestion turned aside no longer to obtain it but proceeded on direct to town which weary and footsore they reached at the close of day


passing over blackfriars bridge whither they had been directed and on which ther lingered for some minutes to gaze down with rustic wonder on the splendid liver sweeping far below they had little difficulty in finding the no torious locality of saffron hill and its surrounding streets


but it was not so eas to make out the exact house they sought


for though many of these pur lieus were thronged with idle loungers though the doorsteps and windows were mostly ciowded with women and children whose features in the mingled twilight and scanty gaslight looked still more pallid than by day though nelly with instinctive judgment invariably ad dressed the most decent looking of the loungers or passersby yet neither she nor joe could elicit a direct or in many cases a civil answer


a qiiery answered their question or else a ribald jest


at length through inquiry in a little fcetid hucksters shop wherein a bloated shrewdish woman was serving out the minutest modicums of food grocery wood or coals to a crowd of slipshod women and hungrylooking filthy chil dren they found they must enter a nar row court a few yards down on the other side of the street


as it was a culdesac with an opening but a few feet wide they would have had some difficulty in dis covering it but for a very diminutive slipshod girl who following them from the shop with a herring dangling in her hand now approached and beckoning led the way


just as they had emerged into the narrow culdesac itselfdimly lighted by a lamp at the entrance and not wide enough to admit more than two persons abreast they were met by an elderly man decently dressed in black


the girl instinctively stayed to curtsey ven before the stranger had recognised her and when he did so he laid his hand kindly on her head bid her be a good girl and keep to school do what she could for her father and mother and fear god he then passed on


ignorant and untutored as she was nelly apple shaw was struck by this evidence of better things amidst so much that had already made her heart sink with fear and loathing for she remembered that it was in this way that the good clergy man in the parish where she had been reared had always stayed to speak to the school or village children


thou hast pretty manners she said to the girl whose feet were shoeless and whose rags dangled in strips dost thee go to school and be this the parson


yes missis i go to the ragged school them days motherll let me and that baint the parson but mr field one on th visitors as come round to the houses


he is a right good un and has saved me from many a beating that he has


viam asked dick who though foot sore and sleepy had been a listener may i go to school when dad gets work


ay that thou shalt lad for it wur a sore thing to my heart that thou hadst to leave sehoolmaister as thou didst to go stone picking and bird scaring


ay thou shalt go my lad that thou shalt


but what be that running noise


she asked of the girl for as they advanced up the culdesac a dull guigling sound accom panied by a stench most incredible and loathsome bccame more and more perceptible


its the ditch replied the girl folks at nixs says its bin a river once but its a precious bad place now


people as come fresh to nixs find it dreadful but wese got used to it though doctor said tother night when he come to see betty flaggans babythat thats why it die and many babbies and growd folks too


nelly did not answer but pressed her sleeping infant to her breast


by this time they had reached nixs doorthe adjacent shutter being closed though light streamed through the broken chinks


at joes heavy knock and the childs lighter one a stout bar was drawn aside and a large coarse featured man admitting the child con fronted the labourer and his family


i be wanting a lodging master for me and my missis and children and to see ned bingly as puts up here


as he spoke thus joe in his ignorant simplicity moved a step forward as though to pasa in but an iron hand stayed him


hast thou money to pay


asked the man gruffly folks pay beforehand here


nelly gentiy asked the sum


threepence apiece for thee and the man twopence each the childrenthe babby not counting


and the man numbered at a glance the four children as though they were so many ninepins or head of cattle


producing her sole money from her pocketa solitary shilling and sixpence nelly placed them in his hand and he at once admitted them without care as to whether they were married or single drunken or sober religious or irreligious honest or dishonestit was no matter that those before him had moral natures that might be contaminated by the scenes within so that he had his price


the barnlike room into which they were admitted had been evidently at one time divided into a lesser and a greater portion by a partition wall


this had been part ally pulled down from the ceiling downwards for several feetbut leaving enough standing from the floor upwards to form a sort of screen of about five feet in height within which the man and a middleaged woman ap peared to live as they had a little fire place to themselves a turnup bedstead a cuckoo clock a ricketty table a few broken chairs and an old bureiu and thus protected from observation they could yet see and hear all that was going on in the kitchen adjoining


receiving her change from the land lady a debauchedlooking faded woman who was frying a luxurious supper of beefsteaks and onions at the little tire place just spoken of


nelly followed joe and her children into the room behind the partition in which blazed a large fire though it was a hot jtme night


it was pretty well filled by a motley crowd of all ages and sexes


the women for the major part being gathered round the fireplace cooking talking drinking or nursing the men lolling or asleep on the benches the one or two old tables the few rickettv or backless chairs whilst some of the younger ones were seated cardplaying on the filthy floor


chil dren swarmed


those who were not asleep or ravenously devouring the food their parents had brought in were quar relling or playing as the case might be or else apt listeners or observers of the foul manners and fouler language which was taking place around


on either of the latter there was no restraint except occasionally when the brutal laugh or shout grew too loud the man behind the partition cried out silence theere in a voice that matched the rest


he feared the ear of the police that was all as to any other care he had nonenot he


topics were openly discussed that decent men and women would blush to name acts were prevalent that degrade hu inanity to the level of the brute


girls almost children gloried as though crowned with honour in their own shame lads and men spoke of the open theft the more insidious and secret crime as though such were honest tests of manhood and welldoing old sinners of both sexes past the age of profitable sin yet recounted ancient misdeeds as though matter for memory and fame and children who had never had a child hood imitated the sins they thus hourly learned


there was no more recognition or rather knowledge in that place of god or godlike things of the light divine within the human breast of the benefit of good the curse of evil of our saviour and the blessed creed he taught to men than as if mortality had not been so redeemed and mortal natures like the potters vessel


were all of clay poor clay yet step but for a moment out of doors and the parish clergyman the dis trict visitor the city missionary or the pomceman would tell you that nixs lodging was far from being the worst and that within a stones throw of that very spot a dozen places existed that only had their equal in the dens of glasgow


to be continued


aarnaby iludge


n


chapter xviii


gliding alone the silent streets and holding his rourde where they were darkest and most gloomy the man who had left the widows house crossed london bridge and arriving in the city plunged into the back ways


lanes and courts between cornhill and smithfield with no more fixedness of purpose than to lose himself among their windines and baffle pursuit if any one were dogging his step s


it was the dead of the night and all was quiet


now and then a drowsy watchmans footsteps sounded on the pavement or the lamplighter on his rounds went flashing past leaving behind a little track of smoke mingled with glowing morsels of his hot red link


he hid himself even from these partakers of his lonely walk and shrinking in some arch or doorway while they passed issued forth again when they were gone and so pursued his soli tary way


to be shelterless and alone in the open country hearing the wind moan and watching for day through the whole long weary night to listen to the falling rain and crouch for warmth beneath the lee of some old barn or rick or in the hollow of a tree are dismal thingsbut not so dismal as the wandering up and down where shelter is and beds and sleepers are by thousands a houseless rejected creature


to pace the echoing stones from hour to hour counting the dull chimes of the clocks to watch the lights twinkling in chamber windows to think what happy forgetfulness each house shuts in that here are children coiled together in their beds here youth here age here poverty here wealth all equal in their sleep and all at rest to have nothing in common with the slumbering world around not even sleep heavens gift to all its creatures and be akin to nothing but despair to feel by the wretched contrast with everything on every hand more utterly alon and cast away than in a trackless desert this is a kind of suffering on which the rivers of great cities close full many a time and which the solitude in crowds alone awakens


the miserable man paced up and down the streetsso long so wearisome so like each other and often cast a wistful look towards the east hoping to see the first faint streaks of day


but obdurate night had vet possession of the sky and his disturbed and restless walk found no relier


one house in a back street was bright with the scheerful glare of lights there was the sound of music in it too and the tread of dancers and there were cheerful voices and many a burst of laughter


to this placeto be near something that was awake and gladhe returned again and again and more than one of those who left it when the merriment was at its height felt it a check upon their mirthful mood to see him flitting to and fro like an uneasy ghost


at last the guests departed one and all and then the house was close shut up and became as dull and silent as the rest


his wanderings brought him at one time to the airty gaol


instead of hastening from it as a place of ill omen and one he had cause to shun he sat down on some steps hard by and resting his chin upon his hand fgazed upon its rough and frowning walls as though feven they became a refuge in his jaded eyes


lie paced it round and round came back to the same spot and sat down again


he did this often and once wiih a hasty movement


crossed to where some men were watching in the prison lodge and had his foot uponthe steps as though determined to accost them


but looking round he saw that the day began to break and failing in his purpose turned and fled


he was soon in the quarter be had lately traversed end pacing to and fro again as he had done before


he was passing down a mean street when from an alley close at hand some shouts of revelry arose and there came straggling forth a dozen madcaps whoopirg and calling to each other who parting noisily took different ways and dispersed in smaller groups


hoping that some low place of entertainment which would afford him a safe refuge might be near at hand lie turned into this court when they were all gone and looked about for a halfopened door or lighted window or other indication of the place whence they had come


it iwas so profoundly dark however and so illfavoured that he concluded they had but turned up there missing their way and were pouring out again when he observed them


wilh this impression and finding there was no outlet but that by which fie had entered he was about to turn when from a grating near his feet a sudden stream of light appeared and the sound of talking came


he retreated into a doorway to see who these talkers were


and to listen to them


the light came to the level of the pavement as he did this and a man ascended hearing in his hand a torch


this figure unlocked and held open the grating as for the passage of another who presently appeared in the form of a young man of small stature and uncommon selfimportance dressed in an obsolete and very gaudy fashion


good night noble captain said he with tihe torch


farewell commander


good luck illus


trious general


in return to these compliments the other bade him hold his tongue and keep his noise to himself and laid upon him many similar injunctiona with great fluency of speech and sternness of manner


commend me captain to the stricken liggs


returned the torchbearer in a lower voice


aly captain flies at higher game titan miggses


ha ha hal mycaptain is an eagle both as respects his eye and soaring wings


my captain breaketh hearts as other bachelors break eggs at breakfast


what a fool you are stagg i said mr tapper tit stepping on the pavement of the court and brushing from his legs the dust he had contracted in his passage upward


his precious limbs i cried stagg clasping one of his ancles


shall a miggs aspire to these pro portions


no no my captain


we will inveigle ladies fair and wed them in our secret cavern


we will unite ourselves with blooming beauties cap tain


ill tell you what my buck said mr tapper


tit


releasing his leg ii trouble you not to take liberties soand not to broach certain questions unless certain questions are broached to you


speak when youre spoke to on particular subjects and not otherways


hold the torch up till ive got to the end of the courtand then kennel yourself do you bear t i hear you noble captain


obey then said mlr


tappertit haughtily


gentlemen lead on with which word of command addressed to an imaginary staff or re tinue be folded his arms and walled with surpass


ing dignity down the court


his obsequiuus follower stood holding the torch above hiis head and then the observer saw for the first time from iris place of concealment that he was blind


some involuntary motion on hiis part caught the quick ear of tile blind man before he was con scious of having moved an mich towards him for he turned suddenly and cried whosr there a man said the other advancing


a friend


a strangerl rejoined the blind man


strangers are not my friends


what do you do there i saw our company come out and waited here till they were gone


i want a lodging


a oging at this time i returned stagg point


iog towards the dawn as though he saw it


do ou know thie day is breaking s know it rejoined the other to my cost


i have been traversing this ironhlrearted town all night


you had better traverse it again said the blind man preparing to descend till you find some lodgings suitable to your taste


i dont let any


s tay i cried the other holding him by the arm


ill beat this light about thrat hangdog face of yours for hangdg it is if it answers to your voice and rouse the neigl bourhood besides if you detain meeaid theblind man


let me go


do you hear


do yaour hear


returned the other chinking a few shillhngs together and hurriedly pressing them into his ihand


i beg nothing of you


i will pay for the shelter you give me


death


i is it much to ask of such as you i i have come from the country and desire to rest where there are none to question me


i am faint exhausted worn out almost dead let me lie deown like n dog


before your sre


i ask nn more than that


if you would be rid of me iwill depart tomorrow


if a gentleman lass been unfortunate on tihe road muttered stagg yielding to the other who pressing on him had already gained a lootiig or the stepsaod can pay for his accummodation i will pay you with all i have


i am just nun past the want of food god knows and wish but to puchase shelter


what companion have you belbw s one then fasten your grate there and show me the way


quick


the blind man complied after a moments iesita tion and they descended together


tne dialogue had passed as hurriedly as the words could be spoken and they stood in his wretched room before he had time to recover from his first surprise


llay i ate bhete that door leads to and what is beyond said the man


glancing keenly round


you will not mind that will show you myself


follow me or go before


take your choice he bade him lead the was and by the light of the torch which his conductor held ttp for the pur pose inspected all three cellars narrowly


assured that the blind man had spoken truth and that he lived there alone the visitor returned with him to the first in which a fire was burning and flitng him self with a deep groan upon the ground before it


his host pursued his usual occupation without seeming to heed him any further


but directly he fell asleepand he noted his falling into a slumber as readily as the keenestsghted nman could have donehe knelt down beside him and passed his handl lightly but arefully over his face and person


his sleep was checkered with starts and moans and sometimes with a muttered word or two


his hands were clenched his brow bent and his mouth firmly set


all this the blind man accurately marked and as if his curiosity were strongly awakened and he had already some inkling of his mystery he sat watching him if the expression may be used and listening until it was broad day


chapter


v as soon as the business of the day was over the locksmith sallied forth alone to visit the wounded gentleman and ascertain the progress of his recovery


the house where he had left him was in a bystreet in southwark not far from london bridge and thither he hied with all speed bent upon returning with as little delay as might be and getting to bed betimes


the evening was boisterousscarcely better than the previous night had been


it was not easy for a stout man like gabriel to keep his legs at the street corners or to make head against the high wind which often fairly got the better of him and drove him back some paces or in defiance of all his energy forced him to take shelter in an arch or doorway until the fury of the gust was spent


oe


castonally a hat or wig or both came spinning and trundling past him like a mad thing while the more serious spectacle of falling tiles and slates or of masses of brick and mortar or fragments of stone coping rattling upon the pavement near at hand and splitting into fragments did not increase the pleasure of the journey or make the way less dreary


a trying night for a man like me to walk in i said the locksmith as he knocked softly at the widows door


id rather be in old johns chim


ney corner faith


whos there demanded a womans voice from within


being answered it added a hasty word of welcome and the door was quickly opened


she was about fortyperhaps two or three years olderwith a cheerful aspect and a face that had once been pretty


it bore traces of affliction and care but they were of an old date and time had smoothed them


any one who had bestowed but a casual glance on barnaby might have known that this was his mother from the strong resemblance between them but where in his face there was wildness and vacancy in hers there was the patient composure of long effort and quiet resignation one thing about this face was very strange and startling


you could not look upon it in its most cheerful mood without feeling that it had some ex traordinary capacity of expressing terror


it was not on the surface


it was in no one feature that it lingered


you could not take the eyes or mouth or lines upon the cheek and say if this or that were otherwise it would not be so


yet there it always lurkedsomething for ever dimly seen but ever there and never absent for a moment


it was the faintest palest shadow of some look to which an instant of intense and most unutterable horror only could have given birth butindistinctand feeble as it was it did suggest what that look must have been and fixed it in the mind as if it had had exist


encein a dream


more faintly imaged and wanting force and pur pose as it were because of its darkened intellect there was this same stamp upon the son


peen in a picture it must have had some legend with it and would have haupted those who looked upon the can


vass


they who knew the maypole story and could remembet what the widow was before her husbands and his masters murder understood it well


they recollected how the change had come and could call to mind that when her son was born upon the very day the deed was known he bore upon his wrist what seemed a smear of blood but half washed out


god save youneighboursaid the locksmith as he followed her with the air of an old friend into a little parloar where a cheerful fire was burning


and you she answered smiling


your kind heart


has brought you here again


nothing willkeep you at home i know of old


if thereare friends to serve or comfort out of doors


tut tut returned the locksmith rubbing his hands and warming them


you women are such talkers


what of the patient neighbour lie is sleeping now


he was very restless towards daylight and for soume hours tossed and tumbled sadly


but the fever has left him and the doctor says he will soon mend


lie must not lie removed until tomtorrow helhas had visitors todayhumph said ga briel slyly


yesr old mrohester has been here ever sitce we sent for rhimiaid had not been gone many minutes when yb knocked no ladies said gabriel elevating his eye brows and looking disappointed


aaletter replied the widow


cone thats better than nothing cried the locksmith who was the bearer barnaby of course


arnabys a jewel i said


varden and comes and goes with ease where we who think our selves much wiser would make but a poor hand of it


he is not out wandering again i hope


thank heaven lie is in bed having been up all night os you know and on his feet all day hie was quite tired out


ah neighbour if i could but see him oftener soif i could but tame down that terrible restlessness in good time said the locksmith kindly in good timedont be downhearted


to my mind lihe grows wiser every day


the widow shook her head


and yet though she knew the locksmith sought to cheer her and spoke from no conviction of his own she was glad to hear even this praise of her poor benighted son


he will be a cute man yet resumed the locksmith


take care when we are growing old and foolish barnaby doesnt put us to the blush thats all


but our other friend