She

The

say to Ellen when he presented his gift. Ellen had never before looked so pretty, he thought. Her eyes were brighter, and there was a more joyous animation than usual in her manner. greeted him with a smile so much more gracious than he was accustomed to receive from her, that he congratulated himself upon the purchase of the flower. She gave him her hand with more than her usual warmth, and when he ventured gently to press it, she did not resent the liberty. fact was, she did not notice it. She was full of joy, and, as is the case with all amiable natures, she dispensed gleams of her happiness to all with whom she came in contact. Unless we are too much engrossed in our own special cares, we sometimes meet with such-like happy faces in the streets -faces which seem to say, 'We are happy; be happy with us’—faces which, although quite strange to us, which we have never seen before and may never see again, will kindle with a smile of welcome upon the smallest encouragement.

But Solomon Fewster was terribly discomfited when he learnt the reason of her cheerfulness and animation; it was because letters had been received from Joshua. He determined not to present his flower just then, for he read something

in Ellen's blushes that sorely galled him. He could not help thinking that the fuss they were making about a common sailor-boy, and the laughing and the crying they indulged in over Joshua's stupid letters, were utterly ridiculous, and in a sort of way derogatory to himself, Dan's best patron. As the night wore on, his anger and uneasiness increased; and yet he lingered until the last moment, torturing himself with all kinds of speculations as to what was the nature of the feeling that Ellen entertained for Joshua. Every expression of gladness that fell from her lips concerning Joshua and Joshua's career was painful to him, and it was with a bitter heart that he left the house, with the flower still in his coat. He was hot and feverish as he closed the street-door behind him, and he was not sorry to find that a heavy rain was falling. He took off his hat and bared his head to the rain. Within the house he had been compelled to repress expression of his feelings; it was a relief to him now to feel that no one was by, and that he could speak out at last. And the first words he uttered, as he smoothed his wet hair and put on his hat, were, 'Damn Joshua Marvel! I would give money to drown him!' As he spoke the words aloud, he was con

scious of a slouching figure at his side. Although it was raining, the night was not quite dark; there was enough light for him to notice that the man who had approached him was in rags-most probably a beggar. Muttering that he had nothing to give, Solomon Fewster walked on. But the man was not to be so easily shaken off, and Mr. Fewster being in an eminently quarrelsome mood turned upon him, and repeated in no civil tone that he had nothing to give.

6

'I have not asked you for anything,' said the man surlily, though if I had, you might speak to me more civilly, Mr. Fewster.'

They were passing a lamp-post, and attracted by the utterance of his name, Mr. Fewster stopped and said,

'How do you know my name?'

'I know it; that is enough,' was the answer. 'Ah,' said Mr. Fewster, regarding the Lascar with curiosity and recognising him, ‘I have seen you before, my man.'

That is not saying much against me, master,' said the Lascar rather sneeringly. I have seen you before; so we're equal.'

'And whenever I have seen you, it has been in this street,' continued Mr. Fewster.

'And pretty well whenever I have seen you, it has been in this street,' retorted the Lascar; 'you seem to be as fond of it as I am.'

6

'And generally of a night.'

The same to you, master; and what then? The street is free to me as it is to you.

Look you.

I know more than you are aware of. If it comes to that, why do you go so often to that house?' The sudden look of discomposure that flashed into Mr. Fewster's face was not lost upon the Lascar, who had seen him walking by Ellen's side more than once, and who had stealthily followed them on every occasion. Look you, master. What one man does for love, another man does for hate.' 'Hate of whom? What do you mean?' 'The people in that house have received letters from Joshua Marvel to-day.'

'Well, what of that?'

"What of that!' cried the Lascar, in a voice of suppressed passion, and yet with a cunning watchfulness of Mr. Fewster's face, as if he were watching for a cue to speak more plainly. Well, nothing much, master; except that I should like to know when the cub is coming home.'

Mr. Fewster could not help an expression of satisfaction passing into his eyes as he heard

Joshua spoken of as a cub, and the Lascar saw it and took his cue from it.

'What do you want to know for? What is Joshua Marvel to you?'

'He is this to me,' cried the Lascar, the dark blood rushing into his face and making it darker ; 'that if I had him here, I would stamp upon him with my feet and spoil his beauty for him! He is this to me, that if I could twist his heart-strings. I would do it, and laugh in his face the while! See me now, master; look at me well. I did not ask you for money, for I know you, and I know you don't give nothing for nothing. But I might have asked you, and with reason, for I want it. Look at my feet' (Mr. Fewster noticed, for the first time, that the Lascar's feet were bare); 'look at my clothes-rags. That old thief, Praiseworthy Meddler, kicked me off his barge where I've lived and slept this many a year. And every blow he struck at me went down to Joshua Marvel's account, and makes it heavier against him. See you; the Lascar dog never forgets. I've sworn an oath, and I'll keep it. I've put a cross against him, and he shall see it when he is dying.'

Solomon Fewster looked at the wretch before him, quivering with passion and shivering with