MRS.

DARLINGTON was a woman of refinement herself, and had been used to the society of refined persons.

She was, naturally enough, shocked at the coarseness and brutality of Mr.Scragg, and, ere an hour went by, in despair at the unmannerly rudeness of the children, the oldest a stout, vulgar-looking boy, who went racing and rummaging about the house from the garret to the cellar.

For a long time after her exciting interview with Mr.Scragg, she sat weeping and trembling in her own room, with Edith by her side, who sought earnestly to comfort and encourage her.
"Oh, Edith!" she sobbed, "to think that we should be humbled to this!" "Necessity has forced us into our present unhappy position, mother," replied Edith.

"Let us meet its difficulties with as brave hearts as possible." "I shall never be able to treat that dreadful man with even common civility," said Mrs.Darlington.
"We have accepted him as our guest, mother, and it will be our duty to make all as pleasant and comfortable as possible.