Money, dispensed with the most lavish hand, would be a poor recompense for sufferings like yours; and thinly scattered by hands so pinched and tied as ours, it becomes a miserable mockery.

I feel it so, God knows,' he added, hastily.

'Why should I wonder if she does!' 'You do me wrong, dear sir, indeed,' she rejoined with great earnestness; 'and yet when you come to hear what I desire your leave to say--' 'I shall find my doubts confirmed ?' he said, observing that she faltered and became confused.

'Well!' He quickened his pace for a few steps, but fell back again to her side, and said: 'And have you come all this way at last, solely to speak to me ?' She answered, 'Yes.' 'A curse,' he muttered, 'upon the wretched state of us proud beggars, from whom the poor and rich are equally at a distance; the one being forced to treat us with a show of cold respect; the other condescending to us in their every deed and word, and keeping more aloof, the nearer they approach us .-- Why, if it were pain to you (as it must have been) to break for this slight purpose the chain of habit forged through two-and-twenty years, could you not let me know your wish, and beg me to come to you ?' 'There was not time, sir,' she rejoined.

'I took my resolution but last night, and taking it, felt that I must not lose a day--a day! an hour--in having speech with you.' They had by this time reached the house.