rom that wretched cellar in the
Five Points, and of other parents than you and Mrs. Magee. _I believe
you stole me when I was very young._"

"No, indade. I had nothing to do with it," replied Patrick, hastily.

"Then your wife did it?"

"Well, yes. You see, my dear, when I 'm fairly cornered, I scorns to
lie. That same _was_ one of the little thaving operations of the late
Mrs. Magee, Heaven rest her sowl!" said Patrick, rolling his eyes.

"O, then, for mercy's sake, tell me who and where are my parents!"
cried Molly, clasping her hands in an agony of entreaty.

"Softly, softly; bide a bit, my darling. Nothing is sold for nothing.
I can niver consint to blacken the memory of my poor departed Biddy
without a consideration."

"What do you mean?"

"Pay me fifty dollars, and I 'll make a clane breast of it, and tell
you all you want to know."

"But, Mr. Magee," cried Molly, in distress, "I have not so much money.
I have only a very few dollars of my own in the world; but I will
promise to give it to you, and more too, as soon as I can earn it.
Only tell me."

"No, miss, I must be paid down. 'A bird in the hand is worth two in
the bush.' If you have n't the money, belike your new governor, Mr.
Morton, would pay a trifle like that for the sake of getting rid of
you."

"He _might_ advance it for me; though he is not rich, he is so good,"
rejoined Molly. "I would ask you to come up to the house and see, only
he is away from home, and is not expected back till late in the
evening. Please, _please_ tell me now, and trust me for your reward.
Indeed, indeed, I will pay you some time, and be your friend always."

"Your servant, miss," replied Patrick, with a mocking bow, "but I 'd
rather not trust a fine lady as has just scorned an ould friend in
reduced circumstances, who, if he is n't her father, sure it's no fault
of his. Tell your Mr. Morton that I 'll call to-morrow morning, ready
to arrange matters in a business-like, gintlemanly way. But mind, _no
money, no sacret_. I 'll not have my family affairs paraded in the
newspapers for nothing, and all Mrs. Magee's little wakenesses exposed,
after she's left this wicked world, and the _crowner_ has set on her,
and she's been dacently buried at the city's expinse, hard on to six
years."

Molly reached home in a state of intense excitement, but, on relating
her strange story, was soothed and cheered by Mrs. Morton's tender,
motherly sympathy. Mr. Morton cam