said the man; "and I should like to see the arm that
would hurt you;" and he looked round, but the young man had disappeared.
"You are not a countrywoman I am thinking," he added.

"No, but a sister in Christ," said Sybil; "listen to me, good friend.
I hasten to my father,--he is in great danger,--in Hunt Street,--I
know not my way,--every moment is precious,--guide me, I beseech
you,--honestly and truly guide me!"

"Will I not? Don't you be afraid my dear. And her poor father is ill! I
wish I had such a daughter! We have not far to go. You should have taken
the next turning. We must walk up this again for 'tis a small street
with no thoroughfare. Come on without fear."

Nor did Sybil fear; for the description of the street which the honest
man had incidentally given, tallied with her instructions. Encouraging
her with many kind words, and full of rough courtesies, the good
Irishman led her to the spot she had so long sought. There was the court
she was told to enter. It was well lit, and descending the steps she
stopped at the first door on her left, and knocked.

Book 5 Chapter 7

On the same night that Sybil was encountering so many dangers, the
saloons of Deloraine House blazed with a thousand lights to welcome
the world of power and fashion to a festival of almost unprecedented
magnificence. Fronting a royal park, its long lines of illumined windows
and the bursts of gay and fantastic music that floated from its walls
attracted the admiration and curiosity of another party that was
assembled in the same fashionable quarter, beneath a canopy not less
bright and reclining on a couch scarcely less luxurious, for they were
lit by the stars and reposed upon the grass.

"I say, Jim," said a young genius of fourteen stretching himself upon
the turf, "I pity them ere jarvies a sitting on their boxes all the
night and waiting for the nobs what is dancing. They as no repose."

"But they as porter," replied his friend, a sedater spirit with the
advantage of an additional year or two of experience. "They takes their
pot of half-and-half by turns, and if their name is called, the link
what they subscribe for to pay, sings out 'here;' and that's the way
their guvners is done."

"I think I should like to be a link Jim," said the young one.

"I wish you may get it," was the response: "it's the next best thing to
a crossing: it's what every one looks to when he enters public life, but
he soon finds 'taint to be