iliffs are after him. He has now fallen asleep. I will go and find you
some lodging close at hand, for I cannot expel him who has protected me;
and yet you cannot be under the same roof with him. My own good angel, I
must lose you."

He did not wait for her answer, but hurried down stairs. The morning
looked through the shutterless panes in Leonard's garret, and the birds
began to chirp from the elmtree, when Burley rose and shook himself, and
stared round. He could not quite make out where he was. He got hold
of the water-jug, which he emptied at three draughts, and felt greatly
refreshed. He then began to reconnoitre the chamber,--looked at
Leonard's manuscripts, peeped into the drawers, wondered where the devil
Leonard himself had gone to, and finally amused himself by throwing down
the fireirons, ringing the bell, and making all the noise he could,
in the hopes of attracting the attention of somebody or other, and
procuring himself his morning dram.

In the midst of this charivari the door opened softly, but as if with
a resolute hand, and the small quiet form of Helen stood before the
threshold. Burley turned round, and the two looked at each other for
some moments with silent scrutiny.

BURLEY (composing his features into their most friendly
expression).--"Come hither, my dear. So you are the little girl whom I
saw with Leonard on the banks of the Brent, and you have come back to
live with him,--and I have come to live with him too. You shall be our
little housekeeper, and I will tell you the story of Prince Pettyman,
and a great many others not to be found in 'Mother Goose.' Meanwhile, my
dear little girl, here's sixpence,--just run out and change this for its
worth in rum."

HELEN (coming slowly up to Mr. Burley, and still gazing earnestly into
his face).--"Ah, sir, Leonard says you have a kind heart, and that you
have served him; he cannot ask you to leave the house; and so I, who
have never served him, am to go hence and live alone."

BURLEY (moved).--"You go, my little lady; and why? Can we not all live
together?"

HELEN.--"No, sir. I left everything to come to Leonard, for we had met
first at my father's grave; but you rob me of him, and I have no other
friend on earth."

BURLEY (discomposed).--"Explain yourself. Why must you leave him because
I come?"

Helen looked at Mr. Burley again, long and wistfully, but made no
answer.

BURLEY (with a gulp).--"Is it because he thinks I am not fit company f