he had rescued, gave scarce
a thought to the flight of those who had opposed him; but, with a gush
of thankfulness in his heart, he drew Blanche's arm within his, and led
her back toward her own house.

"How came you to be in the street at this hour, Miss? Do you know it is
after midnight, and young girls like you are never safe in these streets
at such hours?"

"Oh, sir," said Blanche, bursting into tears, "my grandpapa was taken
very ill. I had no one to send, you know, and of course I had to go for
assistance myself. I looked all up and down the street, and saw nobody,
not even a watch-man; so I put on my cloak, and ran for the doctor. He
wasn't home; so I went a little further to see old Elise, who always
gives me medicine that helps grandpapa, and she detained me a little
while preparing it; and when I came out, _they_ came behind me; I tried
my very best to run away, but I fell down, and they caught me. Oh, Mon
Dieu! Monsieur! what if you hadn't come just as you did!"

"You would have been a most miserable little girl, without doubt, Miss
Blanche."

"I can never thank you enough, Monsieur."

"You can repay me by never going out at such a time again."

"And when another case comes just as extreme, Mr. Wilkins, what can I
do? I couldn't let poor grandpapa die, could I?"

There was such an earnest intonation of voice in these words, and such a
simple innocence of manner, that Wilkins couldn't repress a smile.

"If I furnish you with a tidy little black girl, will you take good care
of her, Miss Blanche, and let _her_ do your errands?"

"Oh, Monsieur, that would be too much for you to do."

"No; I own a number of slaves, and the daughter of one of them is too
young to be put out to a place, and is just old enough to work for you."

"You are so very kind!"

By this time they had reached Blanche's home, and as she tripped up the
steps, she said:--

"Come and see grandpapa to-morrow, Mr. Wilkins; and let him thank you
for his kindness to his little house-keeper."

"I will come, Miss Blanche."

"And, Monsieur," she added, coming out again after she had passed into
the door, "bring Guly with you, won't you?"

"Oui, Mademoiselle."

The door closed, and Wilkins passed on, thoughtfully, towards
Royal-street. In the excitement of the recent adventure, he had almost
forgotten what had called him forth at that time of night, and now
walked on, like one who wanders forth purposeless, into darkness and
solit