difficulty, for such expressions were not
common on his lips; but some impulse, born of a vast pity, in which no
shadow of resentment mingled, made him long to be as tender with her as
he knew how. The manner of her reception by these two, whom she had
wronged by her long silence, affected Liz deeply, though she made no
sign.

'I dinna see what better I can dae, if ye'll no' stump up for the cab to
Maryhill,' she said ungraciously. 'A' the same, I wish I had never seen
ye. Ye had nae business watchin' for me, ony o' ye. I'm my ain mistress,
an' I'm no' needin' onything aff ye.'

The little seamstress nodded to Walter, and he hailed a passing cab. All
the time, even after they were inside the vehicle, she never relaxed her
hold of Liz, but they accomplished the distance to Teen's poor little
home in complete silence. Liz felt and looked like a prisoner; Walter's
face wore a sad and downcast expression; the little seamstress only
appeared jubilant.

It was nearly midnight when they ascended the long stair to the little
garret, and Liz had to pause many times in the ascent to recover her
breath and to let her cough have vent. She grumbled all the way up; but
when Teen broke up the fire and lit the gas she sank into an old
basket-chair with a more contented expression on her face.

'Noo, ye'll hae a cup o' tea in a crack,' Teen said blithely. 'I've
gotten a new teapot, Liz; the auld yin positively fell to bits. Wull ye
no' bide an' drink a cup, Walter?'

'Not to-night; I think you would be better alone. But I'll come
to-morrow and see you, Liz. Good-night; I am sure you will be
comfortable here.'

'Oh ay, I dinna doot. I say, ye are a toff, an' nae mistake; ye micht
pass for a lord,' she said, with a kind of scornful approbation. 'Ye're
risin' in the scale while I'm gaun doon; but I've seen something o'
life, onyhoo, an' that's aye something.'

She gave him her hand, which was quite white and unsoiled, languidly,
and bade him a careless good-night. As Walter went out of the kitchen,
she was surprised, but not more so than he was himself, that two tears
rolled down his cheeks. He dashed them away quickly, however, and when
the little seamstress accompanied him to the door, he was quite calm
again.

'You'll take care of her and not let her away, and I'll be eternally
obliged to you. I trust you entirely,' he said quickly.

Teen nodded sagaciously.

'If she gangs oot o' this hoose, she tak's me wi' her,' she said,