t over the little old woman, and kissed her on
the forehead.

"Harry and I will be a bit late to-night," he said. "We've joined a
boys' club in Bethnal Green."

"A club?" said Grannie. "You're young to be out at nights by yourself.
What sort of club?"

"Oh, It's a first-rate sort. It has been opened by a good man. He's a
right down jolly fellow, though he is a swell. There's boxing and all
kinds of good games going on there."

"It's all right, Grannie," interrupted Alison. "Boys must grow into
men," she added, in a quick voice.

"Dear me," answered the old woman, "I don't know nothing, I suppose!
When I was young, boys in their teens stayed at home. But there! you
are a good lad, Dave, and I'll trust you to keep Harry out of mischief."

"Harry is well enough, Grannie, if you'd only trust him."

"Well, I suppose I must. Give me a kiss, Dave, and be off. Children,
loves, what are you pottering about for?"

"We're ready to go now, Grannie," said the little ones.

They shouldered their bags, put on their hats, and left the room with
considerable clatter, only first of all each small pair of legs made
for Grannie's chair, each rosy pair of lips bestowed a vigorous kiss
upon her apple-blossom cheeks. She patted them on their shoulders,
smiled at them with happy eyes full of love; and they rushed off to
school, grumbling a little at her quick, abrupt ways, but loving her
well deep down in their hearts.

Alison stood up and began to put away the dinner things. Alison and
Mrs. Reed were now alone. The old woman looked anxiously at the girl.
Alison's figure was very slight and graceful. She wore her shop dress,
too, a neat black alpaca. The young ladies in the shops in High
Street, Shoreditch, could not afford black silk, but the shop in
question was a good one, and black alpaca, neatly made, had quite as
good an effect. Alison's hair was put up stylishly on her head. She
wore a little bit of cheap lace round her throat, and a bit of the same
came from under the neat wrists of her dress. Two or three small
chrysanthemums were pinned at her bosom. Grannie thought her quite the
lady.

"I wish, child, you wouldn't slave yourself!" she said at last
impatiently. "What's the old woman for if it isn't to wash up and put
in order? and I'm quite certain you ought to be back at the shop by
now."

"I'm not going back," said Alison, in a low tone.

Grannie had guessed this from the first. She did not spea