a old lady to see
ye, Mrs. Novel; if that's yer name."

"What do you mean by rushing in on me in this rude way, you young rascal?"
demanded a shrill female voice, which Mrs. Conly instantly recognized as
that of her daughter. "Begone instantly! begone, I say!"

"Go, go!" Mrs. Conly said to the boy, in half smothered tones, putting a
small coin into his hand; then staggering into the room she dropped into a
chair, gasping for breath.

"Virginia, Virginia! can it be possible that I find you in such a place
as this?" she cried, as the latter started up from a lounge on which she
had been lying with a paper-covered novel in her hand.

Her hair was in crimping-pins, her dress most slatternly, and her
surroundings were in keeping with her personal appearance.

"Mamma!" she exclaimed in utter astonishment and confusion. "How did you
get here? how did you come? You should have sent me word. I have no way to
accommodate you."

"Don't be alarmed, I have no intention of staying more than an hour. I
start for Europe by to-day's steamer, with Elsie and Edward Travilla.
Lester Leland's ill, dying I presume, and the silly love-sick girl must
needs rush to the rescue."

"And why are you to go with her? why don't the mother and grandfather and
the whole family accompany her, after their usual fashion of all keeping
together?"

"Because Rosie and Walter are down with the measles; much too ill to
travel."

"And you are going to Europe to enjoy yourself, while I must live here in
a New York tenement house occupied by the very dregs of society, and as
the wife of a drunkard, gambler, and rake; a man--or rather a brute--who
lives by his wits, abuses me like the pickpocket that he is, half starves
me, and expects me to do all the work, cooking, cleaning, and everything
else, even to washing and ironing of the few clothes he hasn't pawned; me!
a lady brought up to have servants to wait upon her at every turn!"

"O Virgie, Virgie! it can't be so bad as that!" cried her mother, clasping
her hands in an agony of distress, and gazing piteously at her, the hot
tears streaming down her face.

"I tell you it is that and worse! and all your fault, for you made the
match! you hurried me into it lest grandpa, uncle, or brothers should
interfere, find out that the man's morals were not good according to their
high standard, and prevent me from marrying him."

"You were in as great haste and as much opposed to their interference as
I, Virgi