h to any who dared to touch it. Tip, undaunted,
made another effort. The dreadful weapon fell upon his unprotected head,
and in another instant he was stretched upon the floor. The sight of
poor Tip in such a state, together with the wailing and weeping of Sally
and her mother, seemed to have the effect of sobering him a little; he
threw down the poker, opened the door, and, without a word, passed out.

CHAPTER III.

A bright spring morning succeeded the night on which the commotion had
taken place in Tip's usually quiet home. He was stirring about the house
as was his custom, a bandage over his brow being the only indication of
the recent unpleasant event. The wound was not a dangerous one, and the
unceasing attention of his daughter had enabled him to rally much sooner
than might have been expected. Sally and her mother were also bustling
about. Not a word escaped from any of them in reference to what had
taken place. Old Tip looked more than usually morose, the mother, more
than usually sorrowful, and Sally's brow was contracted and her lips
compressed, and her eyes spoke of fixed determination. She dressed
herself with more than usual care, and lingered over many little things
before she bade her usual good morning; and when she closed the door she
gazed a moment at the old familiar structure, wiped the tears from her
eyes, that in spite or all she could do, would come to testify that her
heart was not so callous as she fain would make it appear; and then she
walked rapidly away--but not to her work. No! she sought the home of him
who had come like a blight on their domestic peace. She carried with her
no feeling of resentment--her heart was full of love and compassion. She
had undergone a dreadful struggle. The climax had arrived. She must
choose between her parents and her lover. It was a hard, hard task, but
it was over. House and parents, all that had been associated with her
early and happy years, sacrificed for one whose past life had brought to
her so much misery.

She reached the door, rang the bell, and was ushered into the room in
which Arthur sat vainly endeavouring to recall the circumstances of the
preceding night. He was pleased yet astonished to see her, and they were
quickly engaged in an earnest and hurried conversation. In a few minutes
Arthur rang the bell, and gave orders for all his boxes to be packed and
conveyed to the nearest railway station. He called for his bill which he
discharged wit