Street, and round by the Cock at Highbury.

"What do you think of that, old lady?" said Sam, opening his little lid
to peer down at his wife. "Comfortable?"

"Comfortable--yes," said Mrs Jenkles, looking up and beaming. "And you
said he wouldn't go."

"He knows as you're here," said Sam; "and that's his aggrawating nature.
He's a-selling me."

"Selling you, Sam?"

"Yes; a-making out as I grumbles without cause. Sit fast; I'll bowl yer
up there in no time."

"No, Sam, don't--pray, don't go fast!" said his wife, in alarm.

"You sit still; it's all right, I tell yer. Good wives is scarce,
Sally, so you won't be spilled."

Only half convinced, Mrs Jenkles held on very tightly by the sides of
the cab, till, well up now in the geography of the place, Sam ran round
by the better road, and drew up at B. Sturt's grocery warehouse.

"No," said Sam, as Mrs Jenkles made for the shop; "side door, and ring
once."

As he spoke, Barney's ill-looking face appeared at the door; and as Mrs
Jenkles went and rang--

"Mornin'," said Sam.

Barney scowled, and blew a cloud of tobacco at him.

"Keb, sir?" said Sam, mounting to his perch.

Barney growled, and then spat.

"Run yer up to town in no time. Cheap trains to S'burban 'andicap,"
said Sam, grinning.

But Barney turned his back as the cab drove off, and asked his
wife--"What, them people wanted with kebs now?"

Mrs Lane admitted her visitor, and, in a hesitating way, asked her
upstairs, where her daughter, looking very pale, was seated by the
window, working for very life at the hard, blue cloth garments upon
which they were engaged.

The girl rose as Mrs Jenkles entered, and bent towards her, flushing
slightly beneath the scrutinising gaze to which she was subjected.

At the same time, Mrs Jenkles made a short bob, and then another to
Mrs Lane, who placed a chair for her, which she declined to take.

"It was my husband, ma'am," said Mrs Jenkles, "who came up to you the
other day."

"Yes," said Mrs Lane. "You have come from him. He brought you
to-day?"

"I said I should come and see you," said Mrs Jenkles, looking sharply
from one to the other.

"And he told you?" said Mrs Lane, hesitatingly.

"Yes; my husband tells me everything," said Mrs Jenkles, stiffly.

"Then you know how good he was to mamma?" said the girl, coming forward.

"My husband's one of the best men under the sun, Miss; only he has his
weaknesses."

"Yes, it was weak," said Mrs