rd.

"Blame me if I can stand this," muttered Jenkles.

Then without a word he stuck his hat on his head and walked out of the
room, in time to meet the master of the house on the stairs.

"Now, then?" said Barney, as Jenkles stopped short.

"Now, then," said Jenkles, "where are you going?"

"In there," said Barney, savagely; and he nodded towards the room.

"No, you ain't," said Jenkles; "you're a-going downstairs."

"Oh, am I? I'll just show you about that."

He rushed up two more of the stairs; but Jenkles did not budge an inch--
only met the brute with such a firm, unflinching look in his ugly eyes
that the bully was cowed, puzzled at the opposition.

"You're a-going downstairs to send yer missus up; and jest you tell her
to go and take a spoonful o' treacle out o' the shop afore she does come
up, so as she'll be a little bit sweeter when the ladies pays her."

Then Jenkles walked back into the room, rammed his hand into his pocket,
and pulled out a dirty canvas bag, out of which he fished a piece of rag
tied tightly, in one corner of which was a sovereign, which had to be
set free with his teeth. From another corner he tried to extricate a
half-sovereign, but it would not come, the knot was too tight.

"Here, lends a pair o' scissors," he exclaimed, angrily.

"What are you going to do?" said Mrs Lane.

"To cut this here out," said Jenkles; "there, that's it. Here's a sov
and a arf, mum, as was saved up for our rent. I never did such a thing
afore, but that's nothing to you. I'll lend it you, and you'll pay me
again when you can. There's my name on that dirty envelope, and you'll
send it, I know."

"No," exclaimed Mrs Lane, in a choking voice, "I--"

At this moment Mrs Sturt entered the room, looking very grim; but no
sooner did she see the money lying upon the table than she walked up,
took it, said "Thanky," shortly, and jerked a letter upon the table.

Jenkles was following her, when Mrs Lane cried "Stop!" seized the
letter, tore it open, and read it.

It was in reply to the second she had written, both of which had reached
Captain Vanleigh, though she believed the first had been lost.

Her letter had been brief--

"Help us--we are destitute.

"A.V."

The reply was--

"Do what I wish, and I will help you."

No signature.

Mrs Lane clenched her teeth as she crushed the letter in her hand, then
raised her eyes to see the cabman at the door, with her daughter kissing
his han