upon himself the burden of reading it.

"DEAR PHOEBE,

"Don't be downhearted. I am your friend always, and I will help you to
get another place. I am sorry to say that it was indeed Mrs. Ormond who
found us out that day. She had her suspicions, and she watched us, and
told my aunt. This she owned to me with her own lips. She said, 'I would
do anything, my dear, to save you from an ill-assorted marriage.' I am
very wretched about it, because I can never look on her as my friend
again. My aunt, as you know, is of Mrs. Ormond's way of thinking. You
must make allowances for her hot temper. Remember, out of your kindness
towards me, you had been secretly helping forward the very thing which
she was most anxious to prevent. That made her very angry; but, never
fear, she will come round in time. If you don't want to spend your
little savings, while you are waiting for another situation, let me
know. A share of my pocket-money is always at your service.

"Your friend,

"REGINA."

"Very nice indeed," said Jervy, handing the letter back, and yawning as
he did it. "And convenient, too, if we run short of money. Ah, here's
the waiter with the supper, at last! Now, Mrs. Sowler, there's a time
for everything--it's time to wake up."

He lifted the old woman off her chair, and settled her before the
table, like a child. The sight of the hot food and drink roused her to
a tigerish activity. She devoured the meat with her eyes as well as her
teeth; she drank the hot gin-and-water in fierce gulps, and set down
the glass with audible gasps of relief. "Another one," she cried, "and I
shall begin to feel warm again!"

Jervy, watching her from the opposite side of the table, with Phoebe
close by him as usual, had his own motives for encouraging her to talk,
by the easy means of encouraging her to drink. He sent for another glass
of the hot grog. Phoebe, daintily picking up her oysters with her fork,
affected to be shocked at Mrs. Sowler's coarse method of eating and
drinking. She kept her eyes on her plate, and only consented to
taste malt liquor under modest protest. When Jervy lit a cigar, after
finishing his supper, she reminded him, in an impressively genteel
manner, of the consideration which he owed to the presence of an elderly
lady. "I like it myself, dear," she said mincingly; "but perhaps Mrs.
Sowler objects to the smell?"

Mrs. Sowler burst into a hoarse laugh. "Do I look as if I was likely to
be squeamish about sme