ement which settles
things without the possibility of argument? If you joined this firm
with the idea of being made a partner, was not an agreement written down
in black and white?"

Jack waved his hand in airy dissent.

"No, there was nothing definite, but we talked it over.--The old fellow
certainly held out hopes for the future! I made so sure of a
partnership that we took this house in the prospect of being able to pay
for it out of my increased earnings. It's too expensive as it is for
people brought up as we have been. I'm the most practical of the
bundle, and with care and attention can make half a crown go almost as
far as an Englishman's shilling; but Bridgie, bless her! wears herself
out saving pennies, and throws away pounds with the best. In my
father's time there was never any money to trouble about, so she got
into the way of ordering things without thinking what they would cost,
and it's a difficult plan to forsake. She's done her best, poor
creature! I wouldn't blame her for the world."

"And--and will you have to leave the house?" Sylvia's heart sank
drearily at the prospect. What if the O'Shaughnessys flitted away to a
suburb at the opposite end of the city, and Number Three, Rutland Road
was deserted once more, or tenanted by an ordinary, commonplace family,
such as inhabited every other villa in the neighbourhood! After the
sweet friendship of Bridgie, the fascinations of Jack, the audacities of
the two boys, the witcheries of Pixie, and last but not least, the
incursions of Esmeralda, exasperating, but to the last degree romantic
and beautiful, Sylvia felt a shudder of distaste at the thought of a
stout mamma and papa, one baby in a perambulator, another in a mail-
cart, and a graduated line of school-boys and girls sallying forth daily
to their appointed tasks. "Oh, I'm so sorry you will have to leave!"
she sighed, and Jack smiled at her in grateful acknowledgment of her
regret.

"I'm glad you are sorry, but I don't intend to leave. We have been here
only four months, and I can't face another removal for--many reasons!
We will have to squeeze along somehow until things look up. A crop of
bills have come in during the last few days to make matters worse, and I
will have to talk things over with Bridgie to-night. I hate to worry
her, but there must be some system, or we shall find ourselves in the
workhouse some fine day. And now there is the child to think of. She
will be an ext