these missionaries, for there
was nothing of the simply amateur in their work--like the visit of Di
and her father. They were familiar with the East-end mines; knew where
splendid gems and rich gold were to be found, and went about digging
with the steady persistence of the labourer, coupled, however, with the
fire of the enthusiast.

They carried the harmonium promptly to the most conspicuous part of the
room, planted it there, opened it, placed a stool in front of it, and
one of the brightest diamonds from that mine--in the person of Hetty
Frog--sat down before it. Simply, and in sweet silvery tones, she
sang--"Come to the Saviour."

The others joined--even Sir Richard Brandon made an attempt to sing--as
he had done on a previous occasion, but without much success, musically
speaking. Meanwhile, John Seaward turned up the passage from which he
had prepared to speak that evening. And so eloquent with nature's
simplicity was the missionary, that the party soon forgot all about the
Twitters while the comforting Gospel was being urged upon the unhappy
creatures around.

But _we_ must not forget the Twitters. They are our text and sermon
just now!

Young Sam Twitter had risen with the intention of going out when the
missionary entered, for words of truth only cut him to the heart. But
his companion whispered him to wait a bit. Soon his attention was
riveted.

While he sat there spell-bound, a shabby-genteel man entered and sat
down beside him. He wore a broad wide-awake, very much slouched over
his face, and a coat which had once been fine, but now bore marks of
having been severely handled--as if recently rubbed by a drunken wearer
on whitewashed and dirty places. The man's hands were not so dirty,
however, as one might have expected from his general appearance, and
they trembled much. On one of his fingers was a gold ring. This
incongruity was lost on Sam, who was too much absorbed to care for the
new comer, and did not even notice that he pushed somewhat needlessly
close to him.

These things were not, however, lost on Reggie North, who regarded the
man with some surprise, not unmixed with suspicion.

When, after a short time, however, this man laid his hand gently on that
of Sam and held it, the boy could no longer neglect his eccentricities.
He naturally made an effort to pull the hand away, but the stranger held
it fast. Having his mind by that time entirely detached from the
discourse of the m