other. No, no, Polly--I trust those days of vanity are gone."

"Well, then, what else am I to do? I sent the reports abroad about
M'Loughlin and Harman's being about to break; and of M'Loughlin I'll
soon have my revenge, by the way--I and somebody else have the train
laid for it."

"Polly, it was from no unchristian spirit of ill-will to them--for I
trust that of such a spirit I am incapable--but to prevent them, by
an unjust act, from injuring, perhaps from ruining others. That is my
motive; but, at the same time, the whole matter is understood to be
strictly confidential between you and me."

"Don't you know, Mr. M'Slime, that when there was an occasion for
trustin' me, I didn't betray you to the world?"

"No--you did not; and it is for that reason that I trust you now."

"Ay, and you may, too; honor bright is my motive. You remember the
day you passed Darby O'Drive and me, on our way to M'Clutchy's? Did I
pretend to know you then?"

"You acted then, Poll, with great and commendable discretion, which you
will please to remember I did not overlook."

"No," said Poll, "you behaved decently enough."

"But observe me now, Poll; if this report concerning the firm of
M'Loughlin and Harman should by any possibility be traced to us, or
rather to yourself, and that you should be pressed to disclose it,
which, of course, you could not be; but if a weak moment should ever
come--it is best then to speak the truth, and put the saddle as they
rather profanely say, upon Valentine M'Clutchy, the right horse here."

"Upon M'Clutchy! why bad as he is, he never opened his lips to me on
this subject."

"But he did to me, Poll, because it was from him I first heard the
suggestion; so that in point of truth and justice, you are bound by your
own conscience, or you ought at least--to lay it at his door--and that
now you understand better"--he smiled a little as he uttered these
words--"But why don't you get a better bonnet, that one is very shabby?"

"It's aisier said than done," replied Poll, "the poor must always look
poor, and will too."

"There then, are ten shillings, Poll; bestow them on that, or on any
other purpose you prefer."

"Thank you, Mr. M'Slime, troth in the little job I did for you at our
first acquaintance I found you--any way not worse than another. Well,
but you can't desave me now--I see it in your eye--you have something
else to say to me."

"Oh, nothing to signify. Merely a serious young person would