form of the angry manager, the colour faded from the old man's face.
Exhausted by the excitement he had gone through, he sank on a chair,
and, with one quick gasp as for breath, fainted away.

CHAPTER XI.

Progress of the Fine Arts.--Biographical anecdotes.--Fluctuations in
the value of money.--Speculative tendencies of the time.

Whatever the shock which the brutality of the Remorseless Baron
inflicted on the nervous system of the persecuted but triumphant Bandit,
it had certainly subsided by the time Vance and Lionel entered Waife's
apartment; for they found grandfather and grandchild seated near the
open window, at the corner of the table (on which they had made room for
their operations by the removal of the carved cocoanut, the crystal egg,
and the two flower-pots), eagerly engaged, with many a silvery laugh
from the lips of Sophy, in the game of dominos.

Mr. Waife had been devoting himself, for the last hour and more, to the
instruction of Sophy in the mysteries of that intellectual amusement;
and such pains did he take, and so impressive were his exhortations,
that his happy pupil could not help thinking to herself that this was
the new art upon which Waife depended for their future livelihood. She
sprang up, however, at the entrance of the visitors, her face beaming
with grateful smiles; and, running to Lionel and taking him by the hand,
while she courtesied with more respect to Vance, she exclaimed, "We are
free! thanks to you, thanks to you both! He is gone! Mr. Rugge is gone!"

"So I saw on passing the green; stage and all," said Vance, while Lionel
kissed the child and pressed her to his side. It is astonishing how
paternal he felt,--how much she had crept into his heart.

"Pray, sir," asked Sophy, timidly, glancing to Vance, "has the Norfolk
Giant gone too?"

VANCE.--"I fancy so--all the shows were either gone or going."

SOPHY.--"The Calf with Two Heads?"

VANCE.--"Do you regret it?"

SOPHY.--"Oh, dear, no."

Waife, who after a profound bow, and a cheery "Good day, gentlemen,"
had hitherto remained silent, putting away the dominoes, now said, "I
suppose, sir, you would like at once to begin your sketch?"

VANCE.--"Yes; I have brought all my tools; see, even the canvas. I wish
it were larger, but it is all I have with me of that material: 't is
already stretched; just let me arrange the light."

WAIFE.--"If you don't want me, gentlemen, I will take the air for
half-an-hour or so.