ns of lawless tyrann

social conditions

dark ages still in fo

ing valuable hints

y suggestive of reflec

nal v

the point of his loyal sword. The Bandit had crept into a corner, and the little girl was clinging to him fondly as his hand was stroking her fair hair. Vance looked round, and approached the Bandit,-"Sir, allow me to congratulate you; y

irit worthy of his odious and arbitrary character. "What do you do her

-a pupil of the Royal Academy; I should lik

h! non

ravagance of early youth, "my friend would,

fact, she is my property. Call and speak to me about it to-morrow, before the first performance begins, which is twelve o'cl

fe and his grandchild; and when Vance took his arm and drew him away, there was a puzzled, musing expression on Lionel's face, and he remained silent till they had go

Lionel? I have put to you three ques

oddest thing! I am so disappointed in t

w do you know that she

age. Well, when I told the manager that you would pay for the sitting, the child caught hold of my arm hastily, pulled me down to her own height, and whispered

ou to call to-morrow,-implying that he was to be paid for allowing her to sit,-her countenance became overcast, and she muttered sullenly, 'I'll not sit; I'll not!' Then she turned to her grandfather, and something very quick and close was whispered between the two; and she pulled me by the sleeve, and said in my ear-oh, but so eagerly!-'

a year in acres, have not three pounds to draw out of their pockets in that reckless, profligate manner. Three pounds!-what could I not buy for three pounds? I could buy the Dramatic Library, bound in calf, for three pounds; I could buy a dre

nd quickly, as a man out of temper does under similar

not she act fine?

aracter; but she sets a mig

don't t

kingdoms! Stay," cried Lionel to the Cobbler; "did

nd she do lodge wit

the child means, if you can;" and Lionel related the offer of his friend,

nds, surprised at his silence, turned to look at hi

ly than he had uttered the same words at her appearance in fron

am so glad to think that. It alte

should give his grandchild three pounds, when any other child in the village would have leaped out of

and looked first at one of the faces before him, then at the other; that of Lion

sin' I can mind of, brought with him the man you have seen to-night, William Waife; I calls him Gentleman Waife. However that man fel

asked

of Sa

at

ouse, I'll swear. Lord of Ascendant, mayh

oger?" said Vance, su

it; no o

called Mr. Waife 'Gentleman Waife;' and if you had not been an as

he did, every time he came, so that the great families in the neighbourhood would go to hear him; and he lodged in my house, and had pleasant ways with him, and was what I call a scollard. But still I don't want to deceive ye, and I should judge him to have been a wild dog in his day. Mercury ill-aspected,-not a doubt of it. Last year it so happened that one of the great gents who belong to a Lunnon theatre was here at fair-time. Whether he

it is getting late, and if you had your crystal

saw the Cobbler, who had meant to make a great eff

a cripple for life: so he could not go on the Lunnon stage at all; and what was worse, he was a long time atwixt life and death, and got s

ailway, I suppose?" said Vance, with the

ge. But Mr. Rugge was sore and spiteful at his leaving; for Rugge counted on him, and had even thought of taking the huge theatre at York, and bringing out Gentleman Waife as his trump card. But it w

iet Araminta?

plays for her. And Rugge caught at her; and she supports Waife with what she gets; f

ink, I presum

d done well, and now they be here. But Rugge behaves shocking hard to both on 'em: and I don't believe he has any right to her in law, as he pretends,-only a sort

ree pounds could they get away? and if they d

independent like. I tell you what put his back up: it was Rugge insisting on his coming on the stage agin, for he did not like to be seen s

d to you for your story; and we should much like to see litt

after the play's over;

iend is impatient to get back

But you can't be sure to see them safely at my house af

," returned Lionel;

on the milestone, gazing on the stars and ru

ers in Mr. Vance's profession, there ran many a joke at the skill with which he parried irregular assaults on his purse; and that gentleman, with his nose more than usually in the air, having once obse

he artist of some snake in the grass, and he prudently remained silent. Lio

it is you, I suspect, who alone have the intention to pay f

if I had t

ill we have supped. I ha

ned for the last few days, sketching, boating, roaming about the country from sunrise, and returning to supper and bed at nightfall. It was the pleasantest little inn,

ng-maid, "hey, presto, quick! while we turn in to wash our