ched so painfully that if she had been less brave she would have sat down and given herself up to the misery which it caused her.

grieving her. I do hope Jim will come in about supper time. I should think he was safe to. I wonder if I could rub a little of that liniment onto my 'and myself. It do burn

d for. Grannie took great pride in their rosy faces, and in their plump, firm limbs. She and Alison between them kept all the family together. She made plenty of money with her beautiful needlework, and Alison put the eight shillings which she brought home every Saturday night from the shop into the common fund. She had her dinner at the shop, which was also a great help. Dave was beginning to earn about half a crown a week, wh

id to herself, "but writers' cramp aint possible to anyone as don't write. I d

ng tea. The children were surprised to see her at ho

" said Grannie, in her brisk, rather aggressiv

f answer is that?" cried

you'll get, Miss Pr

to call Polly "Miss Pry," and attentio

had settled down to their books and different occupati

as in he

nie, if her cheerful voice. "You

the young man, an anxiou

o my bedroom, dears. I'll turn on the gas and you can st

cold," sa

nother word; sca

eyes had seen a white parcel sticking out of his pocket. It was horrid to have to go into Grannie's bedroom. It was an ic

e cold for them in ther

em to be brought up soft and lazy and good for naught

in a low voice, and raising his ha

eyes blaze

d. "Publicly shamed as she were; I wonder

and to speak, but I was prevented. There was such an excitement, and Mr. Shaw wa

s had the offer to take her

doesn't believe

would who

d the young man, a glow of p

then I'll leave you two the kitchen to yourselves. But before

on

ared. You are in the shop, Jim, and it's your business to find

eart, that I d

cut out for you. N

kitchen. She opened Alison'

bedroom, and the children are out of the way. You two

son step lightly across her room. She came out of it, crossed the kitchen, and approached his side. Her face was perfectly white, her lips trem

he tears she had shed. The young man's whole heart went out to her at a great bound. How beautiful

he first words that came to his l

se to him, and she laid her head on his shoulder. He had never held her so close to him befo

bbed in a sort of luxury of grief and happiness; "there, there, my

can't have it,

lder, pressed back his hands, which struggled to hold her, and seat

id. "I do love you, I don't deny

ul bit of misadventure like what happened to-day d

"I won't have it; I love you too well. I'll never ma

irl in all the world. I'll never marry anybody ef I don't marry you, Ally. Oh, I think it is cru

id you loved me, and of course I meant to say 'yes.' But now everything is changed; I'm young, only seventeen, and whatever we do now means all our lives, Jim, yours and mine. This morning I were so happy-yes, that I were; and I just longed for to-

ine, and that's the only thing that seems to me of much moment. You jest want me more than ever

to-night, Jim, and let you love me, and kiss me, and by and by take me afore the parson, and make me your lawful wife-I-I wouldn't be the sort of girl you really love. The brand would be there, and the soreness, and the shame, and the dreadful words would keep ringing in my ears, 'You are a thief, you are a thief'-so I couldn't be a good wife to yer, Jim, for that sort of thing would wear me out, and I'd be sort of changed; and well as you love me now, i

ear you; I vow

looked very strong, an

t 'll be only a day or two most like that we'll be parted, sweetheart. Only I wish you wouldn't stick to this, Ally. Let me kiss you, and let me feel that you are my ow

er, but when he approached her and held out his arms,

I'm cleared, and you shan't kiss a

d these words; she flung herself on the