Devil;" eyes like dark emeralds, of which the pupils, when she was angry or when she was scheming, retreated upward towards the temples, emitting a luminous green ray that shot through space like the gleam that escapes from a dark-lanthorn; complexion superlatively feminine call it not pale, but white, as if she lived on blanched almonds, peachstones, and arsenic; hands so fine and so bloodless, with fingers so pointedly taper there seemed stings at their tips; manners of one who had ranged all ranks of society from highest to lowest, and duped the most wary in each of them. Did she please it, a crown prince might have thought her youth must have passed in the chambers of porphyry! Did she please it, an old soldier would have sworn the creature had been a vivandière. In age, perhaps, bordering on forty. She looked younger, but had she been a hundred and twenty, she could not have been more wicked. Ah, happy indeed for Sophy, if it were to save her youth from ever being fostered in elegant boudoirs by those bloodless hands, that the crippled vagabond had borne her away from Arabella's less cruel unkindness; better far even Rugge's village stage; better far stealthy by-lanes, feigned names, and the erudite tricks of Sir Isaac !

But still it is due even to Jasper to state here, that in Losely's recent design to transfer Sophy from Waife's care to that of Madame Caumartin, the Sharper harboured no idea of a villany so execrable as the character of the Parisienne led the jealous Arabella to suspect. His real object in getting the child at that time once more into his power was (whatever its nature) harmless compared with the mildest of Arabella's dark doubts. But still if Sophy had been regained, and the object, on regaining her, foiled (as it probably would have been), what then might have become of her? Lost, perhaps, for ever, to Waife-in a foreign land-and under such guardianship! Grave question, which Jasper Losely, who exercised so little foresight in the paramount question-viz., what some day or other will become of himself?-was not likely to rack his brains by conjecturing!

Meanwhile Mrs Crane was vigilant. The detective police-officer, sent to her by Mr Rugge, could not give her the information which Rugge desired, and which she did not longer need. She gave the detective some information respecting Madame Caumartin. One day towards the evening she was surprised by a visit from Uncle Sam. He called ostensibly to thank her for her kindness to his godson and nephew; and to beg her not to be offended if he had been rude to Mr Losely, who, he understood from Dolly, was a particular friend of hers. "You see, ma'am, Samuel Dolly is a weak young man, and easily led astray; but, luckily for himself, he has no money and no stomach. So he may repent in time; and if I could find a wife to manage him, he has not a bad head for the main chance, and may become a practical man. Repeatedly I have told him he should go to prison, but that was only to frighten him,-fact is, I want to get him safe down into the country, and he don't take to that. So I am forced to say, 'My box, home-brewed_and south-down, Samuel Dolly, or a Lunnon jail, and debtors' allowance.' Must give a young man his choice, my dear lady.

Mrs Crane, observing that what he said was extremely sensible, Uncle Sam warmed in his confidence.

"And I thought I had him, till I found Mr Losely in his sick-room; but ever since that day, I don't know how it is, the lad has had something on his mind, which I don't half like -cracky, I think, my dear ladycracky. I suspect that old nurse passes letters. I taxed her with it, and she immediately wanted to take her Bible-oath, and smelt of gintwo things which, taken together, look guilty."

"But," said Mrs Crane, growing much interested, "if Mr Losely and Mr Poole do correspond, what then?"

"That's what I want to know, ma'am. Excuse me; I don't wish to disparage Mr Losely a dashing gent, and nothing worse, I dare say. But certain sure I am that he has put into Samuel Dolly's head something which has cracked it! There is the lad now up and dressed, when he ought to be in bed, and swearing

he'll go to old Latham's to-morrow, and that long arrears of work are on his conscience! Never heard him talk of conscience before-that looks guilty! And it does not frighten him any longer when I say he shall go to prison for his debts; and he's very anxious to get me out of Lunnon; and when I threw in a word about Mr Losely (slily, my good lady-just to see its effect), he grew as white as that paper; and then he began strutting and swelling, and saying that Mr Losely would be a great man, and that he should be a great man, and that he did not care for my money he could get as much money as he liked. That looks guilty, my dear lady. And, oh," cried Uncle Sam, clasping his hands, "I do fear that he's thinking of something worse than he has ever done before, and his

brain can't stand it. And, ma'am, he has a great respect for you; and you've a friendship for Mr Losely. Now, just suppose that Mr Losely should have been thinking of what your flash sporting gents call a harmless spree, and my sister's son should, being cracky, construe it into something criminal. Oh, Mrs Crane, do go and see Mr Losely, and tell him that Samuel Dolly is not safe-is not safe!"

"Much better that I should go to your nephew," said Mrs Crane;" and with your leave I will do so at once. Let me see him alone. Where shall I find you afterwards?"

"At the Gloucester Coffee-house. Oh, my dear lady, how can I thank you enough! The boy can be nothing to you; but to me, he's my sister's son-the blackguard!"

Mrs Crane found Poole in his little sitting-room, hung round with prints of opera-dancers, prize-fighters, racehorses, and the dog Billy. Samuel Dolly was in full dress. His cheeks, usually so pale, seemed much flushed. He was evidently in a state of high excitement, bowed extremely low to Mrs Crane, called her Countess, asked if she had been lately on the Continent, and if she knew Madame Caumartin; and whether the nobility at St Petersburg were jolly, or stuck-up fellows, who gave themselves airs ;--not waiting for her answer. In fact his mind was unquestionably disordered.

Arabella Crane abruptly laid her hand on his shoulder.

"You are going to the gallows," she said, suddenly. "Down on your knees and tell me all, and I will keep your secret, and save you; lie-and you are lost!"

Poole burst into tears, and dropped on his knees as he was told.

In ten minutes Mrs Crane knew all that she cared to know, possessed herself of Losely's letters, and, leaving Poole less light-headed and more light-hearted, she hastened to Uncle

Sam at the Gloucester Coffee-house. "Take your nephew out of town this evening, and do not let him from your sight for the next six months. Hark you, he will never be a good man; but you may save him from the hulks. Do so. Take my advice."

She was gone before Uncle Sam could answer.

She next proceeded to the private house of the detective with whom she had before conferred - this time less to give than to receive information. Not half an hour after her interview with him, Arabella Crane stood in the street wherein was placed the showy house of Madame Caumartin. The lamps in the street were now lighted-the street, even at day a quiet one, was comparatively deserted. All the windows in the Frenchwoman's house were closed with shutters and curtains, except on the drawing-room floor. From those the lights within streamed over a balcony filled with gay plants-one of the casements was partially open. And now and then, where the watcher stood, she could just catch the glimpse of a passing form behind the muslin

draperies, or hear the sound of some louder laugh. In her dark-grey dress, and still darker mantle, Arabella Crane stood motionless, her eyes fixed on those windows. The rare foot-passenger who brushed by her turned involuntarily to glance at the countenance of one so still, and then as involuntarily to survey the house to which that countenance was lifted. No such observer so incurious as not to hazard conjecture what evil to that house was boded by the dark lurid eyes that watched it with so fixed a menace. Thus she remained, sometimes, indeed, moving from her post, as a sentry moves from his, slowly pacing a few steps to and fro, returning to the same place, and again motionless; thus she remained for hours. Evening deepened into night-night grew near to dawn; she was still there in that street, and still her eyes were on that house. At length the door opened noiselessly-a tall man tripped forth with a light step, and humming the tune of a gay French chanson. As he came straight towards the spot where Arabella Crane was at watch, from her dark mantle stretched forth her long arm and lean hand, and seized him. He started, and recognised her. "You here!" he exclaimed-" -at such an hour!-you!" "I, Jasper Losely, here to warn you. To-morrow the officers of justice will be in that accursed house. To-morrow that woman--not for her worst crimes, they elude the law, but for her least, by which the law hunts her down-will be a prisoner No-you shall not return to warn her as I warn you" (for Jasper here broke away, and retreated some steps towards the house); " or, if you do, share her fate. I cast you off."

'you!

What do you mean?" said Jasper, halting, till with slow steps she regained his side. "Speak more plainly if poor Madame Caumartin has got into a scrape, which I don't think likely, what have I to do with it ?"

"The woman you call Caumartin fled from Paris to escape its tribunals. She has been tracked; the French government have claimed her-Ho! you smile. This does not touch you." "Certainly not."

"But there are charges against her from English tradesmen ; and if it be proved that you knew her in her proper name the infamous Gabrielle Desmarets-if it be proved that you have passed off the French billets de banque that she stole if you were her accomplice in obtaining goods under her false name-if you, enriched by her robberies, were aiding and abetting her as a swindler here, though you may be safe from the French law, will you be safe from the English? You may be innocent, Jasper Losely; if so, fear nothing. You may be guilty; if so, hide, or follow me!"

Jasper paused. His first impulse was to trust implicitly to Mrs Crane, and lose not a moment in profiting by such counsels of concealment or flight as an intelligence so superior to his own could suggest. But suddenly remembering that Poole had undertaken to get the bill for £1000 by the next day-that if flight were necessary, there was yet a chance of flight with booty - his constitutional hardihood, and the grasping cupidity by which it was accompanied, made him resolve at least to hazard the delay of a few hours. And after all, might not Mrs Crane exaggerate? Was not this the counsel of a jealous woman? "Pray," said he, moving on, and fixing quick keen eyes on her as she walked by his side" pray, how did you learn all these particulars?"

66

From a detective policeman employed to discover Sophy. In conferring with him, the name of Jasper Losely as her legal protector was of course stated that name was already coupled with the name of the false Caumartin. Thus, indirectly, the child you would have consigned to that woman, saves you from sharing that woman's ignominy and doom."

I

"Stuff!" said Jasper stubbornly, though he winced at her words: "I don't, on reflection, see that anything can be proved against me. am not bound to know why a lady changes her name, nor how she comes by her money. And as to her credit with tradesmen-nothing to speak of; most of what she has got is paid for-what is not paid for, is less than the worth of her goods. Pooh!

after what you have said, I would as soon enter a fireship as that house. But let me have some hours to consider what is best to be done."

"Yes, consider-I shall expect you to-morrow."

He went his way up the twilight streets towards a new lodging he had hired not far from the showy house. She drew her mantle closer round her gaunt figure, and, taking the opposite direction, threaded thoroughfares yet lonelier, till she gained her door, and was welcomed back by the faithful Bridgett.

The next morning Arabella Crane was scarcely dressed before Mr Rugge knocked at her door. On the previous day the detective had informed him that William and Sophy Waife were discovered to have sailed for America. Frantic, the unhappy manager rushed to the steam-packet of fice, and was favoured by an inspection of the books, which confirmed the hateful tidings. As if in mockery of his bereaved and defrauded state, on returning home he found a polite note from Mr Gotobed, requesting him to call at the office of that eminent solicitor, with reference to a young actress named Sophy Waife, and hinting" that the visit might prove to his advantage!" Dreaming for a wild moment that Mr Losely, conscience-stricken, might through this solicitor pay back his £100, he rushed incontinent to Mr Gotobed's office, and was at once admitted into the presence of that stately practitioner.]

"I beg your pardon, sir," said Mr Gotobed with formal politeness, "but I heard a day or two ago accidentally from my head-clerk, who had learned it also accidentally from a sporting friend, that you were exhibiting, at Humberston during the race-week, a young actress, named on the playbills (here is one) Juliet Araminta,' and whom, as I am informed, you had previously exhibited in Surrey and elsewhere; but she was supposed to

have relinquished that earlier engagement, and left your stage with her grandfather, William Waife. I am instructed by a distinguished client, who is wealthy, and who, from motives of mere benevolence, interests himself in the said William and Sophy Waife, to discover their residence. Please, therefore, to render up the child to my charge, apprising me also of the address of her grandfather, if he be not with you; and without waiting for further instructions from my client, who is abroad, I will venture to say that any sacrifice in the loss of your juvenile actress will be most liberally compensated."

Sir," cried the miserable and imprudent Rugge, "I paid £100 for that fiendish child-a three years' engagement-and I have been robbed. Restore me the £100, and I will tell you where she is, and her vile grandfather also."

At hearing so bad a character lavished upon objects recommended to his client's disinterested charity, the wary solicitor drew in his pecuniary horns.

"Mr Rugge," said he, "I understand from your words that you cannot place the child Sophy, alias Juliet Araminta, in my hands. You ask £100 to inform me where she is. Have you a lawful claim on her?"

"Certainly, sir; she is my property."

-in Ame

"Then it is quite clear that though you may know where she is, you cannot get at her yourself, and cannot, therefore, place her in my hands. Perhaps she is in heaven!" "Confound her, sir! norica! or on the seas to it." "Are you sure?" "I have just come from the steampacket office, and seen the names in their book. William and Sophy Waife sailed from Liverpool last Thursday week.'

"And they formed an engagement with you received your money; broke the one, absconded with the

other. Bad characters indeed!"

"Bad! you may well say that--a set of swindling scoundrels, the whole kit and kin. And the ingratitude!" continued Rugge: "I was more than a father to that child" (he began to whimper): "I had a babe of my own oncee-died of convulsions in teething. I thought that child would have supplied its place, and I dreamed of the York Theatre; but "- here his voice was lost in the folds of a marvellously dirty red pocket-handkerchief.

Mr Gotobed having now, however, learned all that he cared to learn, and not being a soft-hearted man (firstrate solicitors rarely are), here pulled out his watch, and said

"Sir, you have been very ill-treated, I perceive. I must wish you good day; I have an engagement in the City. I cannot help you back to your £100, but accept this trifle (a £5 note) for your loss of time in calling (ringing the bell violently). "Doorshow out this gentleman.'

That evening Mr Gotobed wrote at length to Guy Darrell, informing him that, after great pains and prolonged research, he had been so for

tunate as to ascertain that the strolling player and little girl whom Mr Darrell had so benevolently requested him to look up, were very bad characters, and had left the country for the United States, as, happily for England, bad characters were wont to do.

That letter reached Guy Darrell when he was far away, amidst the forlorn pomp of some old Italian city, and Lionel's tale of the little girl not very fresh in his gloomy thoughts. Naturally, he supposed that the boy had been duped by a pretty face and his own inexperienced kindly heart : And so and so why, so end half the efforts of men who intrust to others the troublesome execution of humane intentions! The scales of earthly justice are poised in their quivering equilibrium, not by huge hundredweights, but by infinitesimal grains, needing the most wary caution-the most considerate patience-the most delicate touch, to arrange or readjust. Few of our errors, national or individual, come from the design to be unjust-most of them from sloth, or incapacity to grapple with the difficulties of being just. Sins of commission may not, perhaps, shock the retrospect of conscience. Large and obtrusive to view, we have confessed, mourned, repented, possibly atoned them. Sins of omission, so veiled amidst our hourly emotions-blent, confused, unseen in the conventional routine of existence ;-Alas! could these suddenly emerge from their shadow, group together in serried mass and accusing order-alas, alas! would not the best of us then start in dismay, and would not the_proudest humble himself at the Throne of Mercy!