Street. The policeman's directions had consisted entirely of turnings to the right, and turnings to the left; but after taking a few of these turnings, I felt that I had lost myself. Then I asked another policeman, who directed me again,-in just the same manner,-and then another, who did likewise; and then I began to think I should never find Doughty Street, when I looked up, and saw it written on a corner house.

"Does Mr. Stillington live here?" Yes, he did. “Is he at home?" "Oh no; he wer' never in till gone half-after-six." Despair! It was now just twelve o'clock.

"Please, might I go in and wait?"

The girl who had opened the door looked exceedingly doubtful at this proposition; but when I had made it a second time, she said would I please stand in the hall while she spoke to Missus.

This I gladly consented to do; and after being for a few moments the auditor of a conference that went on in the front parlour, in the course of which the girl gave a minute description of my personal appearance, and an accurate inventory of my wearing apparel, "Missus" herself appeared. She made a very long speech to me, half of which I could scarcely understand; but she mentioned in it that Mr. Stillington had lodged with her for ten years, and was a gentleman as she had a great respect for, for he had always conducted himself as a gentleman should; but that people had to be careful, particular a woman with a family depending on her, as hadn't always occupied that position. But thanked God that she got her bread honest all the same, but wouldn't be the one for to suspect any young lady, having daughters of her own,and Johnny, her youngest, was at home, and was a boy as could be trusted; and

it was but threepence in a 'bus to Cheapside. And the purport I gathered from it all was, that she had perfect confidence in Mr. Stillington as she knew him, but had no confidence in me, as she did not know me; but on the whole she considered that neither her silver spoons, nor the fair fame of her establishment would be much endangered if she were to let me come in for half-an-hour, during which time I could send a message to Cheapside to Mr. Stillington by her son Johnny, who could accomplish it in that time, and for the sum of sixpence.

To this plan I willingly consented; and being supplied with writing materials, I sent a note to Mr. Stillington, per Johnny and an omnibus, and sat down to wait in a back parlour, where, unless I could have put a Pembroke table, or six horsehair-covered chairs, or a rickety sofa, into my pocket, there was nothing which I could possibly make myself the unlawful pos

sessor of; so I daresay the mistress of 130, Doughty Street,. thought there could be no great risk in leaving me alone there, as she did after a time, to my great comfort.

CHAPTER VII.

"A FRIEND INDEED."

I WOKE up with a start. How long I had slept, crouched up in a corner of the rickety sofa I did not know, but it seemed to me that I had only closed my eyes on the Pembroke table and the six horse-hair-covered chairs for one moment, during which I travelled with the speed of lightning back to Crawdour, and was again confronting my uncle and aunt and Mr. Duchesne in the library; when I re-opened them in 130, Doughty Street, and saw Mr. Stillington standing before me.

My dear," he said, taking my hands, as I started from the rickety sofa; "I am very glad to see you." And then he kissed me as he had done when he bade me good-bye in the plantation at Crawdour.

The strain which my mind had been on

VOL. II.

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