dea of frugality being in itself a virtue. On the
other hand, her views as to what was most to be desired in life were
simply the result of the atmosphere in which she had lived; and she
confessed to him that the most beautiful thing she had ever seen was
the arrivals at a Mansion House ball--the coloured stair-cloth, the
beautiful ladies, the brilliant uniforms. Her knowledge of politics
was entirely derived from the cartoons of the comic journals in the
shop windows; and she had any quantity of vague and vulgar prejudices
about Catholics, Radicals, and Jews. But this patient listener, who
seemed interested in her foolish little opinions, was a largely
tolerant man. Such things were; let us make the best of them,--that
was what he seemed to say. And as all the phenomena of the universe
appeared to him to be worthy of respectful attention--even if one did
not go the length of vexing one's self about any one of them--he was
willing to learn that, in the opinion of this profound observer, the
Catholic priests were bad men, who would let you do anything that was
wrong if only you paid them enough money for absolution.

One evening, when he went round as usual, he found Mary Ann in great
excitement; she had evidently been crying, and now she was laughing in
a half-crying way.

'What is the matter, lassie?' said he severely, for he did not like
'scenes.'

'Oh, sir, Pete has written--at last--at last!' she said, crying all the
more, but in a glad sort of way, and looking again at the letter she
held in her two hands.

'But who is Pete?'

'My sweetheart, sir; I never said anything about him--I thought he had
forgotten us--but now he says he wouldn't write until he had good news,
and now there is good news enough,--oh yes, there is! there is! For he
has got a good place, and good prospects--and here is money to take me
out, and my mother and sisters, too--all except fifteen pounds, Pete
says, and that he'll send in three months' time. Oh, sir! you don't
know what a good fellow Pete is!'

John Douglas sat down. His heart felt a little heavy; he scarcely knew
why. But he began to ask a few questions, in a slow matter-of-fact
way; and he did not remain long. He saw that the girl wanted to read
and re-read the good news to herself, and draw pictures of all that was
coming.

The next afternoon Mary Ann got a note from him, with an enclosure.
Thus it ran:--

'DEAR CHILD--You need not wait through three months o